Honda's Mega Comeback Will Commence From 22nd May: What To Expect
Honda is plotting a big comeback in the Indian market. The Japanese carmaker sells five models in the country- second-generation and third-generation Amaze, City, City eHEV (hybrid) and the Elevate. Honda plans to expand the lineup aggressively in the near future. The planned launches include both mass-market, premium-segment offerings and even an EV! The first three of these will launch on May 22, 2026. Here’s a closer look at these plans.
Image source: X/ Akbar Merchant
The City currently on sale here is the fifth generation model. It is set to get a mid-life update (facelift) this month. Set to launch on May 22nd, the City facelift will come with notable design changes and an improved cabin. An image shared by Financial Express’ Akbar Merchant has revealed the front fascia design of the updated sedan. It will get a new front bumper, redesigned LED headlamps and a revised front grille. Overall, the new sedan seems to have a cleaner and sharper design.
The interior design of the new City is expected to remain largely unchanged. It will, however, see the addition of features like 360-degree camera and more connected car functions. The facelift will remain mechanically unchanged. It will use the same 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine as the outgoing model. This will be offered with manual and CVT transmissions.
On May 22, the carmaker will also launch a corresponding facelift on the hybrid version (City e:HEV). The e:HEV is powered by a 1.5L Atkinson cycle, strong hybrid petrol engine producing 124hp and 253Nm, mated to an e-CVT transmission.
The third product launching on May 22nd is the ZR-V. The ZR-V will be brought as a CBU (Completely Built Unit) import. It will thus have a premium pricing in India. In international markets, it is positioned below the CR-V.
In a recent update, Honda replaced the ZR-V’s old 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine with a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated strong hybrid unit. The ZR-V is now a hybrid-only model.
The ZR-V will have a technology-heavy cabin. It will come with features like a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system, 12-speaker Bose premium audio, built-in Google Assistant, ADAS, multi-zone climate control, and more. In the Indian market, the ZR-V will compete with the Volkswagen Tiguan and Skoda Kodiaq.
Honda Elevate enjoys good acceptance in the Indian market. It is, in fact, an underrated SUV. Honda initially had plans to build an EV based on this model. These were later shelved. Now, the company is working on a hybrid version of the Elevate. The mid-size SUV is expected to get a facelift sometime soon. The hybrid powertrain will likely debut on the same.
The hybrid Elevate has been spied testing multiple times. From what we know, it will have subtle design updates and will pack more equipment. The Elevate’s hybrid powertrain will be different from that of the City e:HEV. It will use a lighter battery pack and more energy efficient motor. This powertrain will be heavily localised and will be cheaper to manufacture. These will help Honda to price Elevate Hybrid aggressively. We expect it to launch around the festive season this year.
Honda will bring the Prelude coupe to India in 2027, as its halo product. This two-door coupe will be brought as a CBU import, in limited numbers- just like the ZR-V. It will thus have a premium pricing- likely in the ballpark of Rs 80 lakh. If so, it will become the most expensive Honda in the country. The sixth-generation Prelude shares a lot of its components with the Civic Type R.
It is powered by a strong hybrid powertrain using a 2.0L petrol engine as its base. It is mated to two electric motors and a battery pack. This setup has a combined output of 200hp and 315Nm. The Prelude is claimed to be as dynamic as the Civic Type R.
Honda will launch its first electric vehicle for India in 2027. The Zero Alpha electric SUV will have a unique design (with a heavy influence of the now-cancelled Zero Series SUV) and has already begun testing in India. When it enters production, the Zero Alpha will be manufactured at Honda’s plant in India and will be priced competitively. The Zero Alpha will have a modern, futuristic and technology-heavy cabin.
It will be based on a newly developed platform and will likely offer the choice of two battery packs- 65 kWh and 75 kWh. Real-world range could fall in the ballpark of 500 km per charge. Both versions will have front-wheel drive (FWD) configurations. In India, the Zero Alpha will compete primarily with the Mahindra BE6, Hyundai Creta Electric and Maruti Suzuki eVitara.