Nov 14, 2016 05:01 PM
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For the City, there's a new diesel motor - it’s the same 1.5-litre i-DTEC from the Amaze, with a similar power output of 98.6bhp and 200Nm of max torque. But don’t be disheartened – the City comes with a newly developed six-speed manual gearbox that promises better driveability in our conditions. The other engine is the one we know well, the 1.5-litre i-VTEC carried over from the earlier model in a similar state of tune, churning out 117bhp and 145Nm. It will have the option of a five-speed manual and a CVT gearbox.
Driving the top-end diesel variant after my initial apprehensions about teaming up a 99bhp motor with a full-fledged sedan, it turned out to be a decent outing. Power is available from 1, 500rpm and even after the turbo comes to life, it’s delivered in a linear fashion. The new six-speed gearbox is Honda-smooth, the gears slotting in with precision. And in the interest of fuel economy, Honda has gone in for shorter gear ratios, so driving around town in third or fourth gear is quite manageable. It’s only on the highway that you feel the diesel motor lacks that extra punch.
