Being light-footed in the City keeps tailpipe emissions down
It doesn’t take a genius to see that cars propelled by internal combustion engines (ICEs) still dominate our mobility landscape. The time when new energy vehicles actually outnumber fossil fuel burners is still a big question of “when,” and even admittedly that of “if.” So, until the day when an overwhelming majority of car buyers think of buying an NEV (new energy vehicle) by default, the two best ways to mitigate tailpipe emissions are still through the efficient technologies of combusting fuels and proper driving practices.
The latter one depends on us humans as we learn over time the best (and safest) driving techniques and habits to cover longer distances using fewer amounts of fuels. There are numerous ways, but in a nutshell, it’s really about developing that light-footed approach—“magaan ang paa”—as we call it in the vernacular.
On the other hand, the former depends on more efficient ICEs developed by carmakers themselves. Generally, cars of today have truly become efficient in squeezing out the energies stored in fossil fuels, helped along by the use of lightweight materials for the body and engine blocks.
So, I recently experienced the wonderful interplay of human and machine systems working together to achieve remarkable fuel efficiency when I was given the keys to a Honda City 1.5 S CVT Sensing variant. Curious over how far I could go with just a liter of gas in this model, I chose a Sunday night, between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. to run on the expressways coursing from Balagtas in Bulacan to Alabang in Muntinlupa City.
For that 40-km stretch, my average fuel consumption ranged from 24 km to 26 km/liter. The HCPI website, on the other hand, indicated that the Honda City 1.5-liter DOHC i-VTEC achieves a fuel mileage of 25.17 km/liter.
HCPI product planning specialist Joleena Louise Ramoso explained that the 25.17km/liter result was based on the eco-run that Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. (HCPI) conducted together with the Automobile Association Philippines (AAP) in 2021, while the UNR-101 results conducted in Japan (under “extra-urban” or highway driving conditions) showed a 22.2 km/liter result, which HCPI public relations coordinator, Andie Vitug, later confirmed.
My research on Honda reveals that the carmaker had been among the first to equip its vehicles with the “visual fuel-efficiency feedback mechanism,” apart from the Eco-assist system and Eco button, to promote fuel-efficient driving as a fun experience. Well, after getting that fuel efficiency reading, I felt accomplished already. I’m almost expecting my friends from HCPI to reward me with free gas for one year, or something like that. Just kidding! Just knowing that I could run for more than 25 km using just one liter of gas is rewarding in itself.
Of course, half the credit should go to the inner workings of the City powerplant and transmission. Joleena elaborated that the variable valve timing and electronic lift control technology optimize engine response, producing power and being fuel efficient at the same time. The VTEC system adjusts the opening times of the valves to suit different engine speeds and loads. For example, at high speeds, the engine valves open more to take in more gasoline and provide more power, while at low speeds, the engine takes in less fuel to drive more economically.
I had the Econ button activated all the time. With Econ on, the vehicle adjusts settings, like throttle response, transmission shift points and air-conditioning, to prioritize fuel efficiency. “When driving with Econ activated, you might notice slightly reduced acceleration,” she said. That I did, but it was quite negligible.
There were also visual cues when I was driving on Econ mode. The Eco-coaching function uses ambient light at the sides of the 4.2-inch TFT Meter display. When the ambient light is green, that means the driver is being fuel-efficient.
The City runs for fuel efficiency, but it’s also designed and equipped for optimum safety, as evidenced by the Honda Sensing, Honda’s proprietary advanced driver assist system (ADAS), as standard across all its variants. The latest Honda City maintains a 5-star Asean NCAP safety rating. It has collision mitigation braking system (detects possible collision with other vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists); adaptive cruise control (which I got to try in other Honda test units; the system helps maintain a safe distance from the ones in front, braking and accelerating as needed; lane keeping assist system, the works.
Competing with an increasing number of brands in the market, Honda Cars “takes pride in the reliability and quality of all its vehicles, plus low cost of ownership with only twice a year visit needed for its periodic maintenance. The City is not only fuel-efficient but it also has the most powerful engine in its segment, offering a maximum power of 119hp making it not only economical but also fun to drive. It is one of the top-selling sedans in the country which has been in the Philippine market since 1996; you can guarantee it has great resale value. We want customers to view the Honda City as a sporty sedan with exceptional value,” Joleena stressed.
