Honda City Hybrid e:HEV launched, prices start from Rs 19.49 lakh

Honda City Hybrid e:HEV has just been launched in India and carries a price tag of Rs 19.49 lakh (ex showroom).

Being the only pure hybrid model in its segment, the Honda City e:HEV comes with a mileage that is commendable — 26.5 km per litre.

Honda City Hybrid e:HEV -- Source:
Honda Cars India.

With the new Hybrid City, Honda is also promising to give a safer driving experience with the Japanese car giant claiming that its hybrid technology is the best in the world.

According to Honda, in the times of skyrocketing fuel prices, the City Hybrid e:HEV will do the perfect balancing act — between rising fuel prices of petrol cars and range anxieties that come with purely electric vehicles (EVs).

The Honda City has been a mega brand in the mid-sized sedan market in India. This market has been hit in recent times, owing to the growing preference for SUVs in India.

 

With the Hybrid e:HEV launch, Honda is upbeat on maintaining its top position in the mid-sized sedan market.

 

“The New City e:HEV comes with many firsts in the segment and this is in line with the legacy of Honda City that has set benchmarks for the industry with each launch,” said Takuya Tsumura, president and chief executive officer (CEO), Honda Cars India, in a press statement.

 

Tsumura added, “The tremendous response received on the showcasing of the model last month shows acceptance of the hybrid technology in the mainstream segment.”

While Honda hasn’t come out with numbers on the order booking front, executives of the company said that there could be a waiting period of several months. This is an indication of an initial demand spurt.

The waiting period is high even though the Honda City Hybrid is being made locally at the carmaker’s Tapukara plant in Rajasthan.

Hybrid tech

The new City uses a two-motor e-CVT hybrid system that is linked to a 1.5-litre Atkinson-Cycle DOHC i-VTEC petrol engine. 

The Hybrid version also has an intelligent power unit (IPU) with an advanced Lithium-ion battery along with an engine-linked direct coupling clutch. 

The Hybrid sedan starts on the electric mode only but is capable of switching automatically to the petrol mode as the City gathers speed. At high-speed cruising, only the petrol engine is at play.

The Honda City e:HEV comes with a combined power output of 126 PS and torque of 253 Nm. At the same time, it claims to be economical at 26.5 km per litre.

Honda City e:HEV exterior upgrade

The Hybrid is identical in looks to the conventional fifth-generation City (petrol variant).

There are, however, certain upgrades in the Hybrid like a more-solid front grille, claw-like outline on the front fog lamps and rear bumper diffuser. The ‘H’ logo at the front and back now comes in a shade of Blue.

Honda City Hybrid cabin

The City Hybrid has a two-tone — ivory and black — interior colour theme while the upholstery is made of premium leather.

The eight-inch main display has been updated and the TFT monitor gives out hybrid-related information.

The Hybrid City comes with paddle shifters behind the steering. They are used to adjust the intensity of regenerative braking.

e:HEV’s safety features

The City Hybrid comes with disc brakes in all the four wheels and its main safety highlight is Honda’s ‘Sensing’ technology. The Hybrid mainly uses a wide-view camera on the windshield.

This version of the City comes with features like Lane-Keep Assist, Forward Collision Warning, Road Departure Mitigation, Collision Mitigation Braking and Adaptive Cruise Control.

Conclusion

Well, definitely Honda has done a clever balancing act with the Hybrid launch — keeping both petrol and EV options — as well as pricing it at just over Rs 19 lakh, which we feel is not too expensive, considering the tech marvel the City e:HEV is coming with.