First launched in 2020, followed by a refresh in 2023 with sharper styling, additional features, and an advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) suite, the Honda City has landed a spot in our long-term fleet. Sedans are a rare breed here, so this widely popular choice piqued our interest, especially in the new ‘Obsidian Blue’ paint. Our plans Our City has arrived with a mere 5,000km on the clock, ready to tackle the daily grind. Its primary duty will be a 60km city commute, navigating a mix of smooth stretches and not-so-friendly roads. This will be a perfect test of its comfort and fuel efficiency in a real-world scenario. we received the City with a delightful six-speed manual gearbox. The 1.5-litre naturally-aspirated engine churns out a healthy 119bhp and 180Nm of torque, providing more than enough for spirited drives while promising good fuel economy. With its fresh looks, comfortable interior, engaging drivetrain, and packed feature list, the Honda City has all the makings of a long-term companion.

The 2023 Honda City was launched in India on 2 March 2023 and is a mid-life update for this fifth-generation City that entered the market in 2020. With this update, Honda has pushed its models to the BS6 Phase 2 era and discontinued its diesel line-up. On this top-spec version, you get Honda’s familiar beige and black combination with wood inserts on the dashboard. Everything looks really nice, though we hoped for higher-quality plastics on some of the non-contact surfaces, especially in the front. The car that we have driven for this story is a fully loaded ZX petrol MT so that means you get all the bells and whistles that Honda offers with the City range. This list includes the likes of climate control, touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, electric sunroof, connected car technology, height adjustment for the driver’s seat, reach and rake adjustment for the steering, rear armrest and AC vents. Ah…this is where things get gripping (of sorts). Let’s get the facts out first. You get this Honda City with a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that produces 119bhp/145Nm and can be had with either a CVT or a six-speed manual gearbox. As a gearbox to use with this engine, it gets the job done. The shifts aren’t slick and the clutch has a low threshold in terms of bite point resulting in you more often than not getting jerky shifts, especially in the lower end of the scale.

This is the latest iteration of the Honda City, a successful three-box sedan still going strong after two decades. Now, although it's the same fifth-generation avatar that was introduced in 2020, it now gets some more updates. The most important ones are an RDE-compliant engine and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). It continues to be an airy cabin with good space, has things within reach, and provides good visibility despite not towering over the roads. The materials inside have been carried over, which do give a premium feel upon touch and feel. While the 1.5-litre diesel engine has now been discontinued, the RDE-compliant 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol mill is the only option that powers the 2023 City.