Honda Cars PHL gets busy with updated models
By Joyce Reyes-Aguila
HONDA CARS PHILIPPINES, INC. (HCPI) recently updated three of its nameplates — unveiling the newest iterations of the City, City Hatchback, and Civic RS e:HEV. According to HCPI President Hidekazu Arai, the three vehicles are important to the brand’s success in the Philippines. “Honda has a proud history in the Philippines, and we are equally committed to its future,” he told attendees at the public launch of the brand’s latest lineup in Makati City. “As (Filipino lifestyles) continue to evolve, Honda will continue to evolve with (them) by bringing new products and technologies that are attuned to their lifestyle.” The City is the second best-selling model for HCPI, after the BR-V.
In an exclusive interview with “Velocity” at the media preview of the new models last September, Mr. Arai said he was pleased that Honda’s global and regional strategy enabled the company to introduce three models — especially the City sedan — simultaneously. “The new City sedan is a model we would like to bring (to the market) as fast as possible,” he stressed then. The executive added that HCPI “would like to bring more hybrid models to the Philippine market.”
A TALE OF TWO CITY MODELS
The City and City Hatchback are similarly powered by a 1.5-liter DOHC i-VTEC engine paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT); output is 121ps and 145Nm of torque. The City’s RS variant and the City Hatchback now boast a larger 10-inch Display Audio. Seat trims have also been updated, and USB-C charging ports now come standard on the RS variant of the City and City Hatchback, as well on V grade.
Based on a 2021 fuel economy run by Honda and the Automobile Association Philippines (AAP), the two models achieve efficiency of 25.17kpl and 25kpl, respectively. Both models are equipped with Honda Sensing, the brand’s suite of driver-assist technologies. New features on the updated variants include rain-sensing wipers, the Honda LaneWatch Camera (LWC), and an auto-dimming rearview mirror — all aligned with Honda’s global goal of achieving “zero traffic collision fatalities” involving Honda automobiles and motorcycles by 2050.
Additional features include fresh 16-inch alloy wheels, a clear-lens taillight design, and a connected headlight profile that enhances nighttime road visibility. The new City is offered in three variants: the 1.5 S CVT Honda Sensing, available in Lunar Silver Metallic and Taffeta White; the 1.5 V CVT Honda Sensing; and the 1.5 RS CVT Honda Sensing. The V and RS variants share the Platinum White Pearl and Crystal Black Pearl color options, while the RS gets two exclusive colors: Urban Gray Pearl and Blazing Red Pearl. All variants are also available in Meteoroid Gray Metallic.
The latest City Hatchback 1.5 RS CVT is available in five colors: Urban Gray Pearl, Blazing Red Pearl, Platinum White Pearl, Meteoroid Gray Metallic, and Brilliant Sporty Blue Metallic. Like the City, the City Hatchback can be fitted with Honda Racing Corp. (HRC) accessories for customers who want to personalize their vehicles.
HONDA CIVIC RS e:HEV
The new Honda Civic RS e:HEV now features S+ Shift, a power unit control technology designed for the brand’s hybrid vehicles. First introduced on the Honda Prelude, S+ Shift enhances the built-in Sport drive mode by letting the paddle shifters perform virtual upshifts and rev-matched downshifts, mimicking the feel of a conventional gearshift. Active Sound Control also amplifies engine sounds, which change during acceleration and deceleration. According to Honda, the hybrid powertrain achieved a fuel efficiency of 30.12kpl in a 2025 eco-run overseen by the Department of Energy.
The latest sedan is equipped with Honda Sensing, Honda Connect, and Google Automotive Services, and is available in five colors: Urban Gray Pearl, Blazing Red Pearl, Platinum White Pearl, Canyon River Blue Metallic, and Crystal Black Pearl. All models are available at Honda’s 41 dealerships nationwide. HCPI has made all newly launched vehicles eligible for Honda Secure Plus, its extended warranty program, which offers a five-year vehicle warranty or 150,000 kilometers, whichever comes first. The hybrid battery of the Civic RS e:HEV E-VT is covered by an eight-year warranty or 160,000 kilometers, whichever comes first.
Pricing for Honda’s refreshed releases is as follows: