While it may be hard to tell, the Honda City for Malaysia has been given a refresh after 3 years since the introduction of the all-new model back in 2020. The 2023 Honda City facelift is now offered in five variants with prices starting at RM84,900 for the S variant and topping off at RM111,900 for the e:HEV RS variant.
New to the variant line-up of the Honda City is the non-hybrid RS variant which costs RM 99,900. Both RS variants come with RS-exclusive features like wireless Apple Carplay and Android Auto, RS styling, and Honda Connect. On the outside, the City is now slightly longer by 36 mm for the Rs variants and 27 mm for the non-RS variants. Honda also says that the new City has been styled to look wider and with a better stance.
Powertrain-wise, everything has been carried over from its predecessor. That means the non-hybrid versions still get the same 1.5-litre naturally aspirated engine that makes 121 hp and 145 Nm. Paired with a CVT, all power is sent to the front wheels only. The single hybrid variant gets a combination 1.5-litre naturally aspirated engine and an electric motor making 98 hp/127 Nm and 109 hp/253 Nm respectively.
Inside, things have remained largely the same. Some colour and trim changes have been made and this is more noticeable in the RS variants that now get more splashes of red in the cabin. Overall, the Honda City’s new cabin (for both RS and non-RS) adopts a darker, more premium look. What’s fancy in the Honda City facelift is the temperature control knob which now gets an active light. It turns red when you increase the temperature and blue when you decrease it.
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Safety-wise, things have been improved in the Honda City with Honda Sensing now equipped as standard for all variants. Not all Honda Sensing systems for the variants are the same as only the RS variants get Low Speed Follow (LSF). A new standard safety addition for all variants is the Lead Car Departure Notification (LCDN) system.
