Should you buy a used Honda City in 2021?

Spinny Assured Honda City
By - Sankul Nagpal
September 22, 2021

C-Segment sedans have continued to see a substantial increase in sales as well as consumer preferences in recent years. From Maruti to Hyundai, both domestic, as well as global manufacturers have their top contenders, competing even in the pre-owned car market. With five generations, two facelifts and a history that reaches every corner of India, the Honda City is probably the best and the most preferred choice of sedan. But when you’re out there in the market, a question that haunts many buyers is whether buying a used Honda City would be a good decision to make, considering modern day competition. If this is a question you find yourself asking, then read on to find out.

Why you should consider the Honda City

Every journey you make should be comfortable and soothing. With spacious interiors and refined engines, sedans offer a versatile and comfortable driving experience. So when it comes to bringing home a pre-owned sedan, here’s why you should be considering a Honda City.

Efficient and Powerful Engines

Honda i-VTEC

First things first, one thing that makes a pre-owned Honda City a sedan worth buying are its power-packed and efficient engine choices. The main attraction of any Honda car are the famed VTEC engines, which in India have been distilled to a i-VTEC petrol and a i-DTEC diesel engine. These engines pair well with Honda’s tuned CVT automatic transmissions as well as the manual gearboxes.

Honda i-DTEC Diesel Engine

The 4th Generation City (2014 to 2019) however, is where the fun actually starts. The Honda City 4th generation was offered with capable 1.5 litre i-VTEC petrol and i-DTEC diesel engines. The petrol comes mated to a 5-speed manual or CVT transmission with paddle shifters while the diesel variants got only a 6-speed manual gearbox. With that said, the engines offer best in class mileage of up to 26 km/l depending upon the variant, a testament to a used Honda City’s superior value proposition to other sedans.

Sharp, Modern Design

Spinny Assured Honda City CVT

If looks are something that influences your decision of bringing home a used car, then the Honda City would never disappoint you. The Honda City is regarded well as a car that features precise styling that stands the test of time. For the first time with the 4th Generation City, Honda used the new and exciting H design language. The vehicle comes dominated by a large chrome strip grille, sharp swept-back headlamps, an angular and a mimicked a sporty air dam. Overall, the 4th Generation Honda City offers premium style and modern stance making it a perfect fit for those looking for a stylish used sedan.

Truly Spacious and Big

Honda City Rear seat

Facing tough competition from the likes of Hyundai Verna, Volkswagen Vento, Skoda Rapid and even the Ford Fiesta, one thing that has made the Honda City better, is its spacious cabin and wide body. With a wheelbase of 2600 mm, the City is more spacious than the Verna, Vento, and Rapid. The larger wheelbase of the City also gives it comfortable seating and maximum comfort for passengers both at the front as well as the rear, making the pre-owned Honda City a superb pick for any family. 

Honda City Rear boot

As a well-built and spacious hatchback, the City should be the first pick for many car buyers. Another thing that makes the City a worthy pick is its 510 litres of huge boot space that is more than enough for all your luggage needs. In fact, the City’s boot space is still one of the largest in the segment.

Sturdy Build Quality

Another aspect that makes the Honda City a truly capable C-Segment sedan is its durable built quality. Built with a high-strength chassis, the Honda City is one of the most durable premium sedans out there. Known to last a lifetime, Honda City is a name that is often driven by generations. Overall, as a pre-owned beauty, the Honda City can very well serve you till you like.

Impeccable Safety

Honda City safety

To add a cherry on top of an already promising package, one of the best things about owing a Honda vehicle is its commitment for safety. In fact the Honda City is one of the safest C-Segment sedans you can own out there in the used car market. The testament of City’s safety, is the fact that even the 3rd generation Honda City possessed a 5-star ASEAN NCAP rating with safety inclusions such as dual frontal airbags, ABS + EBD, ISOFIX and much more.

How old should your pre-owned Honda City be?

The sheer popularity of the Honda City has made it as ubiquitous as Maruti Suzuki hatchbacks in the used market. With over two decades of models in the market, it is important to know the which model runs you should consider when buying a used Honda City.

Honda City 2012
Only consider 2010-13 Honda City petrol models

With that said, it is recommended that you avoid variants that were manufactured from 2010 to 2013 not only because it would be nearing its 10 year lifeline for the diesel variants while 2013 models were followed by the new generation 2014 models. The best experience driving Honda City can truly be enjoyed in models between 2015 and 2019, as then you can enjoy the brilliance of the efficient i-DTEC diesel engines.

What to look out for when you buy a Honda City?

Over the years, the Honda City has reached millions of happy homes, a feat that is difficult to match for any newbie out there. With such a huge number of owners, the used car market becomes an easy dumping ground for faulty and problematic vehicles. This is why buying a pre-owned Honda City is a task that requires attention to detail and an awareness of the vehicle’s common problems and shortcomings. When buying a used Honda City, make sure you check for the following problems.

Underbody Damage

The Honda City is a sedan and being a sedan, it does not possess a high ground clearance. Despite the fact, some people tend to drive the sedan too harshly. This leads to unattended underbody damage and wear. So before you purchase a pre-owned Honda City, make sure you check it underneath as well.

CVT Transmission Problems

One of the most pressing problems affecting pre-owned Honda City cars is a serious concern with the CVT automatic transmission of the car. The CVT units are known to produce a rubber band effect that makes the engine slow to react to the shifts. In the worst cases, the engine even fails to truly transfer the power delivered by the 1.5 litre petrol engine. 

