With the sixth-generation Honda City still about two years away, the carmaker gave the fifth-generation sedan a second facelift in May 2026 to keep it fresh in the segment. The previous facelift was in March 2023.
Priced between Rs 12 lakh and Rs 21 lakh (hybrid), the Honda City now costs Rs 1 lakh more due to cosmetic tweaks and feature upgrades, while there are no changes on the mechanical front. But how different are the 2023 and 2026 models? We take a closer look.
Honda City new vs old: Exterior design
Compared to the outgoing model, the new City gets a sportier-looking front end. The earlier headlamps with individual lighting elements have been replaced by sleeker LED projector units, connected by a light bar on higher variants. Honda says the headlights now offer a wider and longer light spread than before.
The grille has also been redesigned and now has a more slanted look compared to the earlier slab-sided design, while the new Honda logo sits above it for a cleaner appearance. The logo itself is flatter than before and has been borrowed from Honda’s current line-up abroad. Lower down, the bumper now gets functional air vents on either side in place of fog lamps.
Speaking of the side profile, it remains largely unchanged save for a new design for the 16-inch alloy wheels, finished in a dual-tone shade. As for the rear, the tail-lights have received a smoked-out effect. Most of the changes here are concentrated on the bumper, which gets a sportier faux diffuser with a honeycomb grill pattern, and the horizontal reflector units have been replaced by vertical ones.
Colours
The 2026 facelift also introduces a new Crystal Black exterior shade. Other colour options include Lunar Silver, Obsidian Blue, Radiant Red, Platinum White and Meteoroid Grey; Golden Brown has been dropped.
Honda City new vs old: Interior and features
Speaking of the interior, the overall design has been carried over, including the dual-tone theme. However, Honda has added convenience features such as a 10.1-inch touchscreen with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, replacing the earlier 8-inch unit; the smaller unit with wired smartphone connectivity is offered on lower-spec variants.
Front seats now get ventilation, and a 360-degree camera is also new. A rippled effect has been added to the dashboard glazing for a fresher look. What is also nice is that physical buttons for controlling the climate and other car functions have been carried over. Even the part-digital driver’s display is retained, along with an 8-speaker audio system, ambient lighting, rear windscreen sunshade and a single-pane sunroof. The City continues to be equipped with an ADAS suite in higher variants.
Interestingly, rear headrests are still not adjustable and are fixed units. A lighter shade has been used for the cabin upholstery compared to the previous cream shade.
Honda City new vs old: Powertrains
The 2026 City continues with the same 1.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine, producing 121hp and 145Nm. Gearbox options include a 6-speed manual and a 7-speed CVT.
The 1.5-litre strong-hybrid setup (e:HEV) also remains unchanged. It produces 126hp and 253Nm and comes paired with an e-CVT gearbox. The carmaker claims a fuel efficiency of 27.26kpl for the hybrid.
Honda is offering a 3-year standard warranty with the City, along with optional extended warranty packages of up to 7 years or 10 years. Hybrid variants also get a 5-year or 1,00,000km warranty on all hybrid system components, while the lithium-ion battery is covered for 8 years or 1,60,000km.
Dipan Sur
Saptarshi Mondal
Viraaj Bhatnagar
