3 New Honda Cars Launching This Week: New City To ZR-V
Honda is preparing for a major launch event this week. Not one, but three new models are set to launch on May 22, 2026. These include two facelifts and an all-new model. The Honda City is set to get a facelift and the carmaker will also launch the ZR-V SUV here. Here’s a closer look at these.
The City, one of the oldest models in Honda India’s lineup, is set to get a facelift later this week. The sedan is currently in its fifth generation and the sixth generation will only be out in 2028. This is the second facelift to the fifth-generation City, aimed at keeping the model relevant till then.
Leaked images have already confirmed that design changes on the facelift will be evolutionary and not radical. The front fascia will get updated headlamps, revised grille section and redesigned bumpers. The car will also come with full-width LED positioning lamps at the front. The tail lamps and rear bumper will also have minor tweaks. The silhouette, however, will remain largely unchanged, although new wheels are expected.
The cabin will come with more noticeable changes. The facelift will likely feature a larger infotainment system with a new interface, a digital instrument cluster, powered and ventilated front seats, 360-degree camera and more. The cabin will also get a new colour scheme.
There will, however, be no mechanical changes on the facelift. It will continue to be powered by the same 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine that makes 121hp and 145Nm. Both manual and CVT automatic transmissions will be available.
The second launch expected from Honda on the same day is the facelifted City e:HEV hybrid sedan. Powered by the same 126hp, 1.5-litre Atkinson-cycle engine mated to an e-CVT transmission as before, the e:HEV will also get a corresponding facelift.
Changes will likely mirror those on the regular sedan- in case of both the design and the interior/ features. The hybrid will continue to come with the same set of features as the regular City. One noticeable difference will be in the boot capacity. It will be slightly less in comparison due to the hybrid battery pack and components being placed there.
Honda is also said to be working on a better hybrid system with a lighter battery pack, more localisation and a more cost effective design than the current setup. It is unclear if this will debut on the facelifted City e:HEV or if it would continue using the current setup.
The third and final launch scheduled for May 22 is the ZR-V. India is very new to this nameplate. It is a premium SUV that will be brought as CBUs (Completely Built Units) in limited numbers and sold here. We expect it to carry a premium pricing.
This is the same SUV that Honda sells under the name HR-V in markets like North America and China. When launched in India, it will become the carmaker’s flagship here and will compete with the likes of Volkswagen Tayron R Line, Tiguan and Skoda Kodiaq here.
The ZR-V will have an attractive design and a modern, feature-rich cabin. It will come with features like LED lighting, machine-cut alloy wheels, 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system, level 2 ADAS, multi-zone climate control, 12-speaker Bose premium audio, ventilated seats and more.
In a recent global update, Honda replaced the ZR-V’s 1.5-litre turbo-petrol with a new 2.0-litre naturally aspirated Atkinson-cycle hybrid petrol engine, mated to an e-CVT transmission. This hybrid version will be coming to India as well.