Rare, but not going extinct
Everything in this world is generally defined by its era.
The Merriam-Webster dictionary states that the word “era” can pertain to a “period identified by some prominent figure or characteristic feature.” The Martial Law Era comes to mind – particularly the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos and his brutal, corrupt and totalitarian regime that left deep, deep wounds.
And given that I’m writing this review on February 19, just six days to the date of the EDSA People Power Revolution anniversary, that dark part of our nation’s history was eviscerated by the light of one of the world’s greatest peaceful overthrows. But the eras that followed since then have put EDSA’s success and legacy into question.
This line of thinking also exists in automobiles. The Philippines, in particular, has great affinity for vehicles produced in the 1990s – back when 1600cc sedans like the Toyota Corolla GLi, Mitsubishi Lancer GLXi, Nissan Sentra ECCS and Honda Civic VTi fought like hell on the track and in the sales charts.
And in the late 2000s, a 1500cc hatchback was the must-have car from college kids to retiring professionals. Our roads were littered by trunk-less tykes like the Toyota Yaris, Honda Jazz, Mazda2, Ford Fiesta, Suzuki Swift and even the revived Volkswagen Polo.
But now, a handful of models like the 2025 Honda City Hatchback (the Jazz’s successor) remain. Is it even still worth a look?
Cute and racy
Should you get the chance to look at one, you certainly won’t forget it.
Everything from the nose to the rear doors is much the same as the City RS sedan, so you get handsome styling defined by features like the large and powerful LED headlights, gloss-black trim and sporty body kit. My only gripes are its rather prominent proboscis and its 16-inch alloy wheels with 185/55 series tires that look tiny relative to the car’s wide and racy stance.
But that hatchback rear end is just marvelous – the sloping roofline leads to a steeply raked rear windscreen topped with a large tailgate spoiler. And the wide LED taillights and faux diffuser make the City RS Hatchback look a class above smaller and cheaper hatchbacks like the Toyota Wigo and Mitsubishi Mirage.
Spacious, innovative interior
If the outside already impresses you, the inside will astound you.
As with its sedan sibling, the City RS Hatchback offers generous legroom and shoulder room for everyone, along with supportive seats. And despite its sleeker stance, the car’s front headroom remains good, although that attractive sloping roof does eat into rear head space.
Another place where this Honda excels is interior design – despite the ‘plasticky’ door cards and dashboard, the fine part-leather upholstery includes tinges of red to amplify the sporty RS vibe. And unlike the complicated BYD Dolphin electric vehicle, the City Hatchback’s controls for the strong air-conditioner and infotainment system are dead-easy.
Speaking of infotainment, you get an eight-inch touchscreen unit with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Clear and easy-to-navigate it may be, but the view out of the reversing camera could use improvement.
And so, we arrive at the City RS Hatchback’s piece de resistance – its Utility, Long, Tall (ULT) rear seats carried over from the Jazz. This is simply one of the most brilliant pieces of engineering that I’ve ever seen in a car.
Utility Mode provides a totally flat, 841-liter load area with the rear seats folded, while Long Mode allows the front passenger seat to fold flat to fit surfboards and wooden planks. But it’s the Tall Mode that’s truly clever, with the rear-seat base folding upward to put in things like plants without needing to tip these over.
However, that clever rear bench does come at a cost – space for a middle-rear passenger can be awkward because of the way the seat splits. In the rare instance that I have more than one passenger, I’d rather carry two in the back in total comfort than try to cram three.
Exceptional performance, safety
As with the City sedan and the BR-V, the City RS Hatchback has a gem of an engine.
Its 1.5-liter, twin-cam, 16-valve inline-4 gasoline engine pumps out 119 horsepower and 145 Newton-meters of torque, mated to a continuously variable transmission. There is generous power throughout the RPM range, allowing for good acceleration whether you’re driving gently or aggressively.
The latter style is all the more enticing because the City Hatchback drives much differently from its sedan sibling – the suspension is a touch stiffer for a composed ride and the steering provides very good response and feel. Its brakes are also strong and easy to modulate, thanks to a nicely weighted pedal.
It may not handle as well as a Mazda2 (what does, honestly), but this Honda offers a driving experience second only to the mighty Civic Type R. And if you do drive economically, you will be well-rewarded – fuel consumption is 10 to 13 kilometers per liter in the city and 20 to 23 kilometers per liter on the expressway.
Finally, the excellent Honda SENSING advanced driver-assist system makes all journeys safer and easier, thanks to features like adaptive-cruise control, lane-keep assist and collision-mitigation braking.
Defining an era
The 2025 Honda City RS Hatchback, at P1,189,000, is unquestionably the remnant of a bygone automotive era.
Its chief rival as of press time, the P1,250,000 Mazda2 Sport, is still the ultimate in driving pleasure, but at the expense of interior space. And though the P1,398,000 BYD Dolphin is more technologically advanced, it needs more common-sense design to make a dent against the Japanese competition.
Indeed, today’s automotive age is all about crossovers and electrification – a market that Honda Cars Philippines Inc. serves well with the likes of recently launched HR-V e:HEV. And even the City is available in other countries with a hybrid powerplant.
But even though it is one of the last 1500cc hatches standing, the City RS Hatchback is certainly the best, whether you want a wheeled nostalgia trip or just need a sensational daily driver. Just don’t forget to add Katy Perry, Rihanna and Lady Gaga to your playlist.
