Test Drive – Day 2 – Interiors
Welcome back to the on going road test of the New Honda City i-VTEC. Yesterday we spoke about the engine and gearbox, today we touch upon another section, the section that matters to Indians - interiors.
Interiors
The well designed exteriors seeps on to the inside too with a well sculpted dashboard. The steering feels good to grip though it is small. The instrument cluster is pleasing on the eyes - the orange backlit with the orange needles and aluminium bordering enhances the sporty feel.
Speedo is marked up to 220kph and we got a nice little MID in its centre, which carried in it the live time mileage meter that took some time to understand.
The centre console comprises of the stereo with a screen that can be folded outwards exposing the USB connection port and a storage place for iPods and other mobile players. Audio quality was nothing exceptional but the steering controls for the stereo is a big boon in the city.
The air conditioner is basic, and one would expect a climate control to be standard on this segment. The cooling on our car was not like the Civic we drive otherwise or its classmate Linea. It took a little while in sending some cold air our way.
What's noteworthy is the abundant usage of the brushed aluminium here too. Nice cubby storage area under the driver side A.C vent and a couple more ahead of the gear stalk. Glove box doesn’t have a light inside nor does it have a cooling vent within, but space is more than enough to keep the regular documents and files.
The aluminium touch is carried forward to the gear lever and another storage box is available on the left side of the driver seat which also acts as a hand rest. Ample space to hold bottles in the door pads and very well crafted hand rest that suit the posture while driving add to the beauty for the doors from within.
Missing are door pockets/bottle holders for the rear doors and very surprisingly there’s just one map pocket behind the co-driver's seat.
Seats
Printed fabric used on the seats is in beige color matching the door pads and the roof. The front seats are at a good height, the reason being under them lies the fuel tank. Height adjustment for the driver's seat are also provided. Headrests are huge but don’t come in the way while reversing nor do they keep bombarding you in your head/neck while braking, which is a problem on the Civic.
The rear seat has a central armrest with integrated cup holders in them and one more on the rear of the front centre arm rest. Rear seats are also at a height but that is working in its favor, remember the 1st gen city had a very low seats and that helped no one.
Rear seats are not 60-40 split nor do they have a height adjustable headrests where the Linea scored. Ample headroom and shoulder room make things better at the rear and the tunnel that runs through the centre is not very high.
Tomorrow we get to know how similar the City is compared to the Civic.
