The Honda City 2025 is, therefore, a dual offering: the beloved, high-revving petrol sedan, and the hyper-efficient, electrically-assisted hybrid that sets a new standard for mileage. This comprehensive 1500-word review dives into the pricing structure, versatile engine options, interior luxuries, class-leading safety, and the essential real-world driving experience of this iconic sedan.
Price in India and Variant Landscape
The Honda City’s variant strategy is well-defined, offering a clear demarcation between the standard petrol model and the premium-priced, technology-heavy hybrid model. Note that the diesel engine option has been discontinued due to market shifts and new emission norms.
Ex-Showroom Price Range (India, December 2025)
The pricing spans a wide spectrum, starting with the base petrol and topping out with the fully-loaded Hybrid ZX.
| Model Variant | Powertrain | Ex-Showroom Price (Approx.) | Key Highlights |
| Petrol (V, VX, ZX, Elegance) | $1.5 \text{L}$ i-VTEC (MT/CVT) | ₹11.95 Lakh – ₹16.07 Lakh | Classic City performance, all variants available in Manual and CVT. |
| City e:HEV Hybrid (V, ZX) | $1.5 \text{L}$ Atkinson Cycle + Motors (e-CVT) | ₹18.89 Lakh – ₹20.39 Lakh | Strong Hybrid system, class-leading mileage, and standard Honda Sensing (ADAS). |
On-Road Price Note: The on-road price for the top-end Petrol ZX CVT typically falls around ₹18.5 Lakh, while the City e:HEV ZX CVT can cross the ₹24 Lakh mark in major metropolitan areas, reflecting the cost of the advanced hybrid technology and ADAS suite.
Engine Options and Class-Leading Mileage
The Honda City offers two distinct powertrains, each catering to a different set of priorities: raw refinement for the enthusiast and exceptional efficiency for the eco-conscious driver.
1. The High-Revving 1.5L i-VTEC Petrol (DOHC)
This engine is the traditional heart of the Honda City, loved for its smooth power delivery and willingness to be pushed to the redline.
| Specification | Value (Petrol) |
| Engine Type | $1.5 \text{ Litre}$ DOHC i-VTEC I4 Petrol |
| Max Power | $121 \text{ PS (119.35 bhp)} \text{ @ } 6600 \text{ rpm}$ |
| Max Torque | $145 \text{ Nm} \text{ @ } 4300 \text{ rpm}$ |
| Transmission | 6-speed Manual (MT) or 7-step Continuous Variable Transmission (CVT) |
| ARAI Mileage (Claimed) | $17.8 \text{ kmpl (MT)}$ / $18.4 \text{ kmpl (CVT)}$ |
- Real-World Mileage (Petrol): Owners typically report $11 \text{ to } 13 \text{ kmpl}$ in city traffic and $15 \text{ to } 17 \text{ kmpl}$ on the highway, which is respectable for a performance-oriented naturally aspirated engine.
2. The Revolutionary 1.5L e:HEV Strong Hybrid
The hybrid system is the game-changer, focusing on maximizing efficiency through intelligent use of electric power. It primarily drives the wheels using an electric motor, with the petrol engine acting mostly as a generator.
| Specification | Value (e:HEV Hybrid) |
| System | $1.5 \text{ Litre}$ Atkinson Cycle Petrol + Two Electric Motors |
| Engine Power (Petrol) | $98 \text{ PS}$ |
| Motor Power (Traction Motor) | $109 \text{ PS}$ |
| Combined Output | $\mathbf{126 \text{ PS}}$ (Max System Output) / $\mathbf{253 \text{ Nm}}$ (Electric Torque) |
| Transmission | e-CVT (Electric Continuous Variable Transmission) |
| ARAI Mileage (Claimed) | $\mathbf{27.1 \text{ kmpl}}$ |
- Real-World Mileage (Hybrid): This is the segment king. City driving yields phenomenal returns, often between $19 \text{ to } 22 \text{ kmpl}$, while highway runs remain consistently high, hovering around the $23 \text{ to } 25 \text{ kmpl}$ mark. The hybrid setup provides genuine EV-like acceleration and silent running in stop-go traffic.
Interior Features and Cabin Experience
The Honda City’s interior has always been its strength, prioritizing space, ergonomics, and premium feel.
Design and Comfort
- Aesthetics: The cabin retains a classic, horizontal dashboard layout with a two-tone black and beige/ivory theme (depending on the variant), giving it an airy and upscale feel. The Sport and Elegance editions introduce an all-black interior with sporty red stitching for a youthful look.
- Material Quality: Soft-touch materials are used in key areas, and the rotary knobs for the climate control possess a satisfying, tactile click that speaks to superior build quality.
- Space and Seating: The City is legendary for its rear-seat legroom, which rivals cars from a segment above. The seats are wide and supportive, making it an excellent chauffeur-driven vehicle. Boot space, at $506 \text{ Litres}$ (Petrol) or $410 \text{ Litres}$ (Hybrid, due to battery placement), remains highly practical.
Technology and Convenience Highlights
The 2025 City comes well-equipped, addressing previous feature gaps.
- Infotainment: $8.0 \text{ inch}$ touchscreen system with Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is now standard on higher variants.
- Driver Information: A $7.0 \text{ inch}$ Full-Colour Digital Driver Display (on top trims) provides clear, customizable information, including the crucial power flow diagrams on the Hybrid model.
- Comfort Features: One-Touch Electric Sunroof, ambient lighting, rear AC vents, and a wireless phone charger. The inclusion of LaneWatch™ (a blind-spot camera) on the passenger side is a unique and highly useful feature.
