New Honda City Facelift Detailed Review – Everything To Know!

The mid-size sedan segment is dominated by some prominent products despite the stiff competition from the SUVs

The 5th-generation Honda City has received a mid-life facelift to rival the likes of the Hyundai Verna, Skoda Slavia and VW Virtus. City has been an iconic name in the Indian automobile industry for over 2 decades now. Over the years, the consistent updates and new-gen models have kept this moniker alive and in demand. Even today, the sales numbers are impressive despite fierce competition in this space. The new City comes with a comprehensive exterior styling upgrade, along with some additional in-cabin amenities. For now, let us give you a detailed review of the new sedan based on our media interaction.

Honda City Facelift – Exterior Styling

The Japanese car marque has ensured that the new City looks distinctively different to the outgoing model. Hence, the front fascia bears a sharper appearance. This is courtesy of a sleek LED headlamp cluster, which also houses the LED DRLs. Interestingly, the two headlamps are connected by an LED light strip, which runs the width of the car. The contoured black grille lends it a modern look. Down below, the sporty bumper gets striking elements.

Moving down the sides reveals why the new Honda City is the longest vehicle in its class. Moreover, the dual-tone alloy wheels carry a fresh pattern, while the other elements, like the body panel, remain as they were on the outgoing City. Finally, the tail section also offers many appealing components. This includes a shark fin antenna, clear lens LED taillamps, a bootlid spoiler, a sporty bumper and a slim belt running between the taillights. All in all, the new Honda City is certainly updated when it comes to the exterior styling.

Honda City Facelift – Interior, Features and Safety

The cabin of the new Honda City facelift continues to be spacious and well-appointed. The biggest change in comparison to the previous City is the bigger touchscreen infotainment display. It now gets a multi-view 360-degree camera. The new Ivory theme offers a premium feel and the digital instrument cluster boasts crisp graphics. At the rear, the City impresses with the widest seat in the segment.  This will be ideal for those who use it as a chauffeur-driven vehicle. Some of the main highlights include:

• 10.2-inch Free-standing Touchscreen Infotainment Display
• Large Colour TFT Instrument Cluster
• Blind Spot Monitoring
• Electric Sunroof
• Ventilated Seats
• Automatic Climate Control
• Soft-touch Materials on the Dashboard
• Steering-mounted Controls
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Footwell Lighting
• Ventilated Front Seats
• Honda Connect Connected Tech Features
• 8-speaker Premium Surround Sound System
• Rear Lounge Seats
• Modern Ivory Interior
• Wireless Charging
• All Power Windows Auto Up/Down
• Remote Operations
• Type-C USB Port
• Ambient Lighting
• 6 Airbags
• 360-degree Camera
• Hill Start Assist
• LaneWatch Camera
• Tyre Pressure Monitoring System
• Level 2 Honda Sensing ADAS

Honda City Facelift – Specs and Price

The Honda City facelift continues to rely on the familiar, tried and tested i-VTEC NA petrol and strong hybrid petrol mills. This means that it still draws power from the 1.5-litre i-VTEC naturally aspirated petrol and a 1.5-litre strong hybrid petrol engine generating a healthy 121 PS / 145 Nm and 126 PS / 253 Nm of peak power and torque, respectively. The NA petrol can be paired with either a 6-speed manual or a CVT automatic gearbox, while the strong hybrid mill is solely on offer with an e-CVT automatic transmission. Finally, the sedan retails between Rs 12 lakh and Rs 21 lakh, ex-showroom. This puts it on par with the rivals.

Driving Impressions

The new Honda City facelift retains the powertrain and transmission options from the previous model. Hence, the buttery-smooth i-VTEC continues to attract buyers with its charm if you want something refined. Those who want low running costs will need to go for the strong hybrid with its claimed 27.26 km/l mileage figures. Now, if you are someone who loves to drive your vehicle in an enthusiastic manner, the City might not be the one for you.

This is especially true because there are options like the VW Virtus, Skoda Slavia and Hyundai Verna in this segment. However, if refinement and long-travel comfort are your priority, the City makes a lot of sense. The rubber-band effect inherently associated with CVTs is present here as well. But the overall refinement levels and smooth operation are the City’s biggest strength. Now, it remains to be seen how well the customers embrace it.

Editor’s Note

Yatharth Chauhan, Managing Editor

The Honda City has always been one of the benchmark sedans in India, and this facelift reinforces exactly why. In my view, Honda has wisely focused on enhancing the areas that matter most to Indian buyers, technology, safety and premium appeal, while retaining the refined powertrains and class-leading comfort that have made the City so successful over the years. While enthusiasts may still gravitate towards the turbocharged Verna, Virtus or Slavia, the City continues to stand out as one of the most complete family sedans for long-distance touring and everyday usability. In a market increasingly dominated by SUVs, the City remains a strong reminder of why a well-engineered sedan still deserves a place in every buyer’s consideration list.

Also Read: New Honda City vs VW Virtus – Which Mid-Size Sedan To Buy?