Honda City 1.5 LX

Honda Has Finally Got Its Act Together for the New City 1.5 LX

Third time's the charm and so it is for Honda's compact saloon, the City. The original nodeal was a perfect robbery getaway car - not because it could outrun the cops, but because it looked so forgettable that no eyewitness would have been able to describe it.

Being recognised wasn't something its replacement had a problem with, if only for all the wrong reasons. If ever there was a car that prioritised function over form, it was the gawky looking second-generation City.

This brings us to the latest version and as you can see, it is quite a looker. Although it shares its platform with the new Jazz, the City has completely different interior and extrior styling.

A 15mm reduction in height compared to its predecessor gives the car a more planted stance on the road, while thick horizontal bars across the front grille emphasize its width. It looks modern and proportionate, even mildly sporty.

First impressions are positive - other than being dressed to impressed, its packed with enticing goodies like a powerful 120bhp engine, a five-speed automatic gearbox with paddle shifters, all-round disc brakes and factory-fitted 16-inch alloy wheels.

Apart from the air vent louvres and centre compartment catch which feel a bit flimsy, most of the switches and controls work with typical Honda precision. Even the steering wheel looks upmarket.

The thick cushioned front chairs apear to have been pinched from a bigger car and rear occupants haven't been left out: they get two-position reclinable seats, which is a nice luxury touch.

Once again the City's cabin is something of a packaging miracle, with much more legroom than expected in a car of this size. The boot is also massive, its 506 litre capacity surpassing something even the Lexus LS 460s. If you can't squeeze something in there, you probably don't need it.

From the driver's seat, it quickly becomes obvious how much better the new City is to drive. The steering, always a weak point in the old car, is now well-weighted and precise. No longer do you have to coax the wheel back towards the straight-ahead position after making a U-turn.

The car is also far more stable when it's being enthusiastically. Excellent damping cuts body roll through corners and the suspension easily shrugs off the best efforts of road humps to jolt passengers.

The picture isn't as rosy at low speeds, when the ride is noticeably firm and small bumps are too readily transmitted into the cabin. Things never get jarring, but this does knock the City's comfort score back a bit.

So does the engine's occasionally loud voice. By most standards, the City's power unit is a fine performer, combining punchy power delivery with impressively low fuel consumption.

But such is the reputation Honda has built for itself as a maker of great engines that the 1.5 litre i-VTEC's gritty note at high revs comes as a disappointment. Extra insulation would have helped improve perceived refinement.

This aside, the car is good fun to drive and the improved all-round visibility makes it easier to place on the road. It feels altogether more sophisticated than many of its rivals. The car plays the role of a junior Civiv convincingly enough.

Ups
Stylish
Sharp handling
Spacious cabin and boot

Downs
Firm low-speed ride
High selling price

Engine
1,497cc, 16V in-line 4

Max Power
120bhp at 6,600rpm

Max Torque
145Nm at 4,800rpm

Gearbox
5-speed automatic