Zakirin
Honda Malaysia has officially launched the refreshed 2026 Honda City sedan, introducing updated exterior styling, elevated digital cabin amenities, and expanded active safety technologies across four streamlined variants, while simultaneously announcing an upgraded eight-year unlimited-mileage manufacturer warranty across its entire vehicle lineup.
- The second facelift of the fifth-generation Honda City arrives in four variants—1.5L E, 1.5L V, 1.5L RS, and 1.5L e:HEV RS—retaining identical pricing from RM89,900 to RM111,900 as the entry-level S grade is permanently discontinued.
- Exterior and equipment updates introduce a slimmer honeycomb grille, an illuminated RS front bar, clear-lens “albino” RS taillights, a 10-inch central touchscreen with wireless smartphone mirroring, and integrated Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) paired with Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA).
- Honda Malaysia concurrently implements an 8-year unlimited-mileage standard warranty applied retroactively to all vehicles registered from 1 September 2026 onwards, alongside a 10-year unlimited-mileage warranty for hybrid battery systems.
The commercial debut marks the second mid-lifecycle revision for the fifth-generation (GN-series) City, which originally entered the Malaysian market in October 2020 before its initial facelift in August 2023. By phasing out the baseline Grade S (previously RM84,900), the starting point of the City lineup shifts to the higher-specification Grade E. Despite the addition of upgraded infotainment, safety sensors, and styling packages, pricing across all surviving variants remains unchanged.
| Variant | Powertrain & Transmission | System Output / Torque | Wheel & Tyre Package | OTR Price (Excl. Insurance) |
| City 1.5L E | 1.5L DOHC i-VTEC 4-cyl, CVT | 121 PS / 145 Nm | 15-inch alloys (185/60R15) | RM89,900 |
| City 1.5L V | 1.5L DOHC i-VTEC 4-cyl, CVT | 121 PS / 145 Nm | 16-inch single-tone alloys (185/55R16) | RM94,900 |
| City 1.5L RS | 1.5L DOHC i-VTEC 4-cyl, CVT | 121 PS / 145 Nm | 16-inch Berlina Black turbine alloys (185/55R16) | RM99,900 |
| City 1.5L e:HEV RS | 1.5L Atkinson 4-cyl + Dual Motors, e-CVT | 109 PS / 253 Nm (Traction Motor) | 16-inch Berlina Black turbine alloys (185/55R16) | RM111,900 |
Exterior Revisions and Visual Enhancements
The 2026 facelift introduces subtle proportional changes determined by restyled bumper profiles. Standard non-RS models measure 4,577 mm long (-3 mm compared to the 2023 model), while the RS variants measure 4,594 mm (+5 mm). Vehicle width (1,748 mm), height (1,467 mm), and wheelbase (2,600 mm) carry over unaltered.
The front fascia incorporates a reprofiled, slimmer honeycomb grille that positions the Honda emblem higher into the body-coloured bonnet leading edge. The flagship RS grades receive a full-width horizontal light bar integrated across the upper grille assembly. Additional RS styling elements include gloss-black side mirror caps, gloss-black door handles, an extended rear bootlid spoiler, a shark fin antenna, and a redesigned rear bumper featuring vertical aero reflectors and a pronounced lower diffuser.
Lighting hardware on the RS introduces clear-lens “albino” taillight units that illuminate red when active. Wheel designs feature 15-inch alloys on the E grade, while the V and RS ride on 16-inch wheels wrapped in 185/55R16 Toyo Proxes R57 tyres—the RS showcasing a multi-spoke turbine design finished in Berlina Black with machined accents. The exterior paint palette consists of four options: Blazing Red Pearl (replacing Ignite Red Metallic), Meteoroid Gray Metallic, Platinum White Pearl, and Stellar Diamond Pearl (exclusive to V and petrol RS trims).
Interior Technology and Cabin Appointments
Cabin ergonomics retain the established layout while receiving upgraded infotainment and display hardware:
- Central Touchscreen: The baseline E variant retains an 8.0-inch display with wired smartphone mirroring, while V, RS, and e:HEV RS models step up to a new 10.0-inch floating touchscreen supporting wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
- Camera Systems: The multi-view 360-degree camera system adds a moving object detection feature, accessible via a shortcut button on the left steering column stalk.
- RS Cabin Treatments: The RS interior replaces the former red dashboard garnish with a textured dark silver accent strip, adds ambient cabin lighting, and incorporates power auto-folding side mirrors. The combi-leather upholstery has been redesigned to shift the red contrast perforations from the center cushion spine to the outer side bolsters.
Carried-Over Powertrains
Drivetrain configurations remain consistent with proven internal combustion and hybrid architectures:
- 1.5L DOHC i-VTEC (E, V, RS): Powered by an atmospheric 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine generating 121 PS at 6,600 rpm and 145 Nm of torque at 4,300 rpm, paired with a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) driving the front wheels.
- 1.5L e:HEV RS Hybrid: Utilizes Honda’s Intelligent Multi-Mode Drive (i-MMD) dual-motor platform. The primary electric traction motor produces 109 PS and 253 Nm of torque, drawing energy from a lithium-ion battery. The 1.5-litre Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder petrol engine (98 PS / 127 Nm) functions largely as an onboard generator, engaging direct mechanical drive to the wheels via a lock-up clutch only at sustained highway cruising speeds.
Expanded Active Safety and Dual-Side Monitoring
The Honda Sensing active safety suite is fitted standard across all four variants. The package includes Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Lane Centring Assist (LCA), Road Departure Mitigation (RDM), Lead Car Departure Notification (LCDN), and Auto High Beam (AHB). Low Speed Follow (LSF) functionality remains exclusive to the e:HEV RS hybrid.
New for the 2026 model year is the integration of Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) paired with Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA). The system works alongside Honda LaneWatch to provide dual-side blind-spot surveillance, utilising the camera feed for the passenger side and radar-based blind-spot warning indicators on the driver-side mirror housing.
Nationwide 8-Year Unlimited-Mileage Warranty Policy
Coinciding with the City launch, Honda Malaysia announced a major overhaul of its national warranty terms, replacing the longstanding five-year policy with an eight-year, unlimited-mileage manufacturer warranty across all models registered from 1 September 2026 onwards.
| Policy Parameter | Previous Terms | Updated Policy Framework |
| Standard Vehicle Warranty | 5 years / Unlimited mileage | 8 years / Unlimited mileage (Retroactive to 1 Sept 2026) |
| Model Eligibility | Entire passenger vehicle range | Entire passenger vehicle range (All petrol and hybrid models) |
| Hybrid Battery Coverage | 8 years / Unlimited mileage | 10 years / Unlimited mileage (Established May 2026) |
| Complimentary Servicing | 5 free labour service visits | 5 free labour service visits (Maintained within 5 yrs / 100,000 km) |
| Warranty Transferability | Tied to vehicle chassis | Fully transferable to subsequent owners |
The expanded vehicle warranty complements the dedicated electrified vehicle protection introduced earlier this year, which grants a 10-year unlimited-mileage warranty on high-voltage battery packs and hybrid drive components across all e:HEV and legacy i-DCD vehicles. Standard ownership perks, including five complimentary labour service vouchers, remain fully intact. The warranty remains linked directly to the vehicle chassis number, transferring seamlessly to subsequent buyers provided the vehicle maintains verified service records within Honda Malaysia’s authorised network.
Bookings for the 2026 Honda City facelift are now open at all authorized Honda dealerships nationwide, with an early-access Special City Reward Programme offered to the first 2,400 registered buyers.
