The current fifth-generation Honda City has been on sale since 2019, receiving its most recent facelift in 2023. Now, it looks like another update is on the way, as Honda Cars India has teased the new Honda City facelift ahead of its reported debut on 22 May.
The teaser, posted on the brand’s official Facebook page, shows the car mostly hidden beneath a large cloth, with only its daytime running lights (DRLs) visible. Even so, the image appears to confirm that the updated model will feature a full-width front light bar.
Want to see more? You’re in luck, because the upcoming Honda City facelift has allegedly already been leaked online with several images and videos of the model fully uncovered — showing more close-up details as well as its interior.
Starting at the front, the car gets slimmer and sharper headlights, now connected by a new honeycomb grille that stretches all the way beneath the lights — somewhat similar to the Proton Saga and even the Kia K3. Lower down, the bumper also appears sportier and more aggressive, while the side elements seem to have ditched the front fog lights altogether.
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Down the sides, it’s mostly quite similar to the outgoing model. There’s still the signature bold bodyline that runs from the headlights to the taillights, and the car now sits on new five-spoke dual-tone wheels. Oh, and one more thing, the sharkfin antenna is here to stay… Nice!
Moving to the rear, not much appears to have changed, much like the side profile. The most noticeable update is the redesigned bumper, which now features a new mesh texture on the more aggressive diffuser-like element. The lower lip is body-coloured to add a bit of contrast, while the rear reflectors have been repositioned vertically on the outer edges of the bumper instead of horizontally along the lower section.
Inside, the cabin features a new and larger floating infotainment display, paired with a familiar semi-analogue instrument cluster. Looking closer, the facelift may also introduce ambient lighting, as a subtle purple light strip can be seen in one of the close-up images near the centre screen, along with what appears to be a light cutout on the passenger-side dashboard.
The model shown also gets manual seat adjustments and cream leather upholstery, though it remains unclear if these will be offered in our market, as similar finishes have traditionally been skipped for Malaysia.
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No powertrain details have been revealed just yet, though the facelift is unlikely to stray far from the current setup. At present, the Honda City is available with either a conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) or a hybrid (HEV) powertrain, with both sending power exclusively to the front wheels (FWD).
The ICE variant uses a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine producing 121 hp and 145 Nm. Meanwhile, the hybrid pairs the same engine with an electric traction motor, with the petrol engine acting primarily as a generator, delivering a combined system output of 109 hp and 253 Nm.
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