The heart wants what it wants
What was your first-ever dream car? Some might say they had the hots for a Ferrari or a Lamborghini; you know, the staple fare of every boy or girl’s room poster or phone wallpaper.
And why wouldn’t those cars be? They were meant to be objects of pure desire, a marriage of both art and precision engineering. Mine was quite different, though. As a high school kid, I’ve always had my eye on the second-generation (in the Philippines, at least) Honda City.
The look of the mid-2000s Honda City ages like fine wine
I’ve covered this in a previous article where we featured a modified JDM-inspired Honda City; it had all the curves in just the right places for me, and it was chock-full of all-new technology that wasn’t found in any other car at the time. That City was truly a car ahead of its time, and it may be both a boon and a bane, which we’ll be discussing later.
The mid-cycle refresh updated a lot of the look from the initial release
>>> Find all the best Honda City models right here!
Over the Christmas break, I was pleasantly surprised and honored to have been invited to one of the most prominent car groups in Manila, the Club GD Aria group. This gathering is built around the love and passion for the second-gen Honda City with the GD chassis designation.
The car has merited split reactions among car fans because of its looks that were ahead of its time, but personally I felt that it ushered in a new era of the design language in the Philippines. It had incredible space inside and introduced us to the wonders of Honda’s Utility Long and Tall seating configuration, as well as its advanced Continuously Variable Transmission.
The bright lights of BGC blended well with the Honda City
>>> Sneak a peek corner: EXCLUSIVE PICS! All New Honda City Turbo 2020 launched in Thailand
Way ahead of its time
The Honda City was available in multiple configurations and engines. It had two engine options: the 1.3-liter iDSI engine that makes 82 hp @5,700 RPM and 116Nm of torque, as well as a 1.5-liter VTEC with 109hp at 5,800 RPM and 142Nm of pull.
The Gen 2 City was sold from 2003 to 2008, undergoing a mid-cycle refresh in 2005 in what was probably a response to design critics who compared it to a certain marine mammal. People will always have something to say about a car’s looks, but I loved both that design and the refresh, and this group of individuals have banded together to show just that.
You really cannot dictate what the heart wants, and my heart wants this
>>> Check out for the latest updates in the Honda City price
I initially had my doubts if I was even going to the event, as it was right smack in the middle of the holiday season traffic rush, where you can never really escape the clutches of Carmageddon. But something told me I would regret passing up the opportunity to see this car again up close, and that it would be worth it. Boy, was I right.
I personally cannot find a bad angle to shoot this in
The Club GD Aria Group was established long before the rise of Facebook. If anyone could remember the classic online automotive forums where you have to register yourself before you can actually post and read the threads, then you’ll know what I’m talking about.
The club was formed pretty much by like-minded individuals who wanted to show their passion for the Gen 2 Honda City. You share not just the camaraderie among your brethren but your experiences with the car, and it’s also an opportunity to ask for advice on how one works out the unique quirks of your own vehicle.
>>> Read all experts reviews on Honda City here!
The City GD made good use of the Honda corporate design at the time
Fun and funky before it was cool
We met at one of the club’s favorite hangouts in BGC, but not before I had to slog through even heavier traffic, no thanks to a certain annual film festival parade, but I soldiered on. And I was not disappointed.
Thankfully, the group was having their dinner nearby, so I was able to chat with them and share my thoughts on the Honda City. As it turns out, everything that I said about the Honda City rang true with most of the members.
The club promotes “Legit Respect” for all
They loved the car because of its fun and funky design, that it was virtually different from anything else out there. More importantly, nothing can even compare to the amount of room and interior versatility offered by the Honda City.
Bring these people together, people who appreciate a car beyond looks but also by how it performs and how it stands, and you get a great set of guys who appreciate a car that’s well-built and well put together.
Mind you, the Honda City isn’t the only one that has a GD chassis, as you can check out the Honda Jazz GD here!
>>> More car club to recommend: Car Club Spotlight | Sneakymods - Fusion Fun and Inclusiveness
Seriously, it's difficult to take a bad picture with the Honda City
After dinner, the guys shared some items to give away among themselves, and although I drive a different model, never did I ever feel left out of their generosity. The genuine bond between the members was palpable, and this is reflected on the fun times they have and the energy they exuded despite the long day.
The versatility of the Honda City means it goes well with many accessories and mods
If you have a Honda City GD of your own and want to join their fun and breezy group, head on over to the Club GD ARIA official Facebook page and hook yourself up!
