Honda Cars India is gearing up to bring in the facelift of the new generation of the City in India. The Honda City, in its fifth-gen avatar, was launched back in July 2020. Since then, the automaker hasn’t introduced anything new for the sedan apart from its strong hybrid version, the City e:HEV.
The sedan’s test mules have been spotted in camouflage doing test runs. Apart from cosmetic updates, the facelift will introduce the City with newer features, and additional variants as well.
Honda City Facelift: What’ll Be New?
Honda could introduce the facelifted sedan with its bumpers sporting a refreshed look along with a new design for the alloy wheels. The carmaker could also offer a few upgrades & additional features on the inside like ventilated seats, wireless chargers, and a better infotainment system.
Upgrades like these would ensure that the Japanese sedan remains fresh in the market, especially when there’s new competition in its face in the form of the Virtus-Slavia siblings and the upcoming new-gen Verna.
Honda City Facelift: New Variants
The Honda City lineup could get the addition of a new variant. According to reports this variant will be positioned between the standard ICE City and the top-model City e:HEV.
Honda currently offers the hybrid powertrain in the top-spec ZX variant which retails at Rs 19.89 lakh (ex-showroom). This is considerably higher than the top-end variant of the standard ICE City which is priced at Rs 15.62 lakh (ex-showroom).
With the addition of this new lower-trim hybrid City, the company is looking to attract more buyers for the hybrid powertrain vehicle.
Honda City Facelift: Powertrain Specs
There will be some changes in the engine options. Like with the Amaze compact-sedan, the City will also lose its diesel powertrain. As Honda will no longer offer the 1.5-litre diesel engine with the City. This is done so as to meet the Real Driving Emission norms, i.e., BS6 Phase-II.
So, the automaker will only offer the 1.5-litre naturally aspirated i-VTEC petrol motor and 1.5-litre petrol-hybrid engine.
Honda City Facelift: Launch & Other Details
According to several reports, Honda India could launch the 2023 facelift of its City by as early as March this year. Currently, the Honda City sedan is available within the price range of Rs 11.87 lakh and Rs 15.62 lakh (all, ex-showroom). The Hybrid ZX e:HEV variant costs Rs 19.89 lakh.
With such minor cosmetic changes and feature upgrades, the facelifted version might get a minor price hike.