City

Honda has launched for the first time in Australia the Honda City sedan, a $20k light car now in its third generation that is positioned below Civic, based on Jazz and an all-important new model that Honda hopes will lure 4000 buyers a year away from competitors such as Toyota Yaris, Hyundai Accent and Holden Barina.

Despite appearances, the City has plenty of Jazz DNA, so there are no surprises mechanically or in most dimensions. The City is nearly half a metre longer than the Jazz, but width and wheelbase are identical to Jazz, while the ‘big brother’ Civic sedan is 140mm longer and 55mm wider than the City sedan.

Just one engine is offered, a 1.5-litre SOHC i-VTEC transversely mounted four-cylinder that has a claimed output of 88kW at 6600rpm and 145Nm at 4800rpm and is identical to the unit used in the Jazz.