Buying a Used Honda City: Things You Should Consider

The Honda City has been around for almost 30 years and, five generations later, is still an aspirational sedan for many even today. Honda came to India in 1995 and the City  made its debut in 1998. Since then, the City has been synonymous with sporty sedans that fulfil the needs of families, balancing comfort, safety, fuel efficiency and driving pleasure. Many rivals have come and gone over the past decades, but the City continues going strong. 

The 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine seems like a constant, but has seen several evolutions, with the present model even offering a choice of a strong hybrid powertrain. Thus, there are a number of variants of the Honda City to choose from and some attractive offers on second hand cars as well.

Honda City: Model Overview

First launched in 1998, the Honda City has attracted buyers seeking a smooth Japanese sedan that offers power and substance, with enviable reliability and brand value. The VTEC engine technology is the one most sought-after. The shape changed from a sporty sedan to what was referred to as the “dolphin” version, focused on efficiency. The subsequent version took a bolder approach with more powerful engines including a choice of diesel for the first time. A sleeker and better equipped model came next with more chrome to stand out. 

The longer and more bulbous-looking present model followed, with a choice of petrol engine paired to manual and automatic transmissions, as well as a hybrid e:HEV model complete with advanced Honda Sensing autonomous tech. The City still delivers what its predecessors were famous for, with a greater touch of modernity to keep it relevant.

First Generation (1998-2002, 3A/SX)

The first Honda City in India was launched in 1998. It was the first offering from the Japanese giant in India. The City was produced at Honda’s facility in Uttar Pradesh. It was offered with a choice of three four-cylinder petrol engines: a 90-bhp 1.3, 100-bhp 1.5, and 106-bhp 1.5 VTEC. ‘VTEC’ was Honda’s signature technology for ‘variable valve timing and lift electronic control’. The first-gen Honda City recorded around 40,000 unit sales. Some enthusiasts still own and run these models and refuse to part ways with them.

Second Generation (2003-2008, GD/GE)

The second-gen Honda City took a different turn when it came to design, even being called the “Dolphin”. While it was longer, at 4,370 mm long, it focused on efficiency. Thus, it was more aerodynamic and was even offered with a new “iDSi” version of Honda’s 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine apart from the VTEC. The iDSi engine used two spark plugs per cylinder, and produced just 77 bhp and 125 Nm but was extremely refined and fuel-efficient. Honda offered a 5-speed manual or a CVT automatic. The 1.5 VTEC option had 99 bhp and 137 Nm.

The facelift version arrived in 2005 and was called the City ZX (not to be confused with the variant). It featured a larger front grille with more chrome and restyled split tail-lamps with visible round elements behind the red covers.

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Third Generation (2008-2013, GM2/3)

The third gen wore a sleeker design and had a futuristic front end with a distinctive grey horizontally-slatted grille, meshing with triangular headlights. It also received a more powerful 1.5 VTEC petrol engine as standard, with 117 bhp and 146 Nm. A 5-speed manual or automatic transmission was offered. 

There was also a CNG version available for the very first time. The third-gen Honda City ran on larger 15-inch wheels, moving up from the 14-inch wheels on the second-gen model. The third-gen Honda City also offered a sunroof, before they became popular and high in demand.

Fourth Generation (2014-2023, GM)

The fourth-generation Honda City adopted a more premium look with a thick slat of chrome on the grille. It retained most of the shapely silhouette of the outgoing model, and also grew 20 mm longer, to 4,440 mm. It brought in more pronounced lines and creases, especially across the side profile. The fourth-gen City introduced Honda’s 1.5-liter diesel engine to the sedan. 

The 1.5-litre iDTEC turbo-diesel four-cylinder, produced 99 bhp and 200 Nm, and was incredibly efficient. The 1.5-litre i-VTEC petrol was more powerful at 118 bhp and 146 Nm of torque. Both engines were offered with a 5-speed manual as standard, while the City petrol offered the option of a CVT automatic. There are some great deals on the used Honda City fourth-gen models, as they continued to be sold alongside the new fifth-gen models for a while.

