New Honda City hatchback to be sold in multiple markets

• City hatchback to be sold in China and Brazil, and possibly other South American markets

• It is expected to replace the Gienia notchback in China

• No plans yet to launch the City hatchback in India

When we think of the Honda City, the first thing that comes to mind is the sedan form factor. This is due to the fact that, ever since its introduction, the model has only been sold as a sedan in the Indian market. However, the Chinese market also has it in notchback form, known as the Gienia, since 2016.

Now, Honda is preparing a hatchback version of the fifth-gen City, which will be offered in multiple international markets, including China, Brazil and potentially other South American markets. In China, the hatchback is expected to replace the Gienia notchback.

A few months back, the patent designs of the City hatchback surfaced online, which showed the design to be quite similar to the sedan’s till the C-pillar, beyond which it gets a well incorporated rear hatch. The rear also features wide horizontally placed tail-lights, shorter overhang and a more rounded appearance (due to the hatchback form factor), all of which look well proportioned.

The interiors of the City hatchback are expected to be similar to that of the new sedan, in terms of layout and design.

Mechanically, the City hatchback is expected to feature a 1.0-litre, three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine, as well as a new 1.5-litre, four-cylinder, naturally aspirated petrol motor (codename L15B), which will also be offered on the all-new City sedan in India at launch.

Honda has not announced any plans to launch the City hatchback in India. That being said, the current-gen Jazz is being updated to meet BS6 norms but will be a petrol-only model. Also, while the 2020 Honda Jazz won’t be brought to the Indian market, the next-gen City sedan will launch before the BS6 Jazz.