Unresponsive Touch Infotainment

Another irritating issue associated with the touchscreen entertainment unit onboard use 4th Generation City is the fact that they tend to repeatedly freeze, become unresponsive, lag and sometimes even fails to boot up. Even though aftermarket units can be easily fitted, we recommend that you check the infotainment unit, so that you do not repent later.

Worn out suspension

Irrespective of which model you are considering, one thing that you should definitely look out for is a worn out suspension which can cause a fortune to replace and repair. To check any possible faults with the suspensions, take the used Honda City on a ride over a few bumps and carefully listen to any rattling or signs that signify a worn out suspension.

Service Record

Another important thing to check, whenever you chose to buy a pre-owned Honda is to make sure you go through the service history of the vehicle and look for regular services of highly used components such as air filter, spark plug and throttle body.

How much should a pre-owned Honda City cost?

Amongst some of the strongest and sturdiest range of sedans in the pre-owned market, one thing that makes the Honda City, quite a popular choice in the market is its good build quality and overall reliability. In terms of pricing, a pre-owned City can be brought home for an average price of as low as ₹5.5 to 6.5 Lakhs (2013-2015), ₹8-12 Lakhs (2015-2017) and ₹12-15 Lakhs ( 2017 to 2019) variants depending upon the trim and condition. 

Spinny Assured Honda City Prices

Delhi-NCR

₹5.7-7.5 lakhs

Bangalore

Starting from

₹9 lakhs

Hyderabad

₹6.1-9.2 lakhs

Pune

Starting from

₹5.6 lakhs

Mumbai

Starting from

₹7.5 lakhs

Kolkata

Starting from

₹6.2 lakhs

Chennai

₹6.2-7.2 lakhs

Is a Honda City worth buying in 2021?

A question that might pop up in the minds of many potential buyers, choosing a pre-owned Honda City can actually be a great choice. And talking about whether the City is good choice in 2021, the simple answer would be yes! 

As premium sedans continue to be a hot selling product in the pre-owned market, the Honda City is a promising vehicle that will give you a sense of pre-owned pride. No matter which variant of the Honda City you pick up, each variant delivers a whole new level of luxury along with exceptionally good looks, coupled with an impressive engine spectrum, classy and roomy interiors and a tough bodyline. The ample safety features of the Honda City further make for a compelling sedan to own in India. Buying a quality used Honda City makes owning a premium sedan affordable while also retaining many of the unique qualities of the City.


Are used Honda City cars a good investment?

Used Honda City offer exceptional value as they provide a premium sedan experience at much lower prices. For the price, used Honda City outperform many new premium hatchbacks and compact sedans at the same price range.

What is the cost to maintain a used Honda City?

Used Honda City cars require maintenance every 10000 km with the average cost of a servicing being ₹7500.

What is the life of Honda i-VTEC and i-DTEC engines?

The Honda i-VTEC petrol and i-DTEC diesel engines are very reliable engines with both engines know to cover almost 2 lakh km with regular maintenance.

Which model year for used Honda City is best to buy?

The best used Honda City model year to buy are the 4th generation models produced between 2015 and 2019 to get the best value.

Why is a used Honda City a popular car in India?

The Honda City is a popular car in India to buy as it offers powerful and efficient engine options as well as premium, spacious interiors. Even used Honda City cars offer mileage up to 26 kmpl while retaining the premium driving experience.

7 Seater Cars | Best Mileage Cars | Used Cars In Bangalore | Used Cars In Delhi | Hybrid Cars in India | Sunroof Cars | Used Cars In Gurgaon | Used Cars In Hyderabad | Used Cars In Noida | Used Cars In Pune | CNG Cars in India | Jeeps in India | Used Cars In Mumbai | Used Cars In Ahmedabad | Types of Cars | Car Brands in India | Used Cars In Chennai | Used Cars In Kolkata | Used Cars in LucknowAutomatic Cars in India | Luxury Cars in India | Used Cars in Chandigarh | Used Cars in Coimbatore | Used Cars in Indore | Used Cars in Jaipur


Was this article helpful?
YesNo
Share

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Complete Guide to Buying a Honda City
Should You Buy a Pre-Owned Volkswagen Polo
Complete Guide to Buying a Maruti Suzuki Jimny
Complete Guide to Buying a Toyota Innova Crysta
Complete Guide to Buying a Honda City
Should You Buy a Pre-Owned Volkswagen Polo
Complete Guide to Buying a Maruti Suzuki Jimny
Complete Guide to Buying a Toyota Innova Crysta
March 2024: Top Selling Hatchbacks in India
Mahindra Bolero Neo Plus Launched at Rs 11.39 lakh
March 2024: Top Selling Tata Cars
March 2024: Top Selling Maruti Cars

A-Z Glossary

Every car part & feature, explained

News

The latest from the automotive world

Best Cars

The crème de la crème of cars

Rules & Regulations

Every law & regulation, explained

Car Ownership

Everyday car-care tips & advice

Buying a car

Make the right buying decision

Selling a car

Make the right selling decision

Miscellaneous

Cars & eveything in-between

5,000,000+ Readers

We’re ❤️ne big family!

Follow us for accurate, impartial & up-to-date information around everything related to cars – Latest news & developments, best options for every budget & lifestyle, ownership tips, buying & selling advice and a lot more on Spinny Magazine.

Unbiased
4.5/5
Reliable
4.5/5
Helpful
4.5/5

Read honest, impartial & up-to date information about everything cars – latest news, car reviews, buying & selling advice, car-care tips & more at Spinny Post.

Get Social With Us

Scroll to Top

Want to Sell your Car?

Choose your brand below to get started: