Honda City Hatchback RS e:HEV Facelift Review: Decent For Dating Duties

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This newly-refreshed hybrid City Hatchback does a decent job when courtship is on the cards.

So recently, Honda has rather graciously offered up their newly-facelifted City Hatchback for Automacha to review. But the only problem here is that while Automacha has not actually done a test on the Hatchback before, quite a lot has been said already on this site regarding its strikingly-similar sedan sibling.

In fact, it was just a few short months ago that this writer had published quite a comprehensive review on the exact same hybrid spec of its similarly updated sedan sibling (linked here for your reading pleasure). And bar the mention of its ultra seats and how it is slightly easier to park from its shorter length, the notes jotted down for the review of this hatchback read pretty much verbatim to what was previously written for its booted brethren.

Just to avoid writing the same review twice therefore, let’s instead take this piece into a slightly different direction, and point out something that might perhaps be relevant to its prospective buyers: the City Hatchback is actually a decent car to go out on dates with.

City Hatchback

1. Turn Signal Stalk On The Right Hand Side

Now starting with something that is not exactly exclusive to the City Hatchback but nonetheless a key feature for a good date car, this Honda has its turn signal stalk on the right hand side of the column. This therefore means that the driver still has a left hand free to hold the significant other’s right, while still be able to operate the indicators.

City Hatchback

This subtle act of romanticism is to be further made easier with the Honda having a decently light steering, for easy one-handed driving in most scenarios. The City Hatchback also features a front central armrest as standard, which does make it all the more comfortable for the practice of hand holding.

City Hatchback

2. Looks That Suggest Innocence

The fairly Plain Jane looks of the City Hatchback is admittedly not the most effective in pulling birds, but this somewhat boring aesthetic does have its benefits when eventually managing to snag one.

Even with the RS bodykit present on this variant tested here, the City Hatchback remarkably still has that air of vanilla (especially in this particular shade of white) that any parent won’t think that the snatcher of their child’s heart is a wannabe boy racer. And even if the elders in the household take issue with those subtle side skirts, a simple reference to it is a fuel-sipping hybrid should be enough to allay any of his lingering doubts that the person who has come to take their kin out has a sensible head on their shoulders.

City Hatchback

Also, while the following may be a statement loaded with badge-snobbery too, that H on its grille is still capable of lending an air of prestige to the proceedings. Or at least just enough atas-ness that can allow one (or both in the car) to squeak by a late night road block without much issue anyway.

City Hatchback

3. Modest Power = More Time Together

Despite all the hoo-hah with the e:HEV hybrid when it launched locally in the City being about how much torque it had, the reality is that this electrified hatchback unfortunately won’t be setting any petrolhead’s pants on fire. What more is that while one can eventually wring a modicum of speed out of it when matting the accelerator, any decent pep is only to be matched by the (not exactly pleasant) loud droning emanating from under its hood.

But come now, when on the way to send one’s date back home, who really wants to actually put pedal to the metal?

City Hatchback

So with this in mind then, it doesn’t really matter if the City Hatchback is not exactly meant to be the zoom-zoomiest machine around. Instead, what should be more important to note here is that its hybrid powertrain can predominantly operate in its silent EV mode when just gently cruising down the middle lane of the highway.

And while on the topic of cruising too, it is worth pointing out that its ride is adequately damped too. Credit where credit is due to Honda also because the City Hatchback’s adaptive cruise control with stop-go functionality is actually more than decent, which hence affords for the driver to more safely divert that little bit more attention to their significant other in the passenger seat.

City Hatchback

4. A Cozy Cabin… Yet Plenty Of Space For Activities

Unlike its airy Jazz predecessor, the City Hatchback follows on from its sedan sibling in featuring a comparatively enclosed and cocooned cockpit. This may feel a little bit cramped for some (especially if they go straight from the Jazz to the City Hatchback), but this could nevertheless be construed as a positive by it offering a greater sense of coziness within.

What more is that while it may feel smaller within, the City Hatchback still retains all the packaging magic (and ultra seats) that is legendary with one of its small Honda hatch. This therefore means for there to be more than enough cargo space for any couple activities, with there also be space in the passenger compartment too for other “couple activities”.

City Hatchback

As for what it is like within the space meanwhile, the City Hatchback’s cabin is decently premium to the point where one really wouldn’t mind spending time in it. All of its knobs and buttons feel weighted and clicky to the touch, while the only noticeable bit of sub-par material choice in this generally well-padded interior being some scratchy hard plastic door tops.

5. A Pallatable Price

Now this final point here is perhaps to be a slight black mark against the city hatchback, as its starting price of RM 85,900 might seem a little bit steep relative to its rivals. And this point is particularly true with this hybrid RS variant tested here, with its RM 112,900 price tag blowing well past that psychological six-figure limit many people will have for a small mass-market car.

So on the courtship front then, it goes without saying that higher monthly car repayment = less money for dating…

Then again, it is worth highlighting that in spite of its price, there might be some savings when it comes to the pump. The e:HEV hybrid powertrain in this City Hatchback is still to be as fuel efficient as ever after all, with this writer (who does not not exactly having the lightest of feet) managing to get the on-board fuel consumption read out saying it is averaging over 23 km/l and 800 km on a full tank!

City Hatchback

One last thing to add too on the topic of money is that despite being a hybrid, resale values on this Honda should be high as well. This therefore should make it easier when the interpersonal relationship grows to warrant a nicer, and perhaps more spacious, set of wheels.

Though perhaps even more impressive than this is that the general adequacy of the entire package offered by this City Hatchback as a car will likely see for that the next leap up may not even need to happen even when there are rings on fingers. Such is as anecdotally at least, this writer knows of at least two older familial relations with prior iterations of Citys and Jazzes that have served them well from their first dates to their first child.

City Hatchback

Odds & Ends

The City Hatchback not having a light in the vanity mirror is a slight annoyance when attempting the last minute checks to make sure one looks their best before one’s date opens the door.

City Hatchback

The doors on this Honda are surprisingly heavy, which makes for a good solid first impression of the vehicle.
While it may gain Ultra Seats, the City Hatchback loses out on a rear armrest that is present in its sedan counterpart.

City Hatchback

For a facelifted model, it is interesting to note that the City Hatchback still uses USB-A ports up front. It is nevertheless nice that there are two, for his/her/them and her/his/them phone charging.

City Hatchback

The auto brake hold function in the City Hatchback requires reactivation after every start up. Though this is to be the case of just pressing one physical button.

City Hatchback

Having a hybrid means that one can have the car idling with the air-conditioning on for a prolonged period of time before the engine eventually kicks in, which is good for when waiting on someone who may take their time to get ready.

City Hatchback