2026 Honda City Facelift: First Look
Honda Cars India is set to launch the much-awaited facelift of the current (fifth-generation) City on May 22, 2026. The updated model will have notable design changes and feature additions. Recently, an image of it was leaked online. Based on it, we have created more renders so that you get a better view of the new City.
Let’s start with this- a proper front view of the car. The facelift’s front fascia has been redesigned significantly. It has been brought closer to those of global models like the Civic Type R and the new Prelude. In this image, you can see the design of the front grille, headlamps and the bumper. The headlamps continue to be LED units, but are sleeker now, with sharper edges. These now extend inward and merge neatly into a larger grille.
The grille itself is new. It gets a mesh pattern and extends along the width of the car, seamlessly connecting the headlamp units. It highlights the facelift’s wide stance. The Honda logo now sits on the bonnet and adds more character to the design. Previously, it used to be placed on the grille section. The lines on the bonnet also seem to have been tweaked. The front bumper is also new. It features more angular elements and looks sportier than before.
As can be seen in the second image, the side profile view remains unchanged. The roofline and most of the character lines remain the same as before. The silhouette is instantly recognizable. The facelift will, however, get new wheels.
A redesigned tail lamp cluster and new bumper are expected at the rear. Overall, the design has been made sharper and cleaner than before. The car looks much more upmarket. The design changes appear to be evolutionary and keep the familiarity safe.
We don’t expect the interior design to change drastically. It will likely remain mostly unchanged. New features like a 360-degree camera and more connected car features are expected to be added to the package. Rivals like the Hyundai Verna already have these. Its addition would only make the new City more competitive. Most other features including the ADAS suite (Honda Sensing) will continue. It will continue to be camera-based as no radar module was visible on the leaked image.
The City is now a petrol-only model. It is available in two distinct avatars- the regular City and the City e:HEV. The regular sedan is powered by a 1.5L naturally aspirated petrol engine making 119 hp and 145 Nm. This is available with a 6-speed manual and a CVT automatic transmission. The facelift will use the same setup.
The City e:HEV will also get a corresponding facelift on May 22. Even that will continue with the 1.5-litre strong hybrid engine running Atkinson cycle, and producing 124 hp and 253 Nm. This powertrain comes exclusively with an e-CVT transmission.
The outgoing City starts at Rs 11.99 lakh (ex-showroom), and the facelift is expected to carry a slight premium. The update focuses on improving design and adding features so that the model stays relevant till the next-generation debuts in 2028.
The City’s key rivals- Volkswagen Virtus, Skoda Slavia and Hyundai Verna are either waiting for facelifts or have already got them. Staying relevant has become more important than before. From what we see, Honda has done a good job in pumping freshness and appeal into the facelift.