Honda City facelift launches tomorrow: Price expectations, design and features detailed

The Honda City facelift will launch tomorrow, on May 22, bringing a revised exterior design and an expanded feature suite. To be launched alongside the upcoming ZR-V SUV, the sedan is getting a mid-cycle update to renew its appeal in the Indian market. The new City carries a fresh face, as well as an updated grille and a new lighting signature. Besides, it is expected to put on new alloys and a 360-degree camera, among other updates.

With the extent of the changes, the new Honda City will command a slight premium over the outgoing model. Currently, the sedan is priced from ₹11.99 lakh and goes all the way up to ₹16.07 lakh. The City hybrid is listed at ₹19.99 lakh (ex-showroom). We expect the new City to be launched between ₹12.00 - ₹12.55 lakh (ex-showroom).

However, the sedan may end up receiving a price cut with the update. Honda has highlighted India as a key market for the company’s global growth, and as a result, you can expect the new City to be priced more competitively, at par with its rivals. Any sedan that sits close to the Honda City is currently more affordable by approximately ₹1 lakh on the ex-showroom price tag. In its segment, the Volkswagen Virtus is priced from ₹10.49 lakh, while its Czech stablemate, the Skoda Slavia, is priced from ₹9.99 lakh. On the other hand, the Hyundai Verna is priced at ₹10.98 lakh. With the competition priced more favourably, the Japanese carmaker may consider rejigging its strategy. All aforementioned prices are ex-showroom.

Honda City facelift: What’s new?

The Honda City facelift has been spotted at a dealership in India ahead of a May 22 debut (@aryanverse_/Instagram)

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The Honda City facelift has been spotted at a dealership in India ahead of a May 22 debut (@aryanverse_/Instagram)

The upcoming Honda City facelift brings a sportier front fascia that appears to draw from the Prelude sports coupe sold internationally. It wears sleeker LED units for an updated lighting signature, featuring connected DRLs integrated into the headlamp assembly.

The front grille sports horizontal slats instead of the current mesh pattern, while the sedan looks slightly sharper overall. The bumper drops the C-shaped fog lamp housings in favour of sportier air intakes.

The silhouette remains unchanged, but spy shots revealed new black alloy wheel designs on the test mule. The City facelift continues to feature a sloping roofline, conventional door handles, and ORVM-mounted indicators. At the rear, the taillamps remain unchanged, but they feature new internals and adopt a smoked finish.

2026 Honda City: Cabin and features

The new City will boast ventilated seats for the front occupants. (X / adityalala2000)

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The new City will boast ventilated seats for the front occupants. (X / adityalala2000)

Honda is expected to launch the next-generation City sometime in 2028, and as such, the upcoming facelift will only bring minor interior and tech updates. It is expected to add new interior finishes and upholstery options, as well as features such as a 360-degree camera. Other expected features include ventilated front seats, a powered driver’s seat, and a larger touchscreen infotainment that replaces the current 8-inch unit.

2026 Honda City: Powertrain

Honda City will be offered with newly designed alloy wheels. There are new smoked LED tail lamps on offer as well. (X / adityalala2000)

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Honda City will be offered with newly designed alloy wheels. There are new smoked LED tail lamps on offer as well. (X / adityalala2000)

The facelift will carry no mechanical changes, retaining the proven 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine under the hood (121 bhp, 145 Nm), along with the 6-speed manual and CVT options. The City Hybrid will also retain its existing 1.5-litre Atkinson Cycle petrol engine (125 bhp, 253 Nm).

Check out Upcoming Cars in India 2026, Best SUVs in India.