SEPANG: With looks that scream sportiness, buyers of the soon-to-be launched all-new Honda City Hatchback will also be expecting the five-door model to deliver a good level of performance and drivability.
At the media drive organised by Honda Malaysia at the Sepang International Circuit early this week, the City Hatchback proved it's not "all show and no go."
For the record, the City Hatchback is the hatchback version of the City sedan that has a shorter rear overhang finished with a large tailgate.
As both cars are said to have the same wheelbase, this should result in similar front and rear legroom.
The current City sedan, launched in October last year, is stylish, and has a roomy interior and premium features.
The sedan is Honda Malaysia's best-selling model and the company is banking on the City Hatchback receive similar reception.
The new model replaces the third-generation Honda Jazz whose production Malaysia is being phased out.
However, the City Hatchback will carry over one of Jazz's best-known feature - the 4-Modes Ultra rear seats with Utility, Long, Tall and Refresh modes.
So far, Honda Malaysia has announced two variants with two different powertrain offering for the City Hatchback - the RS e:HEV hybrid and the V with a 1.5-litre DOHC i-VTEC engine.
Specification-wise, the corresponding variants of the City Hatchback and City sedan should come with similar equipment.
The RS e:HEV has an intelligent Multi-Mode Drive (i-MMD) system featuring a highly efficient two-motor hybrid system delivering 109PS and 253Nm of torque combined to a 1.5-litre DOHC i-VTEC Atkinson cycle engine.
Meanwhile, the V variant's 1.5-litre DOHC i-VTEC engine, which delivers 121PS and 145Nm of torque, is arguably the most powerful of its class in Malaysia.
Despite being slower than the RS e:HEV at take-off due to its lower torque delivery, the City Hatchback V variant is still quick and pleasing to drive.
Its power delivery via CVT to the front wheels is instant and "gear" changes silky smooth with a bit of the traditional geared-type transmission upshift feel dialed in.
Also hardly felt was the "rubber band" effect that is associated with earlier generation CVTs and this makes the V variant more engaging and fun to drive.
Although its ride has a certain level of comfort factored in, the V variant still performed with minimal body roll as we zigzagged the car around a row of traffic cones during a slalom test.
The V variant was nippy with precise steering and kept its composure to allow us to steer through the cones without worrying about hitting any of them.
When we drove a popular non-national 1.5-litre hatchback rival on the same course later, the car delivered poorer performance as its engine was about 10% less powerful in comparison with the V variant's and it came with a slower responding CVT.
Incidentally, the City Hatchback V variant comes with a honeycombed upper grille design similar to that used in the RS e:HEV.
The V variant of the City sedan uses the standard pattern for its upper grille.
Other features available on the City Hatchback RS e:HEV and V variant are Honda LaneWatch, remote engine start, LED Headlights with LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL), LED Front Fog Lights, LED Rear Combi Lights and 16-inch alloy wheels (dual tone for RS e:HEV).
The RS e:HEV will also get the Honda Sensing driving aid system that includes Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Lane Keep Assist System (LKAS), Road Departure Mitigation (RDM), Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and Auto High Beam (AHB).
These features will give an added level of safety to those who do outstation or long distance trips regularly where driver fatigue could set in.
Overall, the City Hatchback appears set to raise the level of visual and driving excitement in its segment.
The City Hatchback is planned for launch before the year is out and can been booked at any Honda Malaysia dealer now.
