The all-new Honda City was one of the anticipated new Philippine releases of 2020, sporting bigger dimensions that dwarf even those of the ninth-generation Civic. Nevertheless, it continues to be slotted into the subcompact car category.
Now on its fifth generation in the country, this new City also marks the first time that our market is importing the model from Thailand. Philippine-spec City units had been assembled at Honda’s Santa Rosa, Laguna, facility since the model premiered here in 1996.
Along with the change comes a revamp in the City’s trim levels. The E, VX, and VX+ designations are officially gone in lieu of the V and S variants, the latter available in both base manual transmission and CVT options. There’s also the range-topping RS trim that sports LED headlamps, black trim pieces, and sportier alloy wheels, among others.
The new City is now an import model from Thailand
Perhaps the only disappointment (and a big one, at that) is the fact that we’ll have to make do with a 1.5L gasoline engine, as the punchier 1.0L turbocharged mill failed to reach our shores.
However, the new City is very much still a formidable contender in the subcompact segment, especially with the addition of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. How much does it cost to own a City, if you were to get one today? (Note: the computation shown here are just estimates. The actual amount may vary.)
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Honda City 1.5 S M/T
The base City variant comes with 15-inch alloy wheels, a 2-DIN audio head unit, and the lone 6-speed manual transmission in the entire lineup. With a curb weight of 1,083 kg., it’s also the lightest in the range, which should also mean it has the best power-to-weight ratio.
The base City already looks sporty
Carrying a sticker Honda City price Philippines of Php 848,000, the entry-level City is offered at Php 16,354 a month for the next 60 months with a 20 percent down payment or Php 169,600. If you feel that you can do with a shorter payment term, the monthly amortization rises to Php 23,717 for 36 months on the same down payment.
Doubling the down payment to 40 percent translates to a monthly fee of Php 17,788 for 36 months, or Php 12,265 for the maximum term of 60 months.
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Honda City 1.5 S CVT
If you don’t want to row through the gears, the Honda City CVT variant is for you, with fender-mounted turn signal lights, body-color door handles, black interior, and a urethane shift knob. Other features include a keyless entry system and a 12-volt front accessory socket.
All City variants boast generous legroom for rear occupants
The 1.5 S CVT is priced at Php 888,000 for cash buyers. When opting for financing, a 20 percent down payment or Php 177,600 will cost you Php 19,988 in monthly installments for the next 48 months, or Php 17,125 for 60 months. Moving the initial deposit to 40 percent or Php 355,200 cushions the monthly fee to Php 14,991 for 48 months, and even lower at Php 12,844 for 60 months.
Honda City 1.5 V CVT
Stepping up to the Honda City 1.5 V CVT gets you 16-inch alloy wheels, body color power-folding side mirrors, and smart entry. Ivory interior trims, a fabric armrest, and leather shift knob are also standard, as is a multi-view rear camera.
The asking price for this variant is Php 978,000. For a 30 percent down payment or Php 293,400, the monthly due boils down to Php 23,934 for 36 months or Php 19,262 if you opt for 48 months. If you’re confident enough to fork over half or Php 489,000, the monthly goes down to Php 17,095 for 36 months or even Php 11,788 for 60 months.
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Honda City 1.5 RS CVT
The range-topping City variant boasts a complete equipment loadout, from fog lights, a leather steering wheel with tilt and telescopic adjustment, and an 8-inch audio touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The RS also comes with a complete array of front, side, and curtain airbags.
LED headlamps are standard on the City RS
Retailing for Php 1,058,000, the Honda City RS is offered with a Php 12,752 monthly amortization for 60 months, on a down payment of 50 percent or Php 529,000. A more modest deposit of 30 percent or Php 317,400 entails monthly payments of Php 25,891 for 36 months, Php 20,837 for 48 months, and Php 17,853 for 60 months.
Of course, these estimated rates are still exclusive of other costs such as maintenance, fuel, and annual vehicle registration.
Find more tips that add up to a great car ownership experience at Philkotse.com.
Know more about Honda City 2024
The 2024 Honda City is a subcompact sedan. In the Philippine market, its four variants are City E, City S, City V, and City RS—the prices for these range from Php 973,000 to Php 1,148,000.
