Honda is set to launch the next generation City sedan by the end of this year or early 2020. Launch is pegged for Thailand first, after which launch in other markets will be conducted, including India. Though details of the new Honda City are scarce, it is slated to considerably improve the current offering, which has been on sale since Jan 2014. Interestingly, current City was first launched in India, and later in other markets.
The new 2020 Honda City will be seen with sharper styling and more design cues with better quality material and added safety features. It could also get better refinement and more powerful engine options. Design elements will be heavily inspired by new gen Honda cars like the Accord and Civic.
Sources also reveal that the new Honda City will come in with a hybrid petrol version and an updated engine lineup. The current diesel engine, seen on the present version of the Honda City, will get updated to comply with BSVI emission norms, that will be effective from 2020. The petrol engine will also get updated to meet BS6 norms. The company has already commenced road tests of the BS VI compliant petrol and diesel engine in India.
2020 Honda City will ride on an upgraded platform and come in with more powerful set of petrol as well as diesel engine unit. Apart from offering conventional engine options, new City is also expected to get a hybrid / electric option. Honda has already started testing Jazz electric in India. This test mule of Jazz electric is seen wearing exteriors of old gen Jazz. It is most likely testing the new platform, and new hybrid / electric unit which will power the 2020 City sedan.
The current Honda City petrol variant is priced at Rs.8.77 lakhs and goes up to Rs.13.80 lakhs while the diesel offering starts at Rs. 11.10 lakhs upto Rs.13.92 lakhs. The next generation Honda City could see a considerable price hike, thanks to BS6 norms.
Like its current counterpart, the new Honda City will continue its competition with the Maruti Ciaz and the Hyundai Verna. For 2018, Honda City, which was once the leader, is now the No 3 car in the segment, behind Ciaz and Verna.
