City Dwellers: How our decade-old Honda City compares to the current one

Thirty-eight: That is the exact number of vehicles that I have brought home in the last two years. They’ve come in different shapes, sizes, and types. From sports cars, SUVs, luxury cars, even a bank robber panel van at one point, despite the line-up of cars I’ve borrowed, nothing has quite piqued my wife’s interest quite like her own. A 2017 Honda City VX.

Honestly, I can’t say I blame her. The City, after all, is the quintessential modestly-priced econobox: Throughout its existence it has always had all the standard creature comforts like a decent sound-system and air-conditioning, it has never been complicated to operate, has consistently decent gas-mileage, and with the exception of the hideous GD/GE model, it’s wrapped up in a package that won’t make you feel embarrassed to drive around in.

She’s driven hers for nearly 10 years now, and save for the issue of body rust that has accumulated at the bottom of both of its front doors, the car has been extremely reliable as her (and by proxy, my) daily driver. So much so that replacing it has actually been the farthest thing from either of our minds… Or is it?

Enter Honda Cars Philippines, who just happened to drop an Ignite Red Metallic Honda City 1.5 RS CVT to our driveway just as we arrived from our trip abroad. Sitting across from its older brother, this current Honda City is just the generation succeeding ours, its body (GN) having been released way back in 2019. Which is why it’s no surprise that as I came closer to the new one how much more acquainted I felt to it than I initially anticipated. 

Sitting inside, it felt like a warm embrace. As a City driver for many years now, everything from the proximity of the controls, the driving position, even my spatial orientation as I peeled off the driveway for my maiden drive all felt comfortably familiar.

Out on the road, I may or may not be happy to report that the car’s performance is pretty much the same old story. Like its predecessor, the current Honda City wasn’t exactly designed to set the world on fire, even though the body kits of the RS variant might say otherwise. While some may be of the belief that cars should gradually move up in performance as they evolve, I actually think it’s a good thing the City kept its heart, which is what makes it such an ideal drive.

And by “heart,” I mean its 1.5-liter inline-four DOHC i-VTEC engine, churning out a respectable 121 horsepower and 145Nm of torque. It’s peppy (albeit a bit loud) but still very efficient. It needs a little nudge to get it going, which is why I enjoy the fact that the RS comes with a paddle shifter to aid in giving the car that extra oomph when you need it to.

Those little interior touches, I have to say, are what make the City’s interior stand out compared to our old one and maybe even the rest of the current vehicles in its segment. I’ve always remarked that our City’s interior felt particularly gray and drab.

Well, not on the current one. There’s a wide array of different textures that give the cabin a very “next-level” feel to it, especially on the RS with the leather seats coupled with red accents. Storage space and bottle holders are abundant, and there are even air-conditioning vents in the rear.

Entertainment has also been upgraded by a fair amount compared to our old car. The eight-inch infotainment that now has wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto is a slight upgrade and seems to be better integrated into the dashboard compared to before. The four speakers and four tweeters that come standard also provide a noticeable improvement in sound quality.

While I appreciate the presence of charging ports inside the cabin, you can tell the current model was a product of the previous decade as it still features two USB-A ports and a pair of 12-volt cigarette lighter outlets in the rear.

I actually found myself with my cellphone out of juice on one of my drives to work one day. Suffice it to say, without the appropriate adapter with me, taking the new car was completely useless. I could light two cigars simultaneously at the back, though?

What was absolutely useful, which I believe was the best thing they’ve added to the City, is the Honda SENSING that comes standard on all of its variants. I particularly loved the Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS), and the Lead Car Departure Notification (LCDN), which I found to really reduce the fatigue of driving to and from work. 

Another security feature that I loved on the new City was the Keyless Entry and the Walk Away Auto Door Lock, especially when I had to carry heavy things in or out of the car. I no longer had to fiddle with my car keys to open or close the door like I used to on our old car.

With all that being said, would we consider replacing our Honda City for this new one? Probably not. 

A lot has changed in the last decade. New jobs, different houses, more kids, additional responsibilities—it’s safe to say that we’re far removed from the heady days of the mid-2010s. But I am happy to report that what isn’t so detached is the City. Because despite the additional fixings that’s likely inflated its already upmarket price (the City starts at Php 1,039,000 with the RS going for PHP 1,138,000), Honda has still managed to retain the same practical yet joyful spirit that’s made the previous generations of the City a treat to drive.

2026 Honda City 1.5 RS CVT | Key Information

^{Photos by Wowie Go}