Honda Cars India Pvt. Ltd. has officially launched the much-awaited Honda City e:HEV hybrid in India. The price for the Hybrid Honda City is pegged at ₹19.50 Lakh and is only available in the top-spec ZX variant. The Hybrid City commands a premium of ₹4-4.5 lakh over the standard 5th-gen Honda City Petrol CVT model.
Honda City e:HEV Specifications
The Honda City e:HEV hybrid is powered by an Atkinson Cycle 1.5-litre, four-cylinder engine assisted by two electric motors (one motor takes care of electricity generation while the other is used for the actual propulsion of the vehicle).
Standalone. the petrol motor generates 96bhp, while the propulsion motor generates 107bhp and the power-generator motor gives a boost of 94bhp. All in all the combined engine generates 126bhp of power and 253Nm of torque. The powertrain is mated to an e-CVT automatic gearbox with a battery pack located in the boot.
Honda India claims that the City e:HEV can achieve a claimed mileage of 26.5kmpl with a range of 1,000kms.
One thing to note is that the Hybrid City e:HEV used electric propulsion in start/stop conditions.
Honda City e:HEV Features
In terms of looks, the exterior of the City Hybrid is no different than the standard 5th-generation Honda City. The only hint of any difference is the subtle blue silhouette around the “H” (Honda Logo), the e:HEV badging at the boot, a new diffuser at the back along with a new rear bumper.
Again, on the inside the City Hybrid remains the same as the standard the City e:HEV remains the same. However, there are some changes like an updated 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay with a revised version of the Honda Connect connected car system which is compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google with functions like remote engine start, door lock/unlock, AC on/off, and more. The Honda City e:HEV finally gets ambient lighting.
Honda City e:HEV Safety Features
The safety features on the City e:HEV include six airbags, a lane watch camera, a hill start assist, and a TPMS (Tyre Pressure Monitoring System).
The City (e:HEV & standard) sports ADAS features as lane keep assist with departure warning, ACC (Adaptive Cruise Control) and collision mitigation braking.
Honda City e:HEV Price & Rivals
The City e:HEV, however, has no real competitor given its Hybrid Powertrain. However, the Hybrid City rivals the likes of the recently launched Volkswagen Virtus/Skoda Slavia siblings, the Hyundai Verna and the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz.
The Honda City e:HEV is only available in one trim (based on the top variant ZX variant) and is priced at ₹19.50 Lakh. The deliveries of the Honda City will commence immediately.