New Honda City Hybrid Revealed

• Electric motor develops 109PS/253, while the petrol engine puts out 98PS/127Nm.
• Likely to come with various drive modes: pure EV, pure ICE, and a combination of both.
• It will lock horns with the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz mild hybrid.
• India launch likely in 2021.

Honda has taken the wraps off the fifth-gen City in Malaysia. Yes, Malaysians will get to enjoy that 121PS 1.5-litre i-VTEC petrol engine. But the variant we are more excited about is the India-bound City hybrid, which debuted along with the conventionally powered model. Dubbed the City i-MMD, the greener variant borrows the hybrid powertrain from the new Jazz eHEV hybrid that debuted at the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show. It must be mentioned that the full specifications of the City hybrid are yet to be revealed.  The City hybrid in Malaysia is available with the sportier RS trim, which debuted in Thailand last year.

First, Let’s Get The Facts Right 

i-MMD stands for intelligent Multi-Mode Drive. The City RS i-MMD is a strong hybrid car meaning it can run on pure EV mode a la the Toyota Camry Hybrid. In comparison, the Ciaz, the only electrified model in the segment at present, utilises a mild-hybrid setup that mildly assists the petrol engine and offers idle auto start-stop for improved efficiency. 

Specifications And Functionality

The City hybrid comes with Honda’s latest twin-motor hybrid powertrain for compact models. While one motor acts as the starter and generator, the other one develops 109PS and 253Nm and propels the City. Assisting this electric motor is a 1.5-litre petrol engine that develops 98PS and 127Nm, providing added performance whenever required.  

Going by its i-MMD tag, the City hybrid is likely to come with various driving modes such as pure EV mode, pure ICE, and a combination of both. This could make the City one of the most fuel-efficient models in its segment, though Honda is yet to reveal the figures. For reference, the UK-spec Jazz hybrid has a claimed fuel efficiency of 22.22kmpl. It does the 0-100kmph sprint in 9.4 seconds.  

What Else Is New? 

The City hybrid looks similar to the standard variant which debuted last year. Not much has changed in terms of features but the City hybrid now adds an electric parking brake along with auto hold function and rear disc brakes to the kitty. You also get Honda’s Lane Watch Camera, which acts as a blindspot monitor when you turn on the left indicator. 

Honda’s Sensing safety suite of features is also a new addition to the City. It comes with adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, road departure mitigation system, blindspot detection system, and collision mitigation braking system. 

India Launch And Expected Prices

Honda has been toying around with the idea of bringing a mass-market hybrid model to India and it could be the new City hybrid. It is likely to reach showrooms by 2021 and should be the flagship variant in the City’s lineup. Naturally, it won’t come cheap. We expect a starting price around the Rs 15-lakh mark (ex-showroom) which will make it one of the most expensive sedans in its segment.