Has the Honda City lost its charm? An avid enthusiast's perspective

As a Honda City fanboy, it hurts to say that the car hasn't met our expectations. It's good, but it's not exceptional anymore.

BHPian MotorDev recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Has the Honda City lost its dream car charm? | A fan's emotional insight

Introduction

When you hear "Honda City," does it stir up feelings and memories? Maybe a bit of nostalgia, right? Totally! Honda City used to be, like, the ultimate dream car for so many middle-class folks in India. People were crazy about it because it was just so reliable, had tons of space, and that i-Vtec engine thing was, like, pure magic.

But lately, something's off. Especially after they gave it a facelift. Why isn't it as popular anymore? Is the City not the cool car it once was? Is it, like, not the dream ride everyone imagined? Is this the end for the Honda City? To find out, we've gotta go back to where it all began.

Background: The 5th Generation Journey (2020)

The 5th generation Honda City hit the Indian market on July 15, 2020, generating a wave of reviews that influenced consumer decisions. The positive changes convinced families like mine to choose the City again.

Honda City 2020 Pros

• Ample space with enhanced comfort
• Smooth engines offering good mileage
• Practical features
• Elegant aesthetics
• High-quality interior ambience
• Noteworthy features
• Functional boot space

Honda City 2020 Cons

• Bouncy suspension
• Increased engine noise
• Outdated speakers and infotainment system
• Rattling noises
• Poor ground clearance

The space, the comfort, the engines gliding like poetry on the road, and that aesthetic appeal – it's like Honda read our dreams. Sure, there were a few hiccups - a bouncy ride, a bit of engine hum, but hey, when you're in love, you ignore the little quirks.

Transition to 2023

Here we are in 2023, and the City has undergone a facelift. My heart races with anticipation, but alas, it's a bittersweet journey. The pros remain the space, the engines, and now, the added charm of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). But wait, the cons – where's the turbo petrol? Why are we limited on engine choices? And what happened to the VX variant? It's like Honda took away a piece of my soul!

Honda City 2023 Pros

• Spacious interiors with enhanced comfort
• Smooth engines with good mileage
• Quality interior ambience
• Practical boot space
• Introduction of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) features

Honda City 2023 Cons

• Lack of a turbo petrol engine
• Limited engine options with the hybrid variant being expensive
• Underwhelming exterior design
• Outdated features
• Persistent issues with suspension and engine noise
• Reduced features in the VX variant, diminishing its appeal

What's Going Wrong?

Lately, the competition has heated up. The new Verna is turning heads with its fancy features, a top-notch 5-star safety rating, and a wallet-friendly price tag – it's hitting home runs. Even the European twins, Slavia and Virtus, joined the game with cool upgrades like electric seats.

But here's the problem – the Honda City's pricing isn't hitting the sweet spot. The Verna is stealing the spotlight with better features and a more attractive deal.

And guess what? Honda's SUV, the Elevate, is stealing the show. The SUV craze, along with a way cooler infotainment system and higher seating, is luring people away from the City.

SUVs have been a game-changer, impacting many sedans, but even in the sedan segment, the City is now clocking between 1000-2000 sales. The Slavia and Virtus are outselling the City, and the Verna is taking the crown in the segment.

Honda, it's time for a change! You can't keep hanging onto a two-decade-old engine. My words might sound a bit strong, and some might not like it, but it's the truth. It's high time for the City to have more engine options. We need a turbo-petrol, and we need it soon. Let's be honest, the regular i-Vtec engine doesn't bring the same excitement as the competition's 1.5L turbo petrols. Besides, people these days are totally willing to splash a little extra for a better engine!

Oh, Honda, why did you let us down with such lacklustre equipment for the hefty price of the City? It's just not cool, Honda!

And don't even get me started on the marketing blunder. Dressing someone up in a suit and expecting them to make the car and the ad exciting? Come on, Honda, you messed up big time.

Emotional View

In the world of sedans, people used to look at the Honda City with admiration, but now it's just kind of boring. There's a lack of innovation, and it feels like Honda isn't putting in the effort. Their attitude, like they're doing us a favour by offering their products, is just not sitting right.

In a recent Team-Bhp discussion (Wait 8 months for Mahindra XUV700 or get Skoda Slavia or 2023 Honda City facelift? EDIT: Got Slavia) where we were weighing the options between the City, Slavia, and XUV700, the XUV took the lead, with Slavia following closely. Unfortunately, the City found itself in the backseat, being the least preferred choice. Other Bhpians in the discussion were also proposing alternative options, and this wasn't a positive sign for the City.

Conclusion

In conclusion, has the appeal of the Honda City faded away? Sadly, yes, and it's all on Honda. The lack of timely updates, the sky-high price of the Hybrid version, and other factors like fewer features have taken a toll. Yes, SUVs are stealing the spotlight, but in the sedan segment too, the City isn't the segment leader it used to be.

As a Honda City fanboy, it hurts to say that the car hasn't met our expectations. It's good, but it's not exceptional anymore. Honda's focus on SUVs has left me feeling a bit saddened. The City doesn't evoke the same emotions it did in the '90s, 2000s, or even just five years ago.

The Honda City is still a decent car today, but it's lost that special touch that made it awesome. It's gone from being great to just mediocre.

Note: Just a heads up, this is my take on the City. I really like the car, it's my favourite, but I feel a bit sad about its sales and why it's not doing so well in the market.

Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.