Viewed the V spec recently, the specs are a bit disappointing (for me). guess honda was trying to push the RS after all

Honda showroom, was invited by the SA, the car was just there for a day (some sort of special preview i guess), my phone was confiscated before going in

Perhaps my expectation was too high after seeing the almera and x50 spec, thought that honda will step up it's game on the non-RS variant also to compete with them.

From what I can recall what it doesn't have are
1. No semi-digital instrument cluster (only analog - just like Thailand City SV variant)
2. No EPB, no brake hold
3. No dual tone alloy wheels, only single tone
4. No honda sensing or any form of ADAS (AEB etc)
5. Rear drum brakes (disc on RS)
6. Non adjustable rear headrest

I feel the car was a bit more solid compares to my 2015 honda city (body wise) and the seats are pretty "solid" feel as well

In my opinion, if compare to the previous generation city facelift V spec, there is only little improvement on this upcoming V spec (spec wise)

*forget to mention (there is lane watch camera)

This post has been edited by 4EveRLonE: Oct 5 2020, 11:04 AM

I was expecting at least an semi-digital instrument cluster without honda sensing on the V spec.

But it turns out with only analog dials that instrument cluster really makes the car interior feels much cheaper and dated in my opinion

The only notable things on the V spec are the lane watch camera lol

There is rear air-con vents, leather seats, LED headlamp, LED fog lamps, not sure on the availability of remote start feature (forget to discover that time as I'm too disappointed by the instrument cluster )

Interestingly, the soft touch area on door trim are not black color

This post has been edited by 4EveRLonE: Oct 5 2020, 11:19 AM

I was told by the SA there are no RS this year, only start from next year (not sure he meant RS allocation was sold out for this year or RS only will start deliver next year)

Yes, if it is the case..is a bad move and it puts me on dilemma as well.. sure the price will be much higher after SST kicks in

I've put booking on the city and X50 as well since it's refundable

It makes me harder to decide which car to proceed on..SA says they are expecting possible launching by earliest 15 Oct

I'm thinking the same as well as the V spec are not so compelling compare to competitors

Think of the bright side, maybe my SA meant RS was sold out for this year allocation hence he say this year not available as I told him I want to get the car this year

SA didn't promise me a specific time frame on when will get the car, say would try to get within this year lol

I asked SA about the production volume on the remaining months as X50 was 4k - 8k max production volume , while almera was 2k for remaining months this year

he told me the production volume for the remaining months this year was about total 20K(all honda model lineup) and honda will focus more on production of the city on production line

Yes, notice the new DOHC engine. Overall I do feel the car is a bit more "solid" feeling (it could be placebo effect). Waiting to test drive the car to see how the NVH compare to my 2015 GM6 city.

So its true there is no RS in 2020 like my SA said

I test driven the almera, it is miles better than it's predecessor like those car reviewer had said on youtube. I like the almera semi-digital instrument cluster

Spec wise, almera are much compelling to me compare to the city,

but when the moment I sat in the almera, I can feel the typical 3 potter engine vibration when idling, slowing down till standstill on traffic light (it's a very minimal vibration, maybe I'm too sensitive)

when I floor the throttle, the torque comes which is good but right after it shifts up, it need sometime for the boost to come (turbo characteristic) and before the boost come the car feel a little bit sluggish as it behaves like 1 liter NA on that moment (just my opinion, I'm not a professional car guy)

For me, given the price is same for both, I might still consider V spec as much as I hate the analog instrument cluster. my reason as follows
1. I prefer the space of the city, when I saw the upcoming city in metal. It's silhouette makes me feel it is a larger car than the almera it feels more like a B+ segment sedan. and I feel the interior space is spacious than the almera
2. Although City only comes with 1.5NA, but if compares to the almera the tradeoff of losing the turbocharger isn't that much of an difference (my opinion), 145NM (city) vs 152NM(almera), 120ps(city) vs 100ps (almera) although the peak torque might be much earlier on the almera, but the city would not have the typical 3 cylinder vibration (I presume) since its a 4 cylinder
3. I like the LED headlight design than the almera (personal preferences)
4. I like the steering in the city than the almera (flat bottom steering is cool-though)

but having said that, I will still need to test drive the city before I make any conclusion which to get.. who knows I might encounter some unforeseen deal-breaker factor

The question now lingers on my mind is not really between City or Almera , is City or X50


I see. so indeed there is no RS this year. I wonder what's holding honda to release the RS and causing confusion to the potential customers, bad strategy to release on 2021 in my opinion..

I can totally get your frustration as I am so frustrated as well. I agree that it is basically an E spec with addition LED headlamps

if compares to previous model V spec, the only difference is the lane watch camera.....heck they "downgrade" the alloy wheels to single tone now compare to previous gen dual tone

I still can accept honda sensing is absent on the V spec..disappointed with no EPB...but for me the ANALOG DIALS is the elephant in the room..

that dials is the low spec instrument cluster on overseas market...my 2015 city instrument cluster is prettier I think

Yes the almera feels a little bit runs out of puff once it went above 80...well it is a 1 liter engine after all.. turbocharger was meant to compensate the small displacement to equivalent 1.5 NA

The sound insulation on almera is pretty decent, better than what I expected

Your description was spot on, the pity tiny screen is so so so dated...directly makes the city feels cheaper than its pricing...imagine spending 90k for a car that feels cut spec

I also wanted the honda sensing but too bad the reality slap us hard... the irony they pushing the RS but launching without the RS available for customers to enjoy the SST rebate

