2026 Honda City facelift launched in Malaysia – from RM89,900, new 10-inch screen, 360 camera, same 1.5L petrol and e:HEV

KUALA LUMPUR: Honda Malaysia has launched the refreshed 2026 Honda City, with prices starting from RM89,900 and topping out at RM111,900 for the e:HEV RS.

The launch also happens to fall on Honda’s 78th anniversary, although the more relevant local milestone is probably the City’s own track record here. Honda says more than 536,000 units of the City have been sold in Malaysia, so this facelift has a fairly big existing customer base to answer to.

This isn’t a mechanical overhaul. The familiar 1.5-litre petrol and e:HEV powertrains continue unchanged. Instead, Honda has concentrated on the parts owners interact with every day: styling, infotainment, cameras, convenience equipment and ownership coverage.

Also Read: Honda celebrates Malaysia Day, highlights real-world e:HEV ownership experiences

Prices, on-the-road without insurance, are:

 

Honda City gets a much sharper face

Visually, the front is where most people are going to notice the difference.

Honda calls the design direction “Sharpen”, and while that sounds like the sort of word you’d expect from a presentation deck, the actual changes are quite obvious.

There’s a lower-looking nose, a slimmer upper section and a new connected headlight treatment that stretches visually across the front. Honda is also fitting Bi-LED headlights across the range.

The RS variants are deliberately made to look more aggressive than the non-RS cars, with their own bumper treatment, larger air-curtain-style sections and sportier detailing.

At the rear, the City gets revised styling and new clear-lens tail lamps, while the RS receives its own bumper treatment.

Wheel designs have changed as well. The E gets 15-inch two-tone alloys, while the V moves to a new 16-inch two-tone design. The RS and e:HEV RS also get 16-inch wheels, but with a darker Berlina Black and dark-clear finish.

Bigger 10-inch screen finally arrives

The cabin hasn’t been completely redesigned, but Honda has made several useful changes.

One of the biggest is the new 10-inch Display Audio system, replacing the smaller unit used previously on higher grades.

The V, RS and e:HEV RS all get the 10-inch screen, while wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included from the V upwards.

Honda has also added ambient lighting and revised some of the trim around the centre of the dashboard.

On the RS, there are further changes including updated seat trim, a redesigned centre console and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror.

Wireless phone charging is reserved for the e:HEV RS.

360-degree camera joins the equipment list

Another notable addition is Honda’s Multi-View Camera System, effectively a 360-degree surround-view camera.

It is fitted to the RS and e:HEV RS.

The higher variants also get Blind Spot Information, while Honda’s familiar LaneWatch camera remains part of the package rather than disappearing.

Other equipment available across the range depending on variant includes rear air-conditioning vents, a 7-inch TFT instrument display, auto-retractable door mirrors, electric parking brake with Auto Brake Hold and Walk Away Auto Lock.

Honda Connect also continues, offering functions including Find My Car, geo-fencing alerts, remote vehicle controls, service reminders, car status information, automatic collision detection and emergency assistance.

Honda Sensing remains part of the package

The refreshed City continues with Honda Sensing.

The suite includes:

• Forward Collision Warning with Collision Mitigation Braking System
• Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow
• Lane Keep Assist System
• Road Departure Mitigation with Lane Departure Warning
• Auto High Beam
• Lead Car Departure Notification

That means the facelift is still carrying over one of the current City’s stronger points: a fairly complete ADAS package in a mainstream B-segment sedan.

Engine performance unchanged

There are no changes to the powertrain lineup.

Petrol versions continue with the familiar 1.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder DOHC i-VTEC engine, producing 121 PS at 6,600 rpm and 145 Nm at 4,300 rpm. It is paired with a CVT.

The e:HEV RS continues with Honda’s 1.5-litre hybrid setup.

Its petrol engine produces 98 PS and 127 Nm, while the electric motor develops 109 PS and 253 Nm. Drive is handled through Honda’s e-CVT system.

So if you were expecting more power as part of the facelift, there isn’t any. Honda has left the mechanical package alone and spent its effort elsewhere.

Four colours, including a new red

The refreshed City will be offered in four exterior colours:

Blazing Red Pearl, Platinum White Pearl, Meteoroid Gray Metallic and Stellar Diamond Pearl.

Blazing Red Pearl is the new addition.

Eight-year unlimited-mileage warranty

There’s also a fairly significant change on the ownership side.

The new City benefits from Honda Malaysia’s new eight-year, unlimited-mileage warranty, applicable to new Honda petrol and hybrid models from 1 September 2026, subject to terms and conditions.

Hybrid models also receive a 10-year unlimited-mileage warranty for the hybrid battery and related components, according to Honda’s launch presentation.

Honda is additionally running a special City Reward Programme for the first 2,400 customers. The programme is aimed at new and existing Honda customers, upgraders and government servants, although the exact reward structure was not detailed in the presentation.

The biggest takeaway from this update is that Honda hasn’t tried to fix something mechanically that wasn’t really broken.

Instead, it has concentrated on making the City look newer and filling some of the equipment gaps that had started to become more obvious as rivals added larger screens, surround-view cameras, blind-spot monitoring and increasingly long equipment lists.

The new nose gives the City a noticeably different face, while the 10-inch screen, 360-degree camera and extra driver-assistance hardware should be easier to appreciate every day than a handful of extra horsepower.

And with prices still beginning below RM90,000, the refreshed City continues to occupy roughly the same space in the market — just with more kit this time around.

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