Honda City facelift, Z-RV launch highlights: Honda City launched at Rs 11.99 lakh, Z-RV debuts

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Honda today only announced the prices for the City, Z-RV prices will be announced later.

Honda City to continue with 1.5-litre i-VTEC with 6-speed manual or 7-speed CVT and the strong hybrid version.

Honda City facelift is now the longest mass-market mid-size sedan, says Honda.

Takashi Nakajima, President and CEO, Honda Cars India, is now on the stage to talk about the two cars. He said that India is among the top three focused market for Honda.

The current Honda City is priced between Rs 12.09 lakh (ex-showroom) and Rs 16.17 lakh (ex-showroom), while the hybrid variant is priced at Rs 19.99 lakh (ex-showroom). The facelifted version will feature revised styling and added equipment, which will lead to a marginal price increase. The prices of the facelifted City will be announced shortly.

The ZR-V is not going to be a high-volume model because of its expected premium pricing and CBU import status, but it plays a key role in Honda’s India strategy. Together with the upcoming City facelift, it will help reinforce Honda’s presence and hybrid-focused direction in the market.

Expected features include:

• Large freestanding touchscreen infotainment system
• Fully digital driver’s display
• Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
• Dual-zone climate control
• Powered front seats with memory function
• Wireless phone charger
• Ambient lighting
• Panoramic sunroof
• Powered tailgate
• Premium Bose sound system
• ADAS
   

Inside the cabin, the Honda ZR-V e:HEV is expected to offer a premium and practical layout with an emphasis on ease of use. Unlike several modern SUVs that depend heavily on touchscreen-operated functions, Honda is likely to retain physical buttons and rotary knobs for climate and audio controls.

The Honda ZR-V e:HEV will be offered exclusively with Honda’s e:HEV strong-hybrid system. The SUV is powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine running on the Atkinson cycle, paired with two electric motors. The petrol engine develops 143bhp and 186Nm of torque on its own, while the combined hybrid setup delivers 184bhp and 315Nm. Power will be channelled to the front wheels through an e-CVT automatic transmission. Although international markets get both front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive configurations, the India-spec version is expected to be available only with front-wheel drive.

The Honda ZR-V e:HEV features a sleeker profile with a wider stance and smoother body lines designed to give it a more urban-focused character. Up front, the SUV is expected to sport a large chrome-accented grille, slim LED headlamps and sculpted bumpers with sporty air-channel styling elements. Gloss-black cladding on the lower sections is also likely to add visual contrast to the exterior. At the rear, the ZR-V is expected to feature wraparound LED tail-lamps, a blacked-out bumper insert and dual exhaust finishers connected by a chrome strip. Depending on the variant, the SUV could be offered with 17-inch to 19-inch alloy wheels. Internationally, the ZR-V measures about 4.56 metres in length, placing it in line with several premium mid-size SUVs available in India.

The Honda ZR-V e:HEV is expected to be introduced in India through the completely built unit (CBU) route, resulting in a premium pricing position. Industry estimates indicate that the SUV could be priced in the range of Rs 40 lakh to Rs 50 lakh (ex-showroom), depending on the variant and feature set offered for the Indian market.

Alongside the launch of the Honda City, Honda is also preparing to strengthen its premium lineup in India with the debut of the Honda ZR-V e:HEV tomorrow. The SUV will mark Honda’s return to the premium CBU segment following the discontinuation of the Honda Accord Hybrid. Positioned above the Honda Elevate, the ZR-V e:HEV will cater to buyers seeking a premium five-seat SUV with a strong emphasis on refinement and comfort.

In terms of safety, the higher variants of the Honda City are expected to retain Honda SENSING ADAS features. The package is likely to include adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, collision mitigation braking, road departure mitigation and automatic high beam assist. Other safety features expected to be offered include six airbags, vehicle stability assist, hill start assist and a tyre pressure monitoring system.

On the mechanical front, the updated Honda City is expected to retain the existing 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine that develops 121bhp and 145Nm of torque. Buyers are likely to get the choice of a 6-speed manual transmission or a CVT automatic gearbox. Honda is also expected to continue offering the Honda City e:HEV variant, which pairs a 1.5-litre petrol engine with an electric motor to deliver a combined output of 126bhp. The hybrid model is set to continue with an e-CVT transmission and is expected to retain its claimed fuel efficiency figure of around 27kmpl.

Spy images have also revealed a camera mounted at the front, hinting at the addition of a 360-degree camera system in the City for the first time.

Inside the cabin, the facelift is expected to bring a stronger focus on feature upgrades rather than a major overhaul in design. A larger freestanding touchscreen infotainment system is likely to replace the existing 8-inch unit, offering wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity along with improved connected car functions. Honda is also expected to add several much-awaited convenience features such as ventilated front seats, Type-C charging ports and a 360-degree camera. Spy shots have additionally hinted at ambient lighting on the dashboard and door panels, while the familiar black-and-beige interior layout is expected to be retained. Other features likely to continue to includes a sunroof, wireless phone charger, premium audio system, rear sunshade and a semi-digital instrument cluster.

The front bumper has also been updated with sharper lines and more angular detailing around the side sections, giving the sedan a sportier appearance. Interestingly, recent test mules did not feature traditional fog lamps, suggesting Honda may have integrated those functions into the main lighting setup.

The updated Honda City will receive its most noticeable styling changes at the front. Spy shots indicate the sedan will get redesigned LED headlamps with integrated DRLs linked by a slim LED light bar running across the grille. The grille itself looks wider and features a layered mesh-style pattern, while the Honda badge has been repositioned closer to the bonnet edge, lending the sedan a more modern look inspired by Honda’s latest global models.

Honda will launch the updated City facelift and the all-new ZR-V in Delhi at 12pm today.

Honda Cars India is set to launch the updated Honda City today, marking the second major facelift for the sedan since the fifth-generation model made its debut in 2020. Meanwhile, the ZR-V will signal Honda’s return to the premium CBU segment following the exit of the Accord Hybrid from India. Positioned above the Honda Elevate, the ZR-V e:HEV will cater to buyers seeking a refined and premium five-seat SUV experience.