2026 Honda City facelift: Five pros and cons to know before buying

Honda Cars India recently launched the new Honda City facelift sedan in the Indian market. The new City features cosmetic design changes, updated interior, added features and much more. The sedan continues to rival the Volkswagen Virtus, Skoda Slavia and Hyundai Verna in the Indian market. Interested customers can book the new City online or by visiting their nearest dealership. Deliveries are expected to begin soon. We recently test-drove the City facelift. In this article, let’s take a look at five pros and cons you need to know before buying.

Pros

Sharper looks

One of the biggest highlights of the Honda City facelift is its updated styling. While the overall silhouette remains familiar, Honda has introduced subtle yet effective design changes that give the sedan a sharper and more premium appearance. The sedan now features eyebrow-style LED DRLs connected by a slim light bar, giving it a wider and more distinctive appearance. Honda has also introduced a new honeycomb-pattern grille and a redesigned bumper, which contribute to a sportier look.

The side profile appears unchanged, including the sloping roofline, door design and ORVMs. The updated model, however, features a new alloy wheel design. At the rear, it gets a redesigned tailgate with a lower bumper and also a smoke effect for the taillights and vertical reflector units. Colour options include Crystal Black Pearl, Radiant Red Metallic, Obsidian Blue Pearl, Platinum White Pearl, Lunar Silver Metallic, and Meteoroid Grey Metallic. While the overall silhouette remains unchanged, the updates help modernise the City’s appearance and strengthen its road presence without altering its familiar identity.


Well-equipped entry-level variant

Another strong point of the Honda City range is the value offered by the base SV variant, priced at Rs 12 lakh (ex-showroom). Despite being the entry-level trim, it comes equipped with auto LED projector headlamps with LED DRLs, LED taillamps, an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, automatic climate control with rear AC vents, push-button start/stop, a multi-angle rear parking camera, and a height-adjustable driver’s seat. Safety features include six airbags, electronic stability control, hill-start assist, tyre-pressure monitoring system, ISOFIX child-seat mounts, ABS with EBD, and three-point seatbelts for all occupants. The generous feature list makes the base City a strong value proposition for buyers looking to avoid upgrading to higher variants.

Comfortable ride quality

Ride quality remains a key strength of the Honda City. The suspension handles potholes, broken roads and expansion joints effectively, helping maintain passenger comfort across varying road conditions. At highway speeds, the sedan feels stable and composed, while the suspension setup delivers a balance between comfort and body control. As a result, the City is well-suited for both daily urban use and long-distance travel.

Hybrid engine with 27.26 kmpl

The Honda City remains the only midsize sedan in its segment to offer a strong hybrid powertrain. It's e:HEV system pairs a 1.5-litre Atkinson-cycle petrol engine with two electric motors. The hybrid setup enables the City to run on electric power for extended periods in urban conditions, contributing to a quieter driving experience. Fuel efficiency is another key advantage. Honda claims an ARAI-certified figure of 27.26kmpl, making the City one of the most fuel-efficient sedans on sale in India. The combination of hybrid technology, low running costs and strong fuel economy gives the City a distinct advantage over conventional petrol-powered rivals.

Proven Honda reliability

One of the biggest reasons people continue to buy the Honda City is Honda’s reputation for reliability. The City has built a strong track record over the years, with owners often praising its dependable engines, hassle-free ownership experience and relatively low maintenance costs. Even the hybrid system benefits from Honda’s global experience with electrified powertrains. For buyers planning to keep their car for a long time, the City’s proven reliability remains a major selling point.

Cons

No turbo petrol engine option

The Honda City does not offer a turbo-petrol engine, unlike several of its key rivals. Its 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol motor is refined and smooth, but it lacks the stronger mid-range performance associated with turbocharged engines. Models such as the Hyundai Verna, Volkswagen Virtus and Skoda Slavia are available with turbo-petrol powertrains that deliver quicker acceleration and better overtaking performance. As a result, buyers seeking a more performance-oriented driving experience may find the City’s powertrain options less competitive.

Hybrid is limited to the top variant.

The Honda City’s hybrid powertrain is restricted to the range-topping ZX variant, which is priced at around Rs 21 lakh (ex-showroom). This makes the e:HEV significantly more expensive than the standard petrol versions and limits access to the hybrid technology. Buyers interested in the City’s fuel-efficient hybrid setup have no option to choose a lower-priced variant, as the powertrain is not offered elsewhere in the range. A wider availability across multiple trims could have made the hybrid more accessible to a larger section of buyers.

Missing rear-seat comfort features

The Honda City continues to offer a spacious and comfortable rear seat, but it misses out on a few features that could have enhanced passenger comfort. The sedan does not get rear window sunshades, which can be useful for reducing heat and glare for rear occupants, particularly in Indian conditions. It also lacks adjustable rear headrests, relying instead on fixed units. While this may not be a major concern for all buyers, adjustable headrests generally offer better support for passengers of varying heights during longer journeys. Given the City’s premium positioning and focus on rear-seat comfort, the absence of these features is noticeable and slightly detracts from the overall cabin experience.

No powered driver’s seat

The Honda City does not offer a powered driver’s seat, even in its higher variants. Seat adjustments are manual, which puts it at a disadvantage against some rivals in the segment. Models such as the Hyundai Verna provide an electrically adjustable driver’s seat, adding an extra layer of convenience for users. While the City’s seats are comfortable and offer sufficient adjustment, the absence of a powered function is a notable omission considering the car’s premium positioning and feature set.

Narrow 185-section tyres
The Honda City is equipped with 185-section tyres, while key competitors such as the Hyundai Verna, Volkswagen Virtus and Skoda Slavia come with wider 205-section tyres. Although the City’s tyre setup is sufficient for regular driving and may aid fuel efficiency, wider tyres typically provide better grip and stability, especially during high-speed manoeuvres. In comparison to its rivals, the narrower tyres are a noticeable shortcoming and do little to enhance the sedan’s road presence.