
Honda Lingpai uses the R18Z5 engine with ivtec technology, which has a displacement of 1.8L, a maximum power of 102kw, and a maximum torque of 172nm. The Lingpai is a strategic mid-size car under GAC Honda, a mainstream compact sedan specifically designed by GAC Honda to meet the comprehensive needs of post-80s consumers. The dimensions of the Honda Lingpai are 4664mm in length, 1750mm in width, and 1505mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2650mm. The body structure is a 4-door, 5-seater sedan, equipped with an ECVT continuously variable transmission, ECON intelligent green energy-saving assistance system, and VSA vehicle stability control system.

I drive a 2019 Honda Lingpai, and I bought it mainly for its spacious interior and fuel efficiency. The 1.0T three-cylinder engine has been surprisingly good—despite its small displacement, the 122 horsepower is sufficient for daily use. The most impressive part is the fuel consumption; I've gotten 4.9L on the highway, and even in city traffic, it's just over 6L. However, during cold starts, it does vibrate more noticeably compared to the older 1.8L engine, and you can feel a slight tremor in the steering wheel when idling at a red light in D gear with the brakes engaged. Using full synthetic oil helps, and during maintenance, remember to ask the mechanic to check the engine mounts. Three-cylinder engines do get noisier over time, but Honda's tuning in this generation is much more stable than competitors like the Buick Excelle.

At repair shops, it's common to see Honda City owners coming for maintenance. I've disassembled all three generations of this car's engines. The first-gen 1.8L (R18Z) is sturdy but outdated in technology, with fuel consumption starting from 8L. The current L15B 1.0T three-cylinder engine is quite cleverly designed: center-mounted fuel injector + small inertia turbo, delivering maximum torque at just 1700 rpm. Key maintenance points include mandatory carbon cleaning every 20,000 km (a common issue with direct injection). Must use 0W-20 low-viscosity oil, otherwise the variable valve mechanism tends to develop noise. The hybrid version uses a 1.5L Atkinson cycle engine with 38% thermal efficiency - even higher than Toyota hybrids, but be mindful of the electric motor maintenance costs.

My cousin bought a hybrid Lingpai last year, and I borrowed it for a few drives on weekends. This third-generation i-MMD hybrid system is incredibly smart—it runs on electric power 80% of the time, with the engine only acting as a generator. Driving in the city feels just like an electric car, with almost no engine noise below 60 mph. When accelerating hard, the 1.5L naturally aspirated engine kicks in smoothly, responding faster than the Corolla hybrid. Even when the battery is low, fuel consumption is just 4.2L, and a full tank shows a range of 980 km. The battery pack is hidden under the rear seats, so the trunk space isn’t compromised. The only downside is that the cabin takes longer to warm up in winter, so you need to remotely start the AC via the mobile app in advance.


