New Honda City Blends Sporty Design With Hybrid Power
Honda's redesigned City celebrates 30 years with sporty styling and new hybrid e:HEV powertrains, featuring enhanced safety technology and refined performance across sedan and hatchback variants. The updated compact sedan blends spacious in
The new Honda City launch has generated significant excitement with its refined, sporty styling that appeals to many customers. The Honda City was originally developed specifically for the Thai market, with the first generation launching in 1996 and now marking its 30th anniversary.
To demonstrate the driving capabilities of the new model, Honda's marketing and public relations team organized a test drive event from Krabi to Phuket, featuring all available variants including sedans and hatchbacks powered by petrol, turbo, and hybrid e:HEV engines. Testers first sampled the top-tier Honda City e:HEV RS model before moving on to test the turbocharged S model, the entry-level hatchback variant.
Key design updates include a new black grille, redesigned front bumper, LED headlights with connecting daytime running lights spanning the full width of the vehicle, and modern clear-lens LED taillights. The 2D H-Mark logo has also been refreshed. All trim levels come equipped with Honda SENSING safety features, including collision warning with brake assist, lane-keeping assist, lane departure warning and control, adaptive high-beam assist, and forward vehicle movement detection.
Despite its compact dimensions, the cabin feels spacious with adequate headroom and legroom. The air vents are vertically split between left and right, with USB Type-C charging ports. The suspension delivers a smooth ride over bumps and rough roads, with minimal body roll during cornering.
The entry-level S hatchback features simple interior styling with an 8-inch touchscreen integrated into the dashboard and analog gauges for speed and RPM. The steering wheel and shift lever use polyurethane material, manual air conditioning, fabric seats, and a manual handbrake provide easy operation and maintenance.
The 1.0-liter DOHC VTEC turbo three-cylinder 12-valve petrol engine delivers 122 horsepower at 5,500 RPM and 173 Newton-meters of torque between 2,000 and 4,500 RPM, providing responsive acceleration. The chassis is firm and stable at high speeds with minimal vibration. Sport mode increases engine responsiveness with sharper acceleration, tighter cornering capability, and a more responsive steering feel, enhancing the overall driving enjoyment.
