HONDA Cars Philippines last week formally launched the all-new City Hatchback.
Though is no formal announcement that the Honda City Hatchback replaces the almost iconic Honda Jazz in the Philippine market.
The timing of the end of production of the Jazz and the release of the hatchback version of the City seems to be a rationalization of Honda’s product line in the ASEAN market, because the Jazz, called the Fit in Japan and other right-hand drive markets will continue to be manufactured and sold.
As far as “all-new” is concerned, the Honda City Hatchback is really all-new. The model has only always been available in a four-door sedan since its very first launch in 1996. The City became a proven performer, and as a very young boy, I remember seeing my dad race the City in the Honda Media Challenge and eventually become Champion in both the 1500 cc and 1300 cc categories in the same year.
The all-new City Hatchback was introduced to the media via a special one-on-one activity where we were allowed to briefly drive and take photos and videos of the cars at Honda’s former manufacturing hub in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. Not only is this a novel way of introducing the new car, but it was also very safe and in typical Honda fashion, very organized.
Now a shadow of its former self, the plant services all Honda cars for release to dealers, since the carmaker stopped manufacturing cars locally, importing most of its vehicles from Thailand. With little activity happening, the plant is a perfect backdrop for photo sessions. This theme seems to be regional. Thailand and Indonesia motoring magazines also feature a similar vibe in their reporting.
Stunning yet familiar
The new City Hatchback is stunning, yet familiar. Both cars share the same 2600mm wheelbase but the abrupt cut at the C-pillar for the hatchback makes it 204 mm shorter in length versus the City sedan. That sheet metal went to wrapping and strengthening the third hatch pillar and door making the City about 21 mm taller than the sloping rear of the sedan.
The hatch is only available in the RS variant. And this, I believe is a good call. The RS badge for Honda is a powerful reminder of youth and energy. Even if there are really no major performance enhancements in any of the RS- badged variants in its line-up, the exterior upgrades and colors give a stunning impression.
The new City Hatchback is no different, as it shares some flagship RS design elements including the front bumper, high-gloss black front grille, and full LED headlights and LED daytime running lights similar to that of the RS sedan. Of course, the all-important RS badge seals the deal.
My editor and I tested the City Hatchback finished in Meteoroid Gray Metallic, which is a new color. The spacey name gives an idea of the deep gray finish it has and how it can, because of the sheen, despite the hue, reinforce a strong and sporty image. Add to that the 16-inch Berlina black alloy wheels which are decidedly more European in flair with the tasty edge lines and two shades of black and hints of chrome. The RS Design rear bumper with an aesthetic diffuser aligns perfectly with the tailgate spoiler in glossy black. The whole rear profile is finished off with full LED taillights emphasizing that energetic positioning.
Powering the City Hatchback is a 1.5-liter four-cylinder DOHC i-VTEC engine, not a new engine, but a pretty reliable lump that produces 121ps at 6,600rpm and 145Nm of torque at 4,300 rpm. Since this is an RS, paddle shifters are a must and those operate the Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). Honda’s Eco Assist System, which consists of the Econ mode and Eco-Coaching Ambient Light (a constant reminder that changes color when one drives from economical–in green, which goes red when aggressively pushing the car–is available to help promote fuel-efficient driving.
The lights won’t however, stop drivers from pushing the car because it can deliver that needed performance. The very short jaunts and hops we had around the small and tight HCPI test track show nimbleness and ability which are Honda hallmarks. Again the concept of the energetic hatchback is felt from the excellent power-to-weight ratio as well as the responsive controls, which are a little less sharp than a Civic, but nevertheless good enough for this application.
The energetic concept also seeps into the vehicle’s cabin. The spacious interior are complemented by upscale materials–black interior suede and leather in the proper places accented with red stitching abound–leather shift knob and steering wheel with audio controls, front and rear center armrests, sports pedals, and multi-information display with red illumination. The new City Hatchback’s interiors carry both a premium and sporty feel complementing the sporty RS Design exterior.
The City Hatchback inherits the Honda Jazz’s signature ULTR seats–a first in that model–and seeming proof of the succession.
ULTR allows the rear seats to be folded flat or flipped up giving the All-New City Hatchback the versatility to quickly adapt to a wide variety of passenger lifestyle and cargo hauling needs. The All-New City Hatchback features four ULTR adjustable modes namely:
- Utility: with the two rear seats folded flat, the vehicle can carry two passengers and accommodate large cargo items in the rear storage area.
- Long: with the front passenger seat fully reclined and rear passenger seat folded flat, the vehicle can carry two passengers and accommodate long cargo items such as surfboards.
- Tall: with the rear seats folded upward, the vehicle can accommodate tall items that need to remain upright, such as a large plant or tall luggage.
- Refresh: When removing the front-seat head restraints, moving the seats all the way forward and tilting the seatbacks all the way back, the Refresh Mode allows the front and rear seats to be connected providing a comfortable place for two people to relax.
Convenience and technology fill the City Hatchback. Starting with an eight-inch advanced touchscreen display with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and WebLink connectivity; an eight-speaker (4+4 tweeters) system; and a new A/C system with rotary knobs, digital display and illumination. It also features a One Push Start System with Smart Entry Keyless Entry System and Remote Engine Start.
Honda also gives utmost priority to safety. Standard in the City Hatchback are a G-Force Control (G-Con) body structure that helps to protect the vehicle’s cabin during collisions from any direction, vehicle stability assist (VSA) with agile handling assist (AHA), emergency stop signal (ESS), anti-lock braking system (ABS), electronic brake force distribution (EBD), hill start assist (HSA) and multi-view rear camera with dynamic guidelines. The City Hatchback also comes with six air bags (dual front air bags, front driver and passenger side air bags, and side curtain air bags). The City Hatchback boasts a five-star ASEAN NCAP safety rating.
It comes in four colors Ignite Red Metallic, Meteoroid Gray Metallic (a new color, used in the unit we test drove and photographed), Platinum White Pearl (costing an additional P20,000) Brilliant Sporty Blue Metallic (which will be available by June 2021) — with Raymond Tribdino
