15,300km report Our New Honda City lorded over the monsoon that swamped
Mumbai recently. 
Too much
of a good thing often makes it lose its allure. Take the Mumbai rains
for example. Come June, Mumbai-ites pray for the rains to escape the sweltering
summer heat and then when it rains, it pours and the monsoons are roundly
cursed for the general disruption of life they bring in their wake. This
year was no different - one particular wet spell saw unrelenting rain
for about 10 days and the morning daily carried a front page picture of
a rubber dinghy being used to traverse the waterways of Mumbai. Waterways
because they couldn't be called roads anymore, hit as they were with the
pox with over 30,000 potholes.
The lethal combination of rain and potholes apply a giant brake to traffic,
slowing it down much like a 78rpm record switched to 33rpm and equating
to traffic jams with crawl rates that would boost a tortoise's ego.
To weather this stormy spell, we, of course, had our Honda City GXi (CVT)
which turned out to be a sturdy urban commuter able to tackle
these conditions
with aplomb. The continuously variable transmission proved to be a boon,
going a long way in reducing driver fatigue and keeping road rage at bay.
Without the hassle of changing gears, just a light foot on the gas pedal
would see the Honda through sections of road more suited for the Arjun Main
Battle Tank we tested last month. Though the jolts on the road were accentuated
by the stiff suspension and low profile tyres, the good seating position,
especially at the rear, and the firm back and underthigh support helped
keep us comfortable.
The City is a car that is immensely driveable in the city. Its engine intelligently
makes maximum use of all its horses without letting them overindulge their
thirst. The electric power-assisted steering easily let us squeeze into
tight spaces to get closer to that junction so that we could cross it before
the lights turned red. However the steering, which requires very little
effort to turn, feels quite vague with a missing centre point and doesn't
really give any feedback.
The sole hitch we encountered were the brake pads wearing out at 14,000km.
A quick call to dealer Linkway Honda saw the car booked for service and
the pads replaced within a day. The cost incurred was Rs 3,682.
While our New City is a well rounded package, it is definitely not the driver's
car our previous long-term City (V-TEC) used to be. While that one would
speed you to your destination with your pulse racing and adrenaline pumping,
this one will see you get there pampered - and dry. l
Rishad Saam Mehta
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book
Distance covered 15,300km
Average speed 19.6kph
Fuel consumption
Average fuel consumption 9.9kpl
worst 8.1kpl
Best 10.7kpl
Maintenance costs Rs 3,682
Faults Nil
Likes Hassle-free commuting
Dislikes Harsh ride, lifeless steering
Caption:
Brake pads changed at 14,000km
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