- Economical drivetrains
- Capacious boot
- Decent rear seat legroom
- Poor ride and handling
- Slow steering around centre
- Cabin lacks sound-insulation
- Awkward driver’s seat lumbar support
- Limited headroom (front and rear)
- No ESC or traction control prior to November 2010
Overview
Released in February 2009, the Honda GM2 City was a light, front-wheel drive sedan. Manufactured in Ayutthaya, Thailand, the GM2 City was powered by a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that was mated to either a five-speed manual or five-speed automatic transmission. As per the table below, the City was available in VTi and VTi-L variants.
L15A7 engine
The GM2 City was powered by Honda’s L15A7 engine which had a single overhead camshaft (SOHC), four valves per cylinder, a compression ratio of 10.4:1 and Honda’s i-VTEC system which consisted of:
- Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control (VTEC) which could select from two camshaft profiles for low and high RPM operations; and,
- Continuously variable timing of camshaft phasing on the intake camshaft (Variable Timing Control or VTC).
Dimensions
Based on an extended GE6/GE8 Jazz platform, the GM2 City was 510 mm longer (at 4410 mm) due to its 506 litre boot, had a 50 mm longer wheelbase (at 2550 mm), the same width (1695 mm) and 115 mm lower (1410 mm).
Steering and suspension
The GM2 City had electric power steering, MacPherson strut front suspension and H-shaped torsion beam rear suspension.
| Variants | Engine | Trans. | Peak power | Peak torque |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VTi, VTi-L |
1.5-litre petrol I4 | 5sp auto, 5sp man. |
88 kW at 6600 rpm | 145 Nm at 4800 rpm |
Safety equipment
Standard safety equipment for the GM2 City included dual front airbags, front side airbags, full length curtain airbags (i.e. for front and rear occupants), ABS, electronic brake force distribution, brake assist and front seatbelts with pretensioners and load limiters.
Initially, electronic stability control and traction control were not available, but were fitted as standard from November 2010.
ANCAP crash testing
In ANCAP crash testing , the pre-November 2010 models were awarded a four star adult occupant protection rating with a score of 31.49 out of 37; these models, however, did not undergo the pole test as they were ineligible for a five-star rating due to the absence of electronic stability control. The post-November 2010 models received a five star adult occupant protection rating with a score of 33.49 as two additional points were awarded in the pole test.
Features: City VTi and VTi-L
Standard City VTi features included a four speaker sound system with CD player, auxiliary inputs (MP3/iPod/USB) and MP3/WMA compatibility, air conditioning, cruise control, a multi-function steering wheel, 60/40 split and folding rear seats, remote central locking, power windows, power mirrors with folding function, a tilt adjustable steering wheel, height adjustable driver’s seat, trip computer, 12 volt power outlet and an immobiliser. From November 2010, Bluetooth mobile phone connectivity was standard across the range.
Beyond this, the City VTi-L added 16-inch alloy wheels, front fog lights, upgraded cloth trim, leather-wrapped steering wheel with tilt and reach adjustment, rear armrest, under-floor storage compartments and chrome exterior highlights.
April 2012: City update
In April 2012, the City received cosmetic updates in the form of chrome grilles, restyled tail-light lenses and reshaped bumpers. Furthermore, thicker windscreen glass and interior carpets provided improved noise insulation for a quieter ride. The City VTi was further equipped with a rear micro antenna, while the VTi-L was fitted with a driver’s side master door lock switch.
Brochure
Related links
- Press Kit: Honda GM2 City (February 2009)
- Specifications: Honda GM2 City (February 2009)
- Honda News: You’ll Feel Better In A New City (May 2012)
- Wikipedia.org: Honda GM2 City
