The mid-size sedan segment in India has always been a hotbed of competition, with automakers constantly pushing the envelope to win over discerning buyers. Honda, a name synonymous with reliability and refinement, has now added a new feather to its cap—the all-new Honda City Sport.
This special edition is aimed at buyers seeking a touch of sportiness blended with sophistication. With its dynamic styling upgrades, feature-rich interiors, and trusted performance, the Honda City Sport brings a fresh spin on an already successful sedan.
In this in-depth blog, we explore everything you need to know about the Honda City Sport—its design updates, engine specifications, pricing, features, and how it compares to other sporty sedans in the Indian market.
Key Highlights
- Special sporty edition of the Honda City sedan
- Launch price starts at ₹14.88 lakh (ex-showroom)
- Powered by a 1.5L i-VTEC petrol engine with CVT
- Enhanced sporty styling inside and out
- Features Honda Sensing (ADAS) as standard
- E20 fuel-compliant engine with 18.4 km/L mileage
- Competes with Skoda Slavia, VW Virtus GT, and Hyundai Verna
Sporty Design That Turns Heads
The most notable aspect of the Honda City Sport is its revamped design language. While it retains the familiar shape of the fifth-generation City, Honda has added distinctive design elements to make the Sport edition stand out.
At the front, the gloss-black grille gives the sedan a bold character. This contrasts beautifully with the overall body shade, creating a sleek and aggressive look. Complementing the front is a shark-fin antenna, and a trunk-lid spoiler that adds aerodynamic flair while boosting the car’s visual appeal.
The multi-spoke alloy wheels in a new grey finish provide a sportier stance. These enhancements are subtle but impactful, giving the City Sport a youthful, dynamic personality. Available exterior colors include:
- Radiant Red Metallic
- Platinum White Pearl
- Meteoroid Grey Metallic
These shades highlight the car’s sporty nature and appeal to buyers who value individuality.
Interiors with an Athletic Pulse
Step inside the Honda City Sport and you’re welcomed by an all-black theme that immediately communicates its sporty intent. The cabin features premium black leatherette upholstery with striking red contrast stitching, reinforcing its performance-oriented aura.
Key interior enhancements include:
- Black roof liner for a low-slung cockpit feel
- Red accents on the dashboard and AC vents
- Soft-touch door trims with leather inserts
- Ambient lighting with 7 selectable colors
Honda hasn’t compromised on comfort or practicality either. The City Sport retains the spacious legroom and headroom that the City is known for, ensuring long drives remain a pleasure.
Performance That Matches the Attitude
Under the hood, the Honda City Sport retains the reliable 1.5-liter i-VTEC petrol engine, which produces 121 PS and 145 Nm of torque. This engine is paired with a CVT automatic transmission equipped with paddle shifters, allowing drivers to manually control gear shifts when desired.
Although it’s not a turbocharged performance car, the naturally aspirated i-VTEC engine offers:
- Smooth throttle response
- Refined cruising ability
- Decent mid-range punch
It’s also E20 compliant, which means it can run on fuel blended with up to 20% ethanol—an eco-conscious move aligning with India’s fuel sustainability roadmap.
The City Sport delivers a mileage of around 18.4 km/L, making it an efficient daily commuter that doesn’t shy away from highway sprints.
Tech-Loaded Cabin with Honda Sensing
The Honda City Sport isn’t just about sporty aesthetics—it’s also loaded with tech features. Most notably, it comes equipped with Honda Sensing, the company’s advanced driver assistance system (ADAS). This technology suite includes:
- Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) – Helps avoid frontal collisions.
- Lane Keep Assist System (LKAS) – Keeps the vehicle centered in the lane.
- Road Departure Mitigation System (RDM) – Warns if the vehicle is veering off the road.
- Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) – Maintains a safe distance from the car ahead.
- Auto High Beam Assist – Automatically switches between high and low beams.
These features bring a high level of driving confidence, especially during long highway drives or in urban traffic scenarios.
In addition to ADAS, the car is also equipped with:
- 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Rear-view camera
- Smart entry with push-button start
- Automatic climate control
- Tilt and telescopic steering wheel
Safety Comes First
Honda has ensured the City Sport doesn’t fall short in the safety department. Standard safety features include:
- Six airbags (front, side, and curtain)
- ABS with EBD
- Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
- Hill Start Assist (HSA)
- Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
- ISOFIX child seat mounts
Combined with the ADAS suite, these features offer holistic protection for both driver and passengers.
Price and Variants
The Honda City Sport is priced at ₹14.88 lakh (ex-showroom) and reaches around ₹17.47 lakh on-road (Mumbai). It is offered in a single CVT variant and is expected to be produced in limited numbers.
This pricing positions it slightly above the standard ZX CVT variant but adds significant aesthetic and tech upgrades, making it worth the premium for buyers seeking exclusivity.
How It Compares to Rivals
The Honda City Sport enters a market segment populated by several capable rivals. Here’s how it stacks up against the competition:
🔸 Volkswagen Virtus GT
- Turbocharged 1.5L petrol engine with DSG
- More powerful at 150 PS
- Sportier, but more expensive
🔸 Skoda Slavia 1.5 TSI
- Similar performance to the Virtus GT
- Strong build quality and European flair
- Lacks ADAS features
🔸 Hyundai Verna Turbo
- 1.5L turbo-petrol with DCT
- ADAS and connected car tech
- Bold styling but polarizing design
While the City Sport may not offer turbocharged performance like its German and Korean counterparts, it excels in overall balance—offering a reliable drive, rich cabin experience, and segment-leading ADAS at a competitive price.
Who Should Buy the Honda City Sport?
The Honda City Sport is an ideal choice for:
- Young professionals wanting a premium sedan with a sporty edge
- Families looking for safety and space without compromising on style
- Enthusiasts who appreciate paddle shifters and a driver-focused layout
It may not be a pure performance machine, but it hits a sweet spot between practicality and pizzazz.
Final Verdict
The Honda City Sport is a timely addition to Honda’s lineup, breathing new life into its best-selling sedan. By focusing on cosmetic enhancements, interior richness, and safety upgrades, Honda has created a version of the City that’s as fun to look at as it is to drive.
It offers great value for its asking price, especially when you factor in ADAS, fuel efficiency, and long-term dependability. If you’re in the market for a stylish mid-size sedan that stands out on the road and keeps you safe behind the wheel, the City Sport is a compelling option.
Key Notes for Readers
- Engine: 1.5L i-VTEC Petrol, 121 PS
- Transmission: CVT with paddle shifters
- Mileage: 18.4 km/L
- Honda Sensing: Yes (ADAS features included)
- Price: ₹14.88 lakh (ex-showroom), approx. ₹17.47 lakh (on-road Mumbai)
- Launch Date: June 2025
- Target Segment: Enthusiasts & style-conscious buyers