Anyone with a Honda City GD Aria is welcome to join the club
If you want us to feature your car group, please drop us a comment down below or send me an email at leroy.robles@philkotse.com.
Know more about Honda City 2024
The 2024 Honda City is a subcompact sedan. In the Philippine market, its four variants are City E, City S, City V, and City RS—the prices for these range from Php 973,000 to Php 1,148,000.
Size-wise, the refreshed City for 2024 is 4,580mm long, 1,748mm wide, and 1,467mm in height. The RS trim is a bit longer at 4,589mm. All trims then get a wheelbase length of 2,600mm and a ground clearance of 134mm.
Under its hood is a 1.5-liter inline-4 gasoline engine capable of making up to 119 horsepower and 145 Nm of torque. Power is then sent to its front wheels via a continuously variable transmission (CVT).
Locally, the Honda City competes against the Toyota Vios, Mitsubishi Mirage G4, Mazda3, Nissan Almera, Hyundai Accent, MG 5, etc.
Honda City Launch
The refreshed 2024 Honda City was introduced to the Philippine market on June 13, 2023. It was launched locally with four available variants: the E, S, V, and RS.
Of note, the 2024 model updates the seventh-generation GN model which was initially introduced back in 2019.
Honda City Exterior
On the outside, the Honda City’s top-spec trim gets LED headlamps and the stylish RS kit which provides a high gloss black finish for many of its parts. All come standard with LED daytime running lamps, and LED taillights.
The City then sits on a set of 16-inch alloys for the RS. The V and S meanwhile, gets 16-inch or 15-inch alloy wheels respectively. The S uses a set of 15-inch steel wheels.
Other equipment available to the City includes power-folding side mirrors, side mirror integrated signal lamps, a trunk lid switch, a trunk spoiler, and an automatic on/off for the headlamps.
Honda City Interior
The City can comfortably seat up to five occupants which are then kept cool by an automatic or manual climate control system depending on the trim. The RS gets more convenience features in the form of a rear seat armrest, and rear seat accessory ports. It also has more cupholders numbering 4.
The model’s top-spec trim likewise has the fanciest-looking interior. This is because it gets leather-clad seats, and RS trim finishes. Plenty of bits of the City RS cabin also get a red contrasting color.
For the driver, this Honda sedan gets a 4.2-inch TFT color meter, an analog gauge cluster, a urethane steering wheel, and a tilt and telescopic steering column.
Technology & Safety Features
Providing entertainment aboard the Honda City is an eight-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. For the RS, this display is linked to a total of eight speakers.
Safety for all City variants is handled by the Honda Sensing suite. This includes adaptive cruise control, emergency braking, lane keep assist, road departure warning, lane departure warning, auto high beams, and a lead car departure notification warning.
Standard safety equipment for this Honda model includes ISOFIX child seat anchors, anti-lock braking, stability control, speed-sensing door locks, and dual front airbags. Only the RS and V trims get a reverse camera. All variants get side airbags, but only the RS gets side curtain airbags.
Platform & Chassis
The Honda City uses a front-engine, front-wheel-drive chassis under the Honda Global Small Car Platform. Ride comfort is provided by McPherson struts for the front and a torsion beam suspension for the rear.
Braking for this model is provided by front discs and rear drums. It also uses a hand-operated manual parking brake.
Honda City Engine & Drivetrain
The 2024 City carries over the 1.5-liter found on the pre-facelift model. At maximum, this engine can churn out 119 horsepower and 145 Nm of torque. Power is sent to its wheels via a CVT.
Honda City Q&A
1. Does the Honda City come offered with a front-wheel drive option?
Yes, it does.
2. Which Honda City variant has a sunroof?
The sunroof is not available on any variants of the Honda City, even the top-spec model.
3. Is the Honda City a fuel-efficient sedan?
Yes. According to the fuel efficiency test result by the Department of Energy, the Honda City consumes roughly 26.02 km/l.
4. Is the Honda City Philippines a good car?
Definitely. The Honda City is considered one of the most exquisite handling cars in its segment. Moreover, it is backed with a comfortable ride quality thanks to its sorted suspension setup of independent MacPherson struts with a stabilizer up-front and an H-shaped torsion beam with a stabilizer at the back.
5. Is the Honda City classified as a sedan?
Yes. The Honda City is the entry of Honda Cars Philippines Inc. to the subcompact sedan segment in the Philippine market.
₱ 973,000 - ₱ 1,128,000
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