Size-wise, the refreshed City for 2024 is 4,580mm long, 1,748mm wide, and 1,467mm in height. The RS trim is a bit longer at 4,589mm. All trims then get a wheelbase length of 2,600mm and a ground clearance of 134mm.
Under its hood is a 1.5-liter inline-4 gasoline engine capable of making up to 119 horsepower and 145 Nm of torque. Power is then sent to its front wheels via a continuously variable transmission (CVT).
Locally, the Honda City competes against the Toyota Vios, Mitsubishi Mirage G4, Mazda3, Nissan Almera, Hyundai Accent, MG 5, etc.
Honda City Launch
The refreshed 2024 Honda City was introduced to the Philippine market on June 13, 2023. It was launched locally with four available variants: the E, S, V, and RS.
Of note, the 2024 model updates the seventh-generation GN model which was initially introduced back in 2019.
Honda City Exterior
On the outside, the Honda City’s top-spec trim gets LED headlamps and the stylish RS kit which provides a high gloss black finish for many of its parts. All come standard with LED daytime running lamps, and LED taillights.
The City then sits on a set of 16-inch alloys for the RS. The V and S meanwhile, gets 16-inch or 15-inch alloy wheels respectively. The S uses a set of 15-inch steel wheels.
Other equipment available to the City includes power-folding side mirrors, side mirror integrated signal lamps, a trunk lid switch, a trunk spoiler, and an automatic on/off for the headlamps.
Honda City Interior
The City can comfortably seat up to five occupants which are then kept cool by an automatic or manual climate control system depending on the trim. The RS gets more convenience features in the form of a rear seat armrest, and rear seat accessory ports. It also has more cupholders numbering 4.
The model’s top-spec trim likewise has the fanciest-looking interior. This is because it gets leather-clad seats, and RS trim finishes. Plenty of bits of the City RS cabin also get a red contrasting color.
For the driver, this Honda sedan gets a 4.2-inch TFT color meter, an analog gauge cluster, a urethane steering wheel, and a tilt and telescopic steering column.
Technology & Safety Features
Providing entertainment aboard the Honda City is an eight-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. For the RS, this display is linked to a total of eight speakers.
Safety for all City variants is handled by the Honda Sensing suite. This includes adaptive cruise control, emergency braking, lane keep assist, road departure warning, lane departure warning, auto high beams, and a lead car departure notification warning.
Standard safety equipment for this Honda model includes ISOFIX child seat anchors, anti-lock braking, stability control, speed-sensing door locks, and dual front airbags. Only the RS and V trims get a reverse camera. All variants get side airbags, but only the RS gets side curtain airbags.
Platform & Chassis
The Honda City uses a front-engine, front-wheel-drive chassis under the Honda Global Small Car Platform. Ride comfort is provided by McPherson struts for the front and a torsion beam suspension for the rear.
Braking for this model is provided by front discs and rear drums. It also uses a hand-operated manual parking brake.
Honda City Engine & Drivetrain
The 2024 City carries over the 1.5-liter found on the pre-facelift model. At maximum, this engine can churn out 119 horsepower and 145 Nm of torque. Power is sent to its wheels via a CVT.
Honda City Q&A
1. Does the Honda City come offered with a front-wheel drive option?
Yes, it does.
2. Which Honda City variant has a sunroof?
The sunroof is not available on any variants of the Honda City, even the top-spec model.
3. Is the Honda City a fuel-efficient sedan?
Yes. According to the fuel efficiency test result by the Department of Energy, the Honda City consumes roughly 26.02 km/l.
4. Is the Honda City Philippines a good car?
Definitely. The Honda City is considered one of the most exquisite handling cars in its segment. Moreover, it is backed with a comfortable ride quality thanks to its sorted suspension setup of independent MacPherson struts with a stabilizer up-front and an H-shaped torsion beam with a stabilizer at the back.
5. Is the Honda City classified as a sedan?
Yes. The Honda City is the entry of Honda Cars Philippines Inc. to the subcompact sedan segment in the Philippine market.
₱ 973,000 - ₱ 1,128,000
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