All-New Honda City e:HEV Launched at Rs 19.5 Lakhs

Honda Cars India has shocked the country with the prices of its new hybrid offering, the City e:HEV, at Rs 19.5 lakhs (ex-showroom).

Honda Cars India has finally launched the City e:HEV in India at a competitive price of Rs 19,49,900 (ex-showroom). Costing Rs 4.5 lakh more than the top-end City ZX CVT, the e:HEV gets more performance and mileage along with ADAS tech on the inside. Here is a quick recap of this revolutionary sedan.

Honda City e:HEV Exterior and Interior Design:

The hybrid City's overall design remains constant compared to the standard model but features subtle cosmetic changes to enhance the vehicle's sportiness. Exterior upgrades on the model include a revised bumper with new fog lamp housing, a new diffuser with carbon fibre finish and a rear trunk lid spoiler. The new blue surrounds to the Honda logo differentiates the e:HEV from the standard model.

On the inside, the 7-inch instrument cluster has received an update and now displays hybrid powertrain information along with Honda Sensing notifications. Honda has also upgraded this four-wheeler’s interior to feature a new ivory and black theme. The most significant change on the vehicle is the 200-litre reduction in boot space to accommodate the Li-ion batteries for the hybrid system. Other highlights include ambient lighting and an electric park brake with Auto-Hold function.

Honda City e:HEV Powertrain and Mileage:

The country's first mainstream hybrid features a 1.5-litre Atkinson cycle petrol engine paired with two electric motors. The system's combined power output is rated at 125 bhp and 253 Nm torque, making it more powerful than its ICE counterpart. Honda claims a 0-100 kmph time of under 10 seconds for the four-wheeler with a claimed top speed of 176 kmph.

The hybrid system also offers three drive modes namely EV, Hybrid and Engine. The vehicle cycles through the different drive modes based on its speed and throttle input. The automaker has also claimed a ground-breaking fuel economy of 26.5 kmpl, putting the e:HEV among the most fuel-efficient cars in India.

Honda City e:HEV Safety:

Safety has taken the front seat in the updates added to the City e:HEV. The company has added disk brakes at all four corners along with standard equipment like 6 airbags, ABS with EBD and ESP. For the first time, Honda has introduced its advanced suite of driver assistance systems, Honda Sensing Technology, in India with this model. This provides the vehicle with features like adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, emergency braking and auto high beam assist.

Honda City e:HEV Price in India:

Honda has launched the City e:HEV only in the top-of-the-line ZX trim for Rs 19.5 lakh (ex-showroom). The company has already started accepting bookings for the new model and expects a waiting period of 6 months.

So, do you think Honda has nailed the pricing of the City e:HEV? Does the expensive price tag justify the new equipment on offer?