2020 Honda City: Changes Explained

The 2020 Honda City model has been announced, but it is not yet known when it will be launched in the local markets. Nevertheless, the new model will likely have car consumers wondering what’s changed between the old model and the new. If you’re itching to find out, Carmudi enumerates the significant differences between the 2019 and 2020 Honda City to give you an idea which is the better model to buy for your money.

Exterior changes

The new City wears an altogether different façade than the outgoing model. The Solid Wing Face design is more pronounced, and headlights take on a more aggressive look. Meanwhile, the lower grille appears more trapezoidal on the 2020 model in contrast to the hexagonal look on the 2019 City. The foglamps are also more horizontal.

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The character lines on the sides are also altogether different. While the side crease near the belt line on the 2019 model ends at the driver door, the line on the 2020 model go all the way from the front headlights to the rear. Meanwhile, the lower crease is narrower on the new model.

At the back, the new City looks busier and less cluttered at the same time, mainly because Honda chose to focus the styling cues on the sides while keeping the center area more straightforward. The boot lip receives thicker chamfering that gives the rear more of a spoiler-tip look.

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In terms of size, new City is longer, wider, and lower than its predecessor, measuring 4,553mm long, 1,748mm wide, and 1,467mm tall. In comparison, the 2019 City has length/width/height measurement of 4,440mm x 1,695mm x 1,477mm. This makes the new City 113mm longer, 53mm wider, and 10mm shorter. The wheelbase is also shorter on the 2020 City by 11mm—2,589mm to the outgoing mode’s 2,600mm.

Interior changes

The design of the interior receives a major overhaul, with a completely new dashboard setup that looks inspired by the Honda Jazz. Fitting, as it’s the car that the City is based on. More streamlined in appearance, the once horizontal air vents have been turned on the side, with the two center vents now sandwiching the infotainment screen instead of on the top. Ultimately, this gives the dash a more uniform look. Replacing the AC touch-sensitive controls with knobs is another nice touch that gives the center console a more organic feel.

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The steering wheel is given a more ergonomic style, starting with the smaller hub and on to the larger-sized button controls, which should make them easier to press than the roundels found on the 2019 car.

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Although the wheelbase has been reduced, it’s worth mentioning that the car enjoys more legroom than before. That’s because the underpinnings have completely been replaced, with the new City now using the same one used in the new Jazz.

Powertrain changes

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One point of contention in the 2020 Honda City is in the Japanese carmaker’s decision to use a smaller displacement engine, which in theory should mean less power. But Honda surprised everyone when the new 1.0-liter gas engine came out with more horses and torque—120 hp and 173 Nm to the outgoing 1.5-liter i-VTEC’s 118 hp and 145 Nm. This was made possible through various enhancements in the engine assembly, including the introduction of BorgWarner turbocharger, a more economical 10:1 compression ratio as opposed to the 1.5L’s 10:3, and a Euro 5-compliant construction.

Changes to trims and options

The 2019 Honda City, which is still available locally, comes in six different trims. Arranged from low end to high end, these are: 1.5 S CVT, 1.5 E MT, 1.5 E CVT, 1.5 Sport CVT, 1.5 VX Navi CVT, and 1.5 VX+ Navi CVT. The car is also available in six different colors: Ruby Red Pearl, Gold Brown Metallic, Modern Steel Metallic, Lunar Silver Metallic, Crystal Black Pearl, and Taffeta White. Pricing for the different trims are as follows:

1.5 S CVT PHP 820,000
1.5 E MT PHP 828,000
1.5 E CVT PHP 876,000
1.5 Sport CVT PHP 899,000
1.5 VX Navi CVT               PHP 985,000

The Thailand-spec 2020 Honda City comes in four variants: 1.0 Turbo S, 1.0 Turbo V, 1.0 Turbo SV, and 1.0 Turbo RS. Paint options include Platinum White Pearl, Crystal Black Pearl, Lunar Silver Metallic, Modern Steel Metallic, Taffeta White, and the new Ignite Red Metallic, a finish option that’s exclusive to the RS trim. Here are their prices in Thailand Baht, along with their estimated prices in Philippine Peso:

1.0 Turbo S THB 579,500 (approx. PHP 974,000)
1.0 Turbo V THB 609,000 (approx. PHP 1,023,500)
1.0 Turbo SV THB 665,000 (approx. PHP 1,117,600)
1.0 Turbo RS THB 739,000 (approx. PHP 1,241,951)
Also read: 2020 Honda City—First Impressions
Yes, Folks, This is the All-New Honda Jazz 2020

Explore Honda City

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  • City Headlight
  • City Tail light
  • City Wheel
  • City Front Fog Lamp
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  • City Grille View
  • Honda City Drivers Side Mirror Front Angle
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