Honda unveils global market sub-Civic sedan

Honda has lifted the veil off of the fourth-generation City, a high-volume sub-compact sedan designed to slot under the Civic in a number of global markets all around the world.

Stretching 173 inches long (six inches less than a Civic sedan), the new City keeps the outgoing model’s overall silhouette while gaining an updated front end consisting of angular headlights, a sculpted bumper and a single-slat grille inspired by Honda’s new Exciting H design language. The rear end borrows design cues such as its rounded bumper elongated tail lamps from the Civic.

Honda has not published any pictures of the interior but it promises the City offers the same amount of interior space as many larger sedans. Well-equipped versions come with four power outlets, Bluetooth connectivity and a dash-mounted touch screen that bundles the car’s entertainment, connectivity, navigation (if equipped) and climate control functions into a single unit.

Honda is hoping to shake the City’s no-frills economy car image by offering options such as heated seats, A/C, alloy wheels, leather upholstery, a multi-function steering wheel and a sunroof. Safety-conscious buyers can opt for ABS, electronic brake-force distribution (EBD) and electronic traction control.

The Fit-based City is offered with two four-cylinder engines, a gasoline-burning 1.5-liter VTEC unit and a diesel-burning 1.5-liter mill that makes 100 horsepower. Both send power to the front wheels via either a manual or an automatic gearbox.