Recently, an image has been shared on Instagram by Crown Honda, a Honda dealership from North India. In this image, we can note there are two cars that have been parked showing their rear left side. Of these, the one on the left appears to be the facelifted iteration of the Honda City mid-size sedan. Meanwhile, the one on the right is most likely the Honda ZR-V hybrid SUV.
First off, let’s talk about the upcoming facelift of the Honda City. Recently, a test mule of this particular sedan was spotted testing in India. The updated version of this popular mid-size sedan is expected to launch in India sometime in 2026. This particular version will not be a radically redesigned model.
Instead, it will be another refreshed version of the existing sedan before the company launches the next-generation model in 2028. The test mule of the 2026 Honda City facelift was spied testing in Brazil. As for the details, it has been noted that the new model will boast a sharper and sportier rear bumper design.
As for the profile, it will continue to offer the same silhouette. However, we will most likely see a set of new alloy wheels. Although the front-end design of this test mule was not seen, it has been reported that it will be getting a set of redesigned headlights and a new front grille. The front bumper will also be changed, just like most other mid-life update models.
Apart from the exterior, there have been no spy shots of the cabin of the upcoming Honda City facelift. However, we can expect changes to be minimal but noticeable. As per the reports, we will be seeing a full upholstery upgrade, addition of a 360-degree camera, and ventilated and powered front seats. Overall, the layout and current features will remain the same.
Like most facelifts, we will not be seeing any major mechanical changes. It will continue to offer the same 1.5-litre i-VTEC DOHC 4-cylinder petrol motor. It makes 121 PS and 145 Nm of torque and comes mated to a 6-speed manual (as standard) and an optional 7-speed CVT with paddle shifters.
The City e:HEV hybrid variant will also receive updates. However, it will also continue to offer the same 1.5-litre Atkinson-cycle petrol engine and two electric motors. Honda is also developing a new cost-effective hybrid system which is intended for future mid-size products like the City and Elevate. The new Honda City facelift could be priced in the range of Rs 12 lakh to Rs 20.5 lakh.
In addition to the City facelift, the same image also shows the rear end of the upcoming Honda ZR-V hybrid SUV. This SUV is expected to make its debut in India by the end of 2026 or by early 2027. It will be brought in as a CBU (Completely Built Unit) and will be a rival to the Volkswagen Tayron R-Line, Skoda Kodiaq, and others.
Apart from the clean and classy exterior design, the main highlight of the upcoming Honda ZR-V will be its hybrid powertrain. This SUV will come powered by a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated Atkinson-cycle petrol engine, which will come paired with an e-CVT gearbox. It will run on both pure EV mode and petrol mode and switch seamlessly from electric to petrol when the battery gets drained.
As for the recharging of the battery, it will be done during petrol operation. The ZR-V hybrid sold internationally makes 141 PS and 182 Nm of torque from its combustion engine. Meanwhile, the electric motor makes 184 PS and 315 Nm of torque.
In India, we will most likely be only getting the Z trim, which is the top-spec trim of this SUV. This SUV will come loaded with a premium feature list, including a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Google Assistant integration, Honda Sensing (ADAS suite), a 12-speaker Bose premium sound system, and multi-zone climate control.
Other notable highlights will include ventilated seats, a 360-degree camera, USB ports, an auto-dimming frameless IRVM, an electric gear selector, and multiple drive modes. As for the pricing, it will be priced in the range of Rs 50 to Rs 60 lakh, which is a bit steep. However, it will be positioned as a brand-builder SUV and compete in the premium SUV segment and will not be aimed at mass-market buyers.
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