The interface is clear and well-designed, but it's not particularly intuitive. One hopes for clear, concise documentation, as well as reference sheets or charts to help navigate through the multilayered menus. Onscreen or online help would be appreciated as well. This bothered me until I remembered how annoying autoscroll can be when you don't want to scroll. As in the real world, this quickly becomes a dance of various trade-offs and compromises, each of which affects your population and the effectiveness of your city administration.
Neighborhoods develop personalities and, one assumes, virtual voting habits.
Depending on your policies, you'll find yourself more popular in some parts of town than others. Without the budgeting features implemented I hesitate to comment on the economic side of things, but I have little doubt that economic tools will likewise show a leap in sophistication over previous versions. The graphics, particularly in any of the several close-up zoom views, offer a nearly photographic level of detail. People and vehicles move through the city. Plant, water, and other details are likewise more realistic and convincing than ever.