- Connected Car: Honda Connect allows remote engine start (CVT only), AC pre-cooling, and vehicle diagnostics via the smartphone and Alexa integration.
Safety Rating and The ADAS Advantage (Honda Sensing)
Safety is a cornerstone of the 5th Generation City, providing not just passive protection but also advanced preventative technology.
Safety Rating
The City has achieved a stellar safety performance:
- ASEAN NCAP (New Car Assessment Program for Southeast Asia): 5-Star Safety Rating.
- Passive Safety: Comes equipped with 6 Airbags (Dual Front, Front Side, and Curtain) on top variants, ABS with EBD, Hill Start Assist, and Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) across most of the lineup.
Honda Sensing (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems – ADAS)
This feature, standard on the Hybrid and available on select Petrol variants, is the biggest safety highlight:
- Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS): Warns the driver and applies brakes if a frontal collision risk is detected.
- Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC): Maintains a set speed and distance from the vehicle ahead, even slowing down in traffic (with Low Speed Follow in the Hybrid).
- Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS): Provides subtle steering inputs to keep the car centered in its lane on the highway.
- Road Departure Mitigation System (RDM): Warns and corrects steering if the car drifts towards the edge of the road.
- Lead Car Departure Notification System (LCDN): Alerts the driver when the vehicle ahead has started moving.
This suite makes highway cruising dramatically safer and less fatiguing.
Real Driving Review and Handling Dynamics
The experience of driving the Honda City is characterized by refinement and engaging dynamics, particularly when comparing the two engine types.
The 1.5L Petrol Experience
- Performance: The engine feels peppy and energetic. While the low-end torque is adequate for the city, the true pleasure comes above $4000 \text{ rpm}$ as the i-VTEC system engages, delivering a classic Honda rush to the $7000 \text{ rpm}$ redline.
- CVT vs. MT: The 6-speed MT is engaging and precise. The CVT, though smooth and convenient, uses simulated shift steps and paddle shifters to mitigate the typical ‘rubber-band’ effect, offering relaxed city driving and efficient highway cruising.
- Handling: The suspension is tuned for comfort, meaning the ride is pliant over city bumps. On the highway, it feels stable. While there is slight body roll compared to stiffer rivals, the steering is light in the city but weighs up nicely at speed, providing confident, predictable handling.
The 1.5L e:HEV Hybrid Experience
- Refinement: The hybrid is supremely refined. In city traffic, it runs silently on the battery (EV Drive Mode) most of the time. The shift between EV, Hybrid, and Engine Drive modes is seamless, often unnoticed by the driver.
- Responsiveness: The electric motor’s instantaneous torque ($253 \text{ Nm}$) provides immediate, brisk acceleration off the line, making the e:HEV feel quicker and more responsive than the petrol variant in daily driving scenarios.
- Braking: The regenerative braking system takes a moment to adjust to, but is smooth and effective, helping recharge the Lithium-ion battery pack.
Read more : Toyota Fortuner
Complete Specifications Table (1.5L Petrol CVT)
| Category | Specification | Value |
| Engine | Displacement | $1498 \text{ cc}$ |
| Max Power (Petrol) | $121 \text{ PS}$ | |
| Max Torque (Petrol) | $145 \text{ Nm}$ | |
| Hybrid | System Combined Max Output | $126 \text{ PS}$ / $253 \text{ Nm}$ |
| Dimensions | Length / Width / Height | $4583 \text{ mm} / 1748 \text{ mm} / 1489 \text{ mm}$ |
| Wheelbase | $2600 \text{ mm}$ | |
| Ground Clearance | $165 \text{ mm}$ | |
| Boot Space (Petrol / Hybrid) | $506 \text{ Litres} / 410 \text{ Litres}$ | |
| Brakes/Safety | Safety Rating | 5-Star ASEAN NCAP |
| Core Safety | 6 Airbags, VSA, Hill Start Assist, ABS with EBD | |
| ADAS | Honda Sensing (Standard on Hybrid / Available on select Petrol) |
Final Verdict: A Well-Rounded Champion
The Honda City 2025 is perhaps the most complete sedan package currently available in India. It successfully marries the virtues of the previous generations—reliability, build quality, and unmatched rear-seat space—with cutting-edge technology.
For those who prioritize performance and pure driving engagement, the $1.5 \text{L}$ Petrol MT/CVT is an excellent, refined choice. For the urban commuter and tech-savvy buyer, the City e:HEV Hybrid is the true segment disruptor, offering unparalleled efficiency and the priceless safety net of Honda Sensing ADAS, making it the definitive long-distance cruiser and city runabout. The Honda City continues to define what a premium mid-size sedan should be.
The Honda City is a name that commands respect in the Indian automotive market. For three decades, it has stood as the benchmark for premium mid-size sedans, synonymous with engineering excellence, reliability, and spacious comfort. The current model, often referred to as the 5th Generation (and its subsequent 2023 facelift), continues this legacy, but with a significant modern twist: the inclusion of the groundbreaking e:HEV Strong Hybrid technology and the full suite of Honda Sensing (ADAS) features.
The Honda City 2025 is, therefore, a dual offering: the beloved, high-revving petrol sedan, and the hyper-efficient, electrically-assisted hybrid that sets a new standard for mileage. This comprehensive 1500-word review dives into the pricing structure, versatile engine options, interior luxuries, class-leading safety, and the essential real-world driving experience of this iconic sedan.