Because of the way honda spec the city...it pushes me to consider other maker seriously, leaving me on a difficult situation

Will need to test drive the x50 to see how that 3-potter fares...if it's like the almera maybe it's a no go for me too

Yes the bookings are overwhelming for x50 given its limited production capacity, given 50% of booking didn't make through, there is still 10K order for proton to fulfill

I've placed my booking on the city and x50 as well, will see which car available to get within this year first and see what is the pricing for the RS on upcoming launch

If RS pricing is attractive enough, will consider the possibility to get the RS instead next year

RS spec is way more attractive than the V spec (and feels more like a 2020 car), if one can accept the immd and the pricing, should go for RS in my opinion

Does anyone get discounts or freebies from SA? Wondering if there’s any although it just launch recently

I’ve placed my booking for V spec before launch, my SA told me I’ll only get the car on December huhu

White

Mostly due to late in signing the loan documents, decision making between city or X50 took sometime

By the time I decided to go on with city, my SA told me current allocation for V spec finished, need to wait for next round which is in December

Although there is one v spec ready stock being offered to me but that car already on full set modulo bodykit which I not so fancy about it. Hence I declined and the waiting began

Deal breaker factor mainly is the space and the rear seats of city, which much more comfortable for my parents when sitting on the back

I was comparing V spec and X50 flagship as these two are under my radar, I’ve test driven both twice. I’m quite like the features and all the ADAS packed in the x50 flagship, along with the 1.5 turbo which can make the driving much more spirited and the all round disc brakes are good in stopping the car. X50 gives me an impression of “semi conti” car feels which is quite refreshing for me.

At this point, I probably sounds like I’m all in for the X50 and initially I almost make the call. But things changed after my numerous time of visiting the showroom (both Honda & Proton) and when I start to look on both cars in depth. I start off from looking around the things that I will touch and feel the most on my daily driving & usage which that’s where the city starts to feel more appealing to me

Some examples: (my personal opinion)
1. The interior door handle feels much more solid on city compare to X50 when pull
2. The leather on the door cards feels better and thicker than the ones than X50
3. The leather seats feels better quality than the ones in X50
4. The switches and knobs feels better than the ones in X50
5. Apple car play & android auto (once I tested on city, I can’t unseen it)
6. Speakers sounds better than the ones in X50
7. Feeling not too cramp when the car full on 5 adults compare to X50
8. The steering looks and feels on touch more appeal to my liking on city

Power delivery on city is decent although there is no turbocharger, power is quite ok for an 1.5 NA.

Coming from driving an GM6 for 5 years (and experienced from the infamous quality related issues), although current generation is not an revolutionary changes from GM6 but for me it have noticeable improvement over the GM6, overall build quality feels a bit more solid and better than GM6. Hope it will age better than my previous GM6. The regrettable part is that there are no Honda sensing..unless I go for RS IMMD

At the end of the day, choosing city over X50 in a way saves me 17K to relocate for other purpose and the NA DOHC will be hassle free to deal with as it is a simple & tested mechanism

If they bundle for free to me I will shamelessly take it apparently that car previously is for another customers but loan failed to pass, so they are pushing that car out asap to any buyer in queue

Yes, I agree with you. For city V selling price, it is a very competitive pricing. If one do not factor in price difference of 18k, it will be unfair to direct compare without putting in the perspective of price gap between those two

About the engine, yes the 1.5 even produce better power than some of the 1.6 NA out there (previously I’m already pretty satisfy with GM6 power, I’m sure this new DOHC will perform better)...for almera I think the differences is in the torque curve due to the turbocharger and there is lag (test driven the almera). I still prefer the response of NA in city....City engine feels lesser strain on highway cruising and high speed drive

I realise the same thing about the comments on Facebook..many of them bashing the looks, the engines etc..not sure of they are just joining the bandwagon of bashing the car or really hate Honda....I’m feeling like why so much hatred on the Facebook comments whenever city was mentioned

The reason why I comparing both flagship and V spec in my decision making process is because my budget is within the reach of both cars and I am aware the price difference when comparing the kits and feature on both cars, after series of consideration (like the example I mentioned) and molesting the car on showroom. I’m happily to choose city V over X50 with extra cash on hand without bothering too much what other might say about it

From my past GM6 ownership, GM6 is a pretty decent car and for me the GN2 ride feels better than GM6, more compliant on highway speed and feels more elegant than my previous 2015 GM6.

If I’m not mistaken, preve is wider than the city.

The driving dynamics of C segment cars are kinda different than B segment cars (correct me if I’m wrong), for preve is a multilink setup if I remember correctly while city is torsion beam setup. I’m not sure you have test driven the city or not, but I will suggest go and try it first to see if it matches your expectation before making the switch (if you haven’t test drive it)

City rear seats width feels similar (if not a little bit wider) to the previous GM6 and the recline angle is good , 3 normal adult (average height and average weight) should be not too much of a problem but if one of the rear occupants are obese , it will be a bit tight (like touching shoulders), if two rear passenger are obese then the ones sit in middle will be rubbing shoulders

For long journey (>2 hour drive), I think C segments cars are more comfortable (not to say City are bad though) Although city rear space is class leading in B segment but if you used to have C segment rear seats width, City might not meet your expectations.

For one thing I sure is that the city cvt drives better than the punch cvt in preve

The best is to go try out the car and put 3 adults on the back to get the most accurate picture

This post has been edited by 4EveRLonE: Nov 15 2020, 08:38 PM