HONDA CITY ZX VTEC

The Honda City ZX VTEC is here!

The VTec is back on Indian roads. Rejoice!

3 January, 2006
MUMBAI, INDIA

The new-old Honda City was a bore. Yes, it had spaceship aesthetics and luggage space that can hide a container truck, but it was a boring car to drive. I mean, the way it feels. On the road comparisons have shown that even with its measly 77 bhp, the Honda City was often a match for the 100 bhp plus 'old' Honda City VTEC. Yes, yes, but it just did not have that VTEC feel, and didn't the automobile magazines crib.

Those days are over. The latest iteration of the Honda City is a true VTEC. The Honda Citys with the iDSI engines will still be around, but the ZX VTEC will take care of your highway blues. And for those who thought that the Honda City's design was a bit like that of a steel space-age cockroach, the sightly more normalised VTEC's lines will come as a relief.

So are we yet confused about the old, new and newer Honda Citys we are talking about here? Don't bother. Just stay focused on the ZX VTEC material we have here.

We have a longer bonnet now - longer by about 3 inches. It is a little higher too, and doesn't dip like in the last version. Larger grill makes it look a bit mroe like a Honda Accord. The ZX VTEC also sports newere smarter headlamps.

The rear has been elongated by .5 inches, and lowered by exactly that much too. The rear end of the ZX VTEC looks definitely smarter and leaner. The big-ass look was not exactly a great favorite in India.

The ZX VTEC retains most of the earlier Honda City's initial acceleration, and the extra valves ensure good speed on the highway. The improved suspension does its job well, and the Honda City Zx VTEC hugs corners in a way its predecessor could not.

Fuel efficiency is extremely decent for a car like this. Fourteen kilometer per liter is achievable in the city, and pedal to metal driving will still return a decent 11-12 kmpl. Those are extremely good figures for a 100 bhp car. All that power is developed at at 5800 rpm and an excellent 13.5 kgm of torque at 4800 rpm.

Interiors retain their earlier class and style and are massive, and as comfortable as some of the larger sedans in India.

There are three other variants of the Honda City too - the EXi, GXi, CVT, but they all retain the earlier iDSi engine. 

What drivers in India are going to hate are the luxury and safety bits. No ABS, airbags and no 15-inch wheels. I hate to think that if you buy this, there is the possibility that in six months or so, there could be a newer version with those features. Oh the agony.

But overall, if you were craving for that old Honda City power and thrill, you would find it tough to resist this car. The Honda City ZX VTEC is now the top gun - at least till the next improved version of it is unleashed on us.

Prices in Mumbai:

City : MUMBAI
	City ZX EXi	:	Rs.707,675
	City ZX GXi	:	Rs.756,367
	City ZX CVT	:	Rs.818,602
	City ZX VTEC	:	Rs.840,058