The new Honda City continues to offer two main powertrain options that cater to different driving needs. The standard 1.5 liter i-VTEC four cylinder petrol engine produces 121 horsepower and 145 Newton meters of torque, and it can be paired with either a six speed manual transmission or a smooth CVT automatic.

If you want more tech, the e:HEV strong hybrid variant combines a 1.5 liter Atkinson cycle engine with a dual motor electric system to produce a combined 126 horsepower and a massive 253 Newton meters of peak torque. This hybrid version uses an e-CVT and is capable of running in pure electric mode during low speed city crawls

Efficiency is where the City really shines, especially with the latest tweaks to the hybrid system. The standard petrol variants deliver between 17.77 and 17.97 kilometers per liter depending on whether you choose the manual or the CVT.

 The strong hybrid e:HEV model has seen its efficiency improved to a claimed 27.26 kilometers per liter, which is up slightly from the previous version. This makes it an incredibly economical choice for high mileage drivers who want to avoid frequent stops at the fuel station.

Inside the cabin, Honda has addressed several long standing requests from customers. The center stage is now taken by a larger 10.1 inch freestanding touchscreen infotainment system that is about sixty five percent bigger than before and supports wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. 

For comfort, Honda has finally included front ventilated seats and added a new ivory white interior theme with satin silver trim that replaces the older wood panels. You still get the class leading rear legroom and a massive 506 liter boot, though the hybrid version loses some of that space to accommodate the battery pack.

The 2026 facelift introduces a sharper front end with a new honeycomb mesh grille and redesigned bi-projector LED headlamps that Honda claims offer twice the illumination reach of the old units. The front and rear bumpers look more aggressive with new carbon wrapped diffuser elements, and the car sits on updated 16 inch dual tone diamond cut alloy wheels.

 A notable addition for this year is the introduction of a formal black exterior color option and smoked LED tail lamps that give the sedan a more premium and stealthy appearance on the road.

Safety has been bolstered by making six airbags standard across every single variant in the lineup. A major new feature is the 360 degree camera system which works in tandem with the LaneWatch blind spot camera to provide a full view of your surroundings during tight maneuvers.

 The higher trims also feature the Level 2 Honda Sensing ADAS suite, which provides high tech driver aids like adaptive cruise control, collision mitigation braking, lane keeping assist, and a lead car departure notification system that alerts you when the car ahead starts moving in traffic

The City is currently facing its toughest competition yet in the mid size sedan segment. Its main rival is the Hyundai Verna, which offers a more futuristic design and a very powerful 1.5 liter turbo petrol engine for enthusiasts. 

On the other hand, the Volkswagen Virtus and Skoda Slavia provide a more robust European driving feel with superior high speed stability and turbocharged performance. The City has to rely on its reputation for bulletproof reliability, better resale value, and the superior fuel efficiency of its strong hybrid powertrain to win over buyers.

We haven’t reviewed the car yet, so we will reserve any critical judgment. However, we have seen the car in person and really liked the fact that Honda didn’t go overboard with the styling and kept it limited to minor nips and tucks. The full-width LED bar is a deal-breaker for me, although it was expected to be offered only on top models but it turned out to be standard.

Design is subjective though, and you might like it. Other than that, my teammates were disappointed as they expected something far more comprehensive, which will likely debut in the next 2 years with the 6th-gen Honda City. Until then, Honda has decided to focus on younger buyers with new colours, a larger infotainment screen, and, thankfully, the same price tag of ₹12 lakh ex-showroom.

The i-VTEC is still very much alive and kicking, compared to the rough three-cylinder engines in the Virtus and Slavia, It is on a whole other level of refinement.