Hatchback
The hatchback version was launched in November 2020; 26 years after the body style was last used in 1994. Dimensions-wise, the hatchback is 208 mm shorter than the sedan at 4345 mm, which means it is close in size compared to the European ninth-generation Civic hatchback. Honda claimed hatchback offers more legroom than the sedan and offers the Ultra Seats carried from the Fit/Jazz and HR-V, allowing for four rear seat arrangements – utility, long, tall and refresh modes.[73] The City Hatchback serves as a replacement to the Fit/Jazz in several emerging markets (except in South Africa, Singapore and Brunei where the Fit/Jazz is sold), and is currently produced in Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brazil.[67]
The facelifted City hatchback was revealed on 8 February 2024.[74]
Markets
Thailand
In Thailand, the City is powered by a 1.0-litre VTEC Turbo petrol engine mated to a CVT. The smaller engine and the low emission output makes it the first City to qualify the Eco Car tax incentive.[75] Among the conditions of the tax incentive are Euro 5 compliance, emissions below 100 g/km, and a fuel consumption not exceeding 23.25 km/L. The Thailand-spec City has a rated fuel consumption of 23.8 km/L.[76] Other aspects of the Phase 2 Eco Car regulation include the fitment of various safety systems such as ABS, EBD, BA and VSA as standard across the range.[77] It is available in four trim levels: S, V, SV and RS. Sales began in Thailand on 24 December 2019.
The City Hatchback debuted in Thailand on 24 November 2020, it is offered in three trim levels: S+, SV and RS.[64][78]
Thailand
In Thailand, the City is powered by a 1.0-litre VTEC Turbo petrol engine mated to a CVT. The smaller engine and the low emission output makes it the first City to qualify the Eco Car tax incentive.[75] Among the conditions of the tax incentive are Euro 5 compliance, emissions below 100 g/km, and a fuel consumption not exceeding 23.25 km/L. The Thailand-spec City has a rated fuel consumption of 23.8 km/L.[76] Other aspects of the Phase 2 Eco Car regulation include the fitment of various safety systems such as ABS, EBD, BA and VSA as standard across the range.[77] It is available in four trim levels: S, V, SV and RS. Sales began in Thailand on 24 December 2019.
The City Hatchback debuted in Thailand on 24 November 2020, it is offered in three trim levels: S+, SV and RS.[64][78]
The City e:HEV RS was also launched in the country in the same day.
India
The City sedan was unveiled and launched officially as Honda City 5th Generation in India on 16 July 2020. It was sold alongside the old model which continued to be produced there.[89] The Indian-market City is offered in three trim levels – V, VX and ZX – with a choice of petrol and diesel 1.5-litre four-cylinder engines. The petrol engine uptrimd i-VTEC unit with DOHC (previously SOHC), with the other being an i-DTEC turbo-diesel. Both engines are paired with a 6-speed manual transmission as standard, with the CVT option only available for the petrol version.
All trim levels are fitted with ESC, rear ISOFIX anchorages, neck restraints and three-point seatbelts for all five passengers, dual front airbags, front torso-protecting side airbags, traction control and hill start assistance as standard, the VX and ZX trim levels are equipped with head-protecting curtain airbags, and the ZX trim is fitted with a blind spot monitor.
For the first time, the top-spec City is equipped with Honda's LaneWatch camera system. Other notable features include 8.0-inch touchscreen audio system with Alexa remote capability and support for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster display, and sunroof.[90]
Honda Cars India announced the market launch of the City e:HEV in April 2022. This powertrain is expected to be available on the ZX trim.
Malaysia
The City sedan was revealed in Malaysia on 24 August 2020 and launched to the market on 13 October 2020. It is available in 4 trim levels: S, E, V and e:HEV RS. The S, E, and V trim levels are powered by the 1.5-litre L15ZF DOHC naturally-aspirated engine, while the top-of-the-line RS trim is offered with an Intelligent Multi-Mode Drive (i-MMD) hybrid version to go along with the 1.5-litre LEB-H5 DOHC naturally-aspirated engine.[96] The e:HEV RS trim received several features from the other trim levels including an electronic parking brake with auto brake hold function and a full Honda Sensing driver assistance safety suite which includes adaptive cruise control.[97]
The V Sensing trim was launched on 3 November 2021. Unlike the normal V trim, it is equipped with 7-inch semi-digital instrument cluster panel and Honda Sensing safety and driver assist system similar to the e:HEV RS trim.[98]
The City Hatchback was launched on 7 December 2021. It is offered in S, E, V and e:HEV RS trim levels, same with the City sedan.[99] Like the sedan counterpart, the S, E, and V trim levels are powered by the 1.5-litre L15ZF DOHC naturally-aspirated engine, while the top-of-the-line RS trim is offered with an Intelligent Multi-Mode Drive (i-MMD) hybrid version to go along with the 1.5-litre LEB-H5 DOHC naturally-aspirated engine.
