Sub-$20k driveaway price for Honda City

HONDA Australia has cut $500 from the price of its City light-car line-up as part of a facelift that also brings a range of cosmetic tweaks both inside and out.

The range continues to be available in two specification levels – VTi and VTi-L – with both getting a new chrome grille with subtly different front and rear bumpers and redesigned brake lights.

A new Sparkling Brown Metallic paint colour has also been added to the range.

Inside, both variants get a new glowing-blue speedometer, aluminium-look inserts and “luxurious feel” seat fabric.

Noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) levels are also said to be better than before, courtesy of thicker window glass and “enhanced” floor carpets.

The entry VTi model gets a new micro antenna while the VTi-L adds new-look 16-inch alloy wheels and chrome treatment on the audio and climate controls.

The price cuts mean the range now starts at $18,490 for the VTi five-speed manual – or $19,990 driveaway – but only with plain white paint.



Left: New City interior. Below: Production of the car at Honda's Thai plant.

An optional five-speed automatic transmission costs an extra $2000.

The VTi-L is priced from $22,990 plus on-road costs, but now comes exclusively with the automatic transmission after Honda Australia dropped the manual.

Honda Australia has suffered severely depleted stock of all its Thai-built cars – including the City – since the floods last year.

It sold just 66 City models in the first quarter this year – barely one-tenth of the 609 sales recorded over the same period last year.

However, as we reported last month, a concerted effort has seen Honda’s Thai plants return to operation earlier than expected, allowing Honda Australia to bring its stock levels back to something approaching normal.

Honda Australia public relations assistant manager Melissa Cross told GoAuto the company “will have plenty of stock arriving mid-June to satisfy customer demand”.

Honda City pricing (plus on-roads)
VTi	$18,490 (-$500)
VTi (a)	$20,490 (-$500)
VTi-L (a)	$22,990 (-$500)