Honda City Hatchback hybrid now in Thailand, just RM3k cheaper than a Civic 1.8



The line-up of the Honda City has finally completed in the Kingdom of Thailand. Originally just the sedan body type, the latest generation ‘GN’ Honda City is also now available in a hatchback.

Before the hatch arrived, the City models in Thailand were only offered with one powertrain – a newly developed turbocharged 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine paired with a CVT. The sedan received its hybrid power unit late last year and now, the unique dual-motor and petrol engine setup is available on the hatchback model as well.

On the exterior, the City Hatchback e:Hev is only available in the RS trim, featuring sportier bumper profiles and gloss black highlights on the side mirrors, front grille, rear spoiler, and 16-inch rims.

Singapore gets the cooler new Honda Jazz/Fit that’s also for Japan and Europe. Read about it here!

The City Hatchback e:Hev is available with the special Brilliant Sporty Blue paintwork that was introduced with the facelift Civic in late 2018.

Key exterior features include automatic on/off LED headlamps with auto high-beam function, DRLs, remote engine start, walk-away auto door lock, rear disc brakes with electronic parking brake with auto-hold function and LED taillamps with L-lighting signature.

Under the bonnet is the latest Sport Hybrid i-MMD power unit consisting of a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated Atkinson-cycle engine and paired with two electric motor-generators. The combined system output is 109 hp and 253 Nm of torque. In this unique setup, the engine functions as a generator to the lithium-ion battery and only connects to the front wheels at speeds above 80 km/h.

At low speeds, the City Hatchback e:Hev drives like an EV as the motors will provide propulsion. While this setup sounds like a step up in fuel reduction, the consumption is rated at 3.7 litres per 100 km; just 0.6 litres lower than the turbocharged 1.0-litre triple.

Similar to the City e:Hev available in Malaysia, drivers can adjust the brake regeneration strength via steering wheel paddles.

The spirit of ‘warm hatch’ lives on in Indonesia in the City hatchback DOHC iVTEC with 6MT!

Inside, the users will find the familiar RS items such as red-on-black mixed material front seats, metallic foot pedals, automatic air-conditioning with rear duct, 8-speaker audio system with an 8-inch infotainment system, ULTRA folding rear seats and a variant-exclusive hybrid instrument cluster with a seven-inch TFT screen.

Like the City sedan e:Hev, the hatchback e:Hev variant will also come fitted with the Honda Sensing suite. The advanced driving assistance suite encompasses autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist system and lane departure warning and prevention.

Priced at THB849,000 (approx. RM113,200), the hybrid powertrain commands a THB100,000 (approx. RM13,300) premium over the regular RS variant fitted with a turbocharged 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine.

The City Hatchback e:Hev RS is also THB10,000 (RM1,330) pricier than the City sedan e:Hev RS sibling, making the model the highest priced variant in the total Honda City line-up. The next vehicle up the price ladder is the entry Honda Civic 1.8 at THB874,000 (RM116,500), a similar pattern seen with the City Hybrid and Civic 1.8 in Malaysia.

However, unlike Malaysia, where the Honda City-Jazz and Toyota Vios-Yaris see the hatchback models priced cheaper, the opposite is practised in the Kingdom.

In Malaysia, the City RS e:Hev sedan is priced at RM105,951. While the City hatchback isn’t available in Malaysia yet, the Honda Jazz is priced in a range from RM72,512 to RM84,956, with the short-lived Jazz Hybrid available from RM75,000.


GALLERY

Honda City Hatchback e:Hev RS

Honda City Hatchback 1.0 VTEC Turbo