Philippines
The City sedan was launched in the Philippines alongside the facelifted Honda CR-V on 22 October 2020. The new City is now imported from Thailand instead of being locally assembled in the now-defunct Honda Santa Rosa plant. The only engine released in the Philippine market is the 1.5-litre i-VTEC engine.[104] Known as the L15ZF, the engine is relatively similar to the L15Z engine found in previous models with the exception of dual overhead cams and further implementation of Honda's Earth Dreams technology. Transmission options include a 6-speed manual and CVT. Initially, three trim levels are available in the Philippine market: S (6-speed manual and CVT), V (CVT only) and RS (CVT only).[105]
The City Hatchback was launched on 20 April 2021 and was the first market to get the hatchback in left-hand-drive form.[106] Only a single trim is offered, which is the RS model.[107]
The facelifted City was launched on 13 July 2023 alongside the facelifted Brio.[108]
South Africa
The Ballade was launched in South Africa on 15 November 2020, the launch coincided with the 20th anniversary of Honda Motor South Africa. Three trim levels are available: Comfort, Elegance and RS; it is powered by a 1.5-litre petrol engine paired to a CVT transmission.[113] The facelifted model debuted in February 2024 with same trim levels from the pre-facelifted model.[114]
The Ballade was discontinued in November 2025, along with the BR-V, due to declining sales.[115]
Vietnam
The City sedan was launched in Vietnam on 9 December 2020, with three trim levels: G, L and RS. All variants are powered by a 1.5-litre petrol engine paired to a CVT transmission.[116] In April 2021, the E trim was added to the lineup.[117]
The facelifted City was launched in Vietnam on 4 July 2023 alongside the second-generation BR-V.[118] It is offered with the same three trim levels on the pre-facelift Model, trim levels offered on the facelifted City are: G, L and RS all paired with the same 1.5-litre i-VTEC engine mated to a CVT transmission, the base model E trim was discontinued from the lineup. Honda Sensing is standard on all trim levels.[119]
Indonesia
The seventh-generation City was first launched in Indonesia on 3 March 2021 in its hatchback form. The City hatchback is produced in the country and directly replaced the Jazz. It went on sale on 8 April 2021. A single trim is offered, which is the RS with a 6-speed manual and CVT gearbox options.[120] It is equipped with the 1.5-litre L15ZF engine. The City sedan followed later on 28 October 2021, which is imported from Thailand like previous models.[121][122] On 20 April 2022, the City hatchback received Honda Sensing (CVT only) as an option.[123] The City sedan received a facelift on 9 October 2023 with standard Honda Sensing.[124] The facelifted hatchback model followed later on 13 January 2025, also with standard Honda Sensing. The manual transmission option was dropped. The City was discontinued in Indonesia in early 2026.[125]
Mexico
The City sedan was launched in Mexico on 12 March 2021, offered in Uniq, Sport, and Prime trim levels, all of them equipped with the 1.5-litre engine and offered in either a 6-speed manual transmission or an automatic CVT.[126] Top-spec City Touring was added for the 2022 model year, making the City available in four trim levels. The Touring trim features LED headlights and foglamps, and lots of safety features added from the Prime trim levels.[127]
The facelifted City was launched on 6 December 2023, it is offered in Sport, Prime and Touring trim levels.[128]
Middle East
The City sedan was launched in the GCC markets on 5 April 2021, it is available with a 1.5-litre petrol engine with a 6-speed CVT transmission. It is available in four trim levels DX, EX, LX and Sport. Honda Sensing is standard for the Sport trim.[129]
The facelifted City was launched on 22 September 2023, it is still the same 1.5-litre petrol engine with a 6-speed CVT transmission. it is available in three trim levels DX, LX, and LX Sport.
Turkey
The City, sold only as a sedan, was launched in Turkey in October 2021, imported from India and coming with the 1.5-litre petrol engine with a CVT transmission. It is available in two trim levels, Elegance and Executive.The elegance trim level has been stopped sales in Turkey as of the 2024 model year due to lack of demand.The reason for the low demand is that customers buy the executive trim level because there is little price difference between the elegance trim level and the executive trim level, which is a higher trim level.
Brazil
The City sedan and hatchback were introduced in Brazil on 18 November 2021. It is powered with the 1.5-litre direct injection i-VTEC DOHC engine, which was not offered in other markets before. The adoption of the direct injection system allows for a higher compression ratio and greater optimisation of the burning of the air/fuel mixture. The engine also supports flex fuel, being capable of running on a mixture of petrol and ethanol, regardless of proportion. The car is sold in the EX (sedan only), EXL and Touring trim levels.[130]
Powertrain
Three conventional engines were offered in different markets, which are the 1.0-litre VTEC Turbo petrol engine (Thailand), 1.5-litre i-VTEC petrol engine and 1.5-litre i-DTEC diesel engine (India).
For this generation, the City e:HEV is also offered in some markets. It utilises the smallest version of Honda's Intelligent Multi-Mode Drive (i-MMD) hybrid system shared with the fourth-generation Fit/Jazz which consist of a 1.5-litre Atkinson cycle DOHC i-VTEC engine and an integrated electric motor acting as a generator and a starter. It is not equipped with a traditional gearbox driving the front wheels, however the engine can provide direct drive at higher speeds using a lock-up clutch and a single-speed transmission (e-CVT) since the ICE is more efficient than an electric motor at high speeds.[131] For the Thai-spec model, Honda is claiming a fuel consumption figure of 17.8 km/L on the NEDC cycle.[79]
