Honda has launched the much-awaited City e:HEV hybrid in a single, fully-loaded ZX trim. Priced at ₹ 19,49,900 (ex-showroom), bookings for the midsize sedan are already underway and deliveries are expected to begin anytime.
The exterior of the City hybrid gets different cosmetic elements like the blue outline on the Honda logos, a tailgate-mounted e:HEV badge, new fog light garnishes, an updated diffuser design on the rear bumper and a boot lid spoiler. On the interior, it the same layout as the standard City, apart from the updated 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity.
The City e:HEV hybrid gets a unique Atkinson Cycle 1.5-litre, four-cylinder engine that has been mated to two electric motors. Therefore, the City e:HEV sports a claimed fuel economy figure of 26.5kpl and 1,000km of range. With the powertrain mated to an eCVT transmission and a battery pack in the boot, the City hybrid sedan prioritises electric-only mode in start/stop conditions. Overall, the engine produces 126hp of power and 253Nm of torque.
The midsize sedan gets segment-first active safety features such as adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist and autonomous emergency braking, bundled under the Honda Sensing Suite. Additionally, the City e:HEV hybrid gets six airbags, ORVM-mounted lane-watch cameras, multi-angle rear-view camera, a tyre pressure monitoring system (TMPS), vehicle stability assist, hill-start assist and ISOFIX-compatible rear seats.
The City e:HEV’s other features include ambient lighting, electric sunroof and an updated version of Honda Connect with Amazon Echo, Google assistant and smartwatch (iOS and Android) integration.