Versatility in a hatchback or sedan is what you get with the Honda City

If you want versatility, then the Honda City (hatch or sedan) fits the bill

Among the many criteria that car buyers look at, one constantly stands out: practicality. But what exactly is practicality? Saying that buying a car that can get you from one point to another is “practical” is true. But what if it can do that while giving you looks, comfort, people and cargo capacity, and a multitude of functions all in the same package? Can an affordable car actually check those boxes? The Honda City definitely can; and whether you choose a sedan or hatchback, the City is ready to serve as your ideal all-around vehicle.

Ever since its introduction into the Philippine market, the City has constantly been praised for its interior - and rightfully so. Aside from besting the rest with its class-leading amenities, it comes with more than enough space for your family and cargo. Don’t let its sub-compact dimensions fool you, both the City sedan and hatchback can fit a lot into its cargo space all the way into the cabin.

When you lift the hatchback’s tailgate, you’re treated to a great amount of space. With more than ample vertical and horizontal space, you can put in a cooler and duffel bags for a quick trip out of town. All this space gets better – and bigger – with the City sedan. With a whopping 519-liter trunk capacity, you can fit more of your things, ensuring that you have everything you need to be delivered or be brought along with you. If you think that’s not enough, it gets even better.

Not all cargo is created equal; in size, that is. Neither is the Honda City compared to the competition. It’s easy to underestimate how much a car of the City’s size can carry. If you think the sedan has a lot of space, the hatchback has four surprises up its sleeves: the Utility, Long, Tall, and Refresh Modes. With these different seat configurations, you’re sure that you can fit almost anything into the City Hatchback, even a new kitchen sink.

Starting with Utility, you can simply fold the rear seatbacks forward and fit bulky objects into the City. If biking is your thing, you have nothing to worry about because that will be a sure fit into your car’s trunk and rear seat space. If surfing is your thing, that’s not a problem either. Simply fold one of the seatbacks and recline your front passenger seat and you can put your board and rest your gear on top of it with no problems at all. The Long configuration is perfect for this purpose.

And then there’s the Tall configuration where you simply fold the rear seats up, and you can now easily fit objects inside the cabin and on the floor of the second row. If you’re the type who’s always on the go, Refresh mode will be a treat for you. If you find yourself in need of a bit of rest, you can just fully recline both front seats, take out the headrests, and you have yourself a comfortable lounge seat where you car rest and even take a quick snooze – just make sure you do that in a safe and secure parking slot. Whether it’s for people and cargo, the City Hatchback gives you unprecedented versatility.

At the heart of all this versatility is Honda’s fuel-efficient i-VTEC engine. Under the hood sits a 1.5-liter mill, in itself a trusted engine since it first powered the Honda City and other various models of the Honda vehicle lineup. When you already have a winning formula, you stick with it, and Honda did just that for the City Hatchback and sedan’s engine. Much like the City’s appearance, don’t let the motor fool you.

Punching out 121 horsepower and packing 145 Newton meters of torque, you have enough juice to get you going, and keep you going with the Honda City. With its ample displacement and its dual overhead camshafts, you’re sure to have power on demand and more importantly, unbeatable fuel efficiency. With either hatchback or sedan, you can easily average 11.5 kilometers per liter in the City. If you think that’s a stretch, you can see for yourself that on the highways, you can even clock up to 17 kilometers per liter with ease. Like we said: it’s a winning formula.

With so many Filipinos gearing towards cars in other segments, both the hatchbacks and sedans seem to have been brushed aside. The Honda City, though, is proof enough that you don’t need to go bigger and pricier with your choice. In both body styles, the City is still as practical as a small crossover, and at a more competitive price at that. With the City sedan starting at PHP 848,000, and with the RS Hatchback coming up to PHP 1,115,000, you’re spoiled with choice for either version of the City.

Buyers now are more discerning, and getting the best functions at the best price all equates to what everyone needs in a car: practicality. With the Honda City Hatchback and sedan, you get style, tech, efficiency, functionality, and safety all rolled into one handsome and affordable package. If what you need is a car that is enough to power your dreams, then the Honda City is your best bet for all your daily needs.