The 2023 Honda City facelift has just made its launch in Malaysia. As before the facelifted City is offered in five variants – S, E, V, RS, and the e:HEV RS, prices start from RM84,900 (OTR, without insurance).
- Honda City S – RM84,900
- Honda City E – RM89,900
- Honda City V – RM94,900
- Honda City RS – RM99,900
- Honda City e:HEV RS – RM111,900
On the outside, the Honda City facelift features changes similar to the ones seen in the Thailand and Indian market models. This includes a new front grille and bumper design, with bigger fog light housings on the corners, alongside a more prominent lower lip, and a new rear bumper design for a sportier appearance.
The S and E variants both get 15-inch alloys, while the V, RS, and e:HEV RS all get 16-inch alloys. The range-topping RS variant gains exclusive cosmetic bits such as faux air entail garnishes, honeycomb mesh on the front lower grille, new side skirtings, a new rear diffuser design, and a new set of 16-inch alloys.
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Overall, with the new exterior cosmetics enhancements, the S, E, and V variants are now 27 mm longer than before, measuring 4,580 mm, while the RS variants are both 36 mm longer than before, measuring 4,589 mm long. Colour options available for the top-of-the-range e:HEV RS variant include Ignite Red Red Metallic, Platinum White Pearl, and Meteoroid Grey Metallic. The petrol S, E, V, and RS variants on the other hand get two extra colour options – Lunar Silver Metallic and Crystal Black Pearl.
Standard exterior equipment available with the 2023 Honda City S includes:
- Auto halogen projector headlamps
- LED daytime running lights (DRLs)
- LED taillights
- 15-inch single-tone alloys
The E variant adds on:
- 15-inch dual-tone alloys
Step up to the V variant, and you get:
- Automatic LED headlamps
- LED front fog lights
- 16-inch single-tone alloys
The higher spec RS and e:HEV RS variants get you:
- Faux air intake garnishes
- Honeycomb mesh on the front lower grille
- Side skirtings
- Rear diffuser
- 16-inch dual-tone alloys
Like in the pre-facelift model, the City facelift is offered with two powertrain options. The City S, E, V, and RS variants are powered by the familiar 1.5-litre naturally aspirated (NA) 4-cylinder engine, which is mated to a CVT gearbox. With power sent to the front wheels only, this combination produces 121 hp and 145 Nm.
The top-spec e:HEV RS variant’s powertrain is also left untouched as before, featuring the marque’s Multi-Mode Drive (i-MMD) hybrid powertrain. This consists of a 1.5-litre 4-cylinder Atkinson Cycle NA engine and an integrated starter-generator electric motor. Paired with an e-CVT, the total output is rated at 109 hp and 253 Nm.
| Variants | S, E, V, RS | e:HEV RS |
| Power unit | 1.5-litre naturally-aspirated 4-cylinder | i-MMD hybrid system, 1.5-litre NA engine |
| Transmission | CVT | e-CVT |
| Max horsepower | 121 hp @ 6,600 rpm | 109 hp @ 3,500 – 8,000 rpm |
| Max torque | 145 Nm @ 4,300 rpm | 253 Nm @ 0 – 3 ,000 rpm |
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Inside, the Honda City facelift carries an interior design that is pretty much similar to the prior model, albeit with blacked-out air-cond vents and steering wheel trims, alongside a red garnish that extends from the front passenger side to the centre dashboard for the RS variants. The automatic air-conditioning that comes with the E, V, RS, and e:HEV RS variants now gets coloured illumination to indicate the temperature set for the air-conditioning feature. Below is a summary of the 2023 Honda City facelift’s interior kit.
Standard equipment you get with the Honda City S:
- Fabric upholstery
- Standard audio unit
- Analogue instrument cluster with 4.2-inch TFT display
- Silver interior trims
- Manual air-conditioning
- Rear air-cond vents
- Four speakers
Step up to the E variant, you get:
- 8-inch touchscreen display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Single-zone automatic air-conditioning
- Remote engine start
- Reverse camera
- Eight speakers
Moving up to the V variant, you get:
- Leather upholstery
- Eight speakers
Up a notch, the RS variant gets you:
- RS interior design
- 7-inch semi-digital instrument cluster
- Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Sports pedal pads
The top-of-the-line e:HEV RS variant gets you:
- Electronic parking brake (EPB)
- Auto brake hold
Safety-wise, the Honda Sensing ADAS suite is now standard across the range, with the entire range gaining the new Lead Car Departure Notification System (LCDN) feature. Additionally, the top-spec e:HEV RS variant also gets the Low-Speed Follow (LSF) feature.
The rest of the safety features included with the Honda Sensing suite are still here and includes Front Collision Warning (FCW), Collision mitigation Braking System (CMBS), Lane Detection Warning (LDW), Lane Keep Assist System (LKAS), Road Departure Mitigation (RDM), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), and Auto High Beam (AHB). The marque’s LaneWatch feature is here as well for the V variant onwards, alongside the Honda Connect telematics suite that is exclusive to the RS variants. Customers purchasing the non-RS variants can also opt for the Honda Connect telematics suite as an option, which will cost RM1,500 till January 2024.
Standard safety features that come with the 2023 Honda City S include:
- 6 airbags
- Front collision warning (FCW)
- Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS)
- Lane Detection Warning (LDW)
- Lane Keep Assist System (LKAS)
- Road Departure Mitigation (RDM)
- Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
- Lead Car Departure Notification System (LCDN)
- Auto High Beam (AHB)
- Walk Away Auto Lock
- Honda Connect telematics suite (optional, costs RM1,500 till January 2024)
Up a notch, the V variant gets you:
- Honda LaneWatch camera system
- Rear disc brakes
Upgrade to the RS variant, you get:
- Honda Connect telematics suite
Opt for the top-of-the-line e:HEV RS variant, and you get:
- Low-Speed Follow (LSF)
To recap, the 2023 Honda City facelift has just been launched in Malaysia. With a total of 5 variants offered, prices for the sedan start at RM84,900. Honda Malaysia is also expecting to sell 2,400 units of the City facelift per month.
Included with the price is a five-year/unlimited mileage warranty, alongside an 8-year/unlimited mileage hybrid battery warranty for the top-spec e:HEV RS variant’s hybrid system. Free labour service is applicable for up to five times within the first 100,000 km.
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