Fifth Generation (2020-present, GN)

The all-new fifth-generation City grew 109 mm longer to 4,574 mm and offered a lot of space, comfort and equipment. This generation wore a smoother and more rounded look, packing unique LED headlights with multi-reflector fins and a bold chrome strip curving around the front fascia. Sharp looking LED tail-lights wrapped around the rear to complete the design. The more pronounced length was complemented by wider 185/60 tyres on 15-inch wheels, as well as 16-inch wheels—offered for the first time on the City—on the top ZX trim. The i-VTEC petrol now produced 120 bhp and made 145 Nm of torque. The 1.5 i-DTEC turbo-diesel continued with 99 bhp and 200 Nm, but was discontinued when the BS6 regulations came into force.

There is also a new (strong) hybrid model introduced in 2022: the Honda City e:HEV. This took efficiency to new heights with an Atkinson cycle 1.5 petrol engine running in conjunction with an 80-kW motor. The net output for the City hybrid is 124 bhp but the motor torque is considerably higher at 253 Nm. It uses an eCVT automatic to manage multi-mode drive duties to the front wheels. The hybrid Honda City is ARAI rated to offer 26.5 km/l, but is limited to the top-spec ZX variant.

Maintenance and Service Costs of the Honda City

The service cost is a big factor when you buy a second hand Honda City. Though they are incredibly reliable, longer-run models may need some replacement parts and this directly affects the overall cost of ownership. Honda Car India has a widespread presence with enhanced ownership experience over the years with new digital systems and expanded network of dealers and service centres. Here is the average service cost for the first five years of service for the Honda City.

The spare parts for the Honda City are widely available as this sedan has been one of the bestselling cars over the years. Locating a Honda authorised service centre is easy and getting your Honda City serviced on time will ensure that it keeps running smoothly and reliably.

Apart from the periodic service schedule, a second hand Honda City, especially one that has covered high mileage, will require a closer look and a more comprehensive service after 60,000 km or so. This means a replacement of parts such as spark plugs, brake pads and perhaps even more may be required. The following are the costs that may be involved:

Brakes: Ensure your City stops optimally by replacing the brake pads at around 45,000 km. The Honda City disc brake rotors cost about ₹2,000, drums are ₹1,000-1,500 and brake pads are around ₹1,500-1,600.

Under the Bonnet: A high-mileage Honda City will mostly need some replacements under the bonnet to keep things going smoothly. The Honda City timing chain costs ₹800, fan belt costs ₹450, and spark plugs cost ₹1,500-1,600.

Clutch: A Honda car’s clutch will last for a pretty long time with normal driving but would need replacement at around 60,000 km. The clutch plate replacement cost is about ₹4,000 plus labour and consumables.

Resale Value of the Honda City

The Honda City has been a popular car and an aspiration for many in India. It has earned its reputation of being a trouble-free and easygoing car for several reasons. Second hand Honda City models thus have better resale value. On an average, an 11-year old used Honda City S MT can be had for ₹3.5 lakh while the automatic City V costs from ₹4 lakh, thus retaining about 35% of its original value, whereas a two-year old pre-owned Honda City retains more than 70% of its value. 

A used Honda City is a great buy for those looking for an affordable upgrade from a small car or compact sedan. The prestige factor, features and equipment are better in the Honda City. The resale value depends upon several factors such as:

Model Year: Newer car models will always have a higher resale value than older models.

Location: The city of registration and use makes a difference as cars from suburbs and cities are valued higher than cars used in coastal cities.

Variant: Higher variants such as ZX or automatic will be more expensive but will fetch a higher resale value due to their better features and equipment.

Condition: A well-maintained Honda City which has been regularly serviced and has service history available will hold its resale value better.

Mileage: A used car with a lower kilometre reading will have a higher value.

Common Problems with a Honda City

1. Ground clearance:
   Several Honda City owners and reviewers have stated that the low ground clearance on older models can be an issue, causing the underbody to scrape over tall speed breakers, or rough roads.
    
2. Suspension noise:
   With regular use over bad roads or surfaces, the suspension may become noisy.
    
3. Electrical issues:
   Many owners have reported malfunctioning switches and even faulty door locks which can be down to faulty wiring or fuses.
    

Specifications of the Honda City (2023–present)

Here are all the specifications you need for the Honda City petrol and hybrid versions currently on sale in India.

Conclusion

The Honda City is a sleek and attractive sedan which is reliable and efficient as well as highly practical. It is locally manufactured so spare parts and service is easily available across a wide number of authorised touch points in urban and even rural areas. The choice of several manual and automatic variants as well as a strong hybrid version makes it a popular as well as sensible used car purchase.