Honda is one of the rare automotive companies that still does all of its things on its own. This includes a broad range of car models as well, including ones that are designed and engineered for specific markets. The City is one of them. This subcompact car competes primarily in Asia, on markets like India, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines etc. The current generation has been around since 2019 and if we can trust the latest reports, the Japanese manufacturer is already working on a facelift, which should be introduced with the 2023 Honda City.
At this point, it’s still early to talk about details. However, it looks like this update is about to bring a lot of interesting things. Of course, the styling is the first one that comes to mind and we have no doubt that Honda will bring a lot of new details to the table. More importantly, it looks like the Hybrid version will finally be offered in the rest of the markets. Current, the electrified version is available only in Malaysia.
Considering the updates, we believe that the 2023 Honda City will hit the market a little bit earlier than usual, but still within the second half of 2022.
2023 Honda City Facelift
Of course, styling will be the focus of this update. From what we know so far, the company will focus on updating the front end. We expect that the new version will adopt the brand’s global design language and that many parts will be borrowed from bigger cars, such as the recently introduced 11th-generation Civic. Besides the front end, other parts of the vehicle could come with novelties as well. Finally, there is always enough room for things like new color options, new wheels etc.
On the other hand, the technical aspect of the vehicle probably won’t change. We are about to see a familiar layout, which is based on the current-generation Jazz/Fit model. The City rides on the same platform and shares many parts with these two models, but also comes with a couple of exclusive design solutions. One of them is the fact that it comes not only as a 4-door sedan but also with a 5-door hatchback body style. The latter has been revived last year, after more than two decades of hiatus.
Interior
Interior changes are possible too, though it’s hard to believe that too many things could change. Simply, the current model already looks really nice from the inside. The dashboard utilizes nice materials, while the build quality is at a high level. Still, we won’t be surprised if we see a few tweaks to the dashboard, especially on the center stack and console. Of course, there is always room for new tech features, and some sources even speculate about the new infotainment system.
On the other hand, the overall cabin layout will remain the same. As we already mentioned, you may count on two body styles and while the sedan probably looks more attractive, the hatchback offers more passenger space and a way more useful cargo area.
2023 Honda City Engines
Things under the hood won’t change, at least not in the case of standard gasoline and diesel engines. Still, keep in mind that the actual offer of engines depends on the market. For example, the Indian version comes with both petrol and diesel units in the offer. The petrol unit is a familiar 1.5-liter naturally-aspirated inline-four, which puts out around 120 horsepower and 145 Nm of torque. On the other hand, the diesel version comes with a 1.5-liter turbodiesel, which puts out around 98 horsepower and a respectable 200 Nm of torque.
On the other hand, the Thai version comes equipped with a newer-generation 1.0-liter turbo three-cylinder engine, which puts out around 122 horsepower and 173 Nm of max torque.
While the base 1.5-liter inline-four comes with either a 6-speed manual or CVT, the turbo inline-three is offered exclusively with a CVT gearbox. On the other hand, the diesel engine comes only in pair with a 6-speed manual.
Honda City Hybrid
If we can trust the latest reports, the next year’s update will bring another big novelty. The hybrid version, which is currently offered only in Malaysia, will come to the Indian market as well. The system will remain the same, though. So, you may count on a combination of a 1.5-liter gasoline engine and a single electric motor. These two units provide a combined output of 108 horsepower and quite an impressive 253 Nm of the max torque.
As you may presume, the system is coupled with a CVT gearbox.
2023 Honda City Release Date and Competition
Considering the update, we expect that the 2023 Honda City will arrive a little bit earlier than usual. Still, the launch date should still remain within the second half of 2022. When it comes to the competition, Hyundai Verna, VW Vento and Maruti Ciaz are some of the names that come to mind.