The 2026 Honda City is believed to have appeared at the Honda factory in Vietnam, with a design that shares many similarities with the version currently sold in Thailand , where the new City was introduced about three months ago. This is also the basis for the initial information about the version intended for the Vietnamese market receiving attention.
Another clue comes from a filing in the Industrial Property Gazette last month. Honda is believed to have registered a design patent for a headlight and front bumper assembly that bears many similarities to the 2026 City in Thailand. This further strengthens the possibility that the sedan is being prepared for an upgrade in Vietnam, although the October launch date is still information from dealerships.
The 2026 Honda City focuses on exterior changes rather than a complete design revolution. The front and rear bumpers have been redesigned, the headlights now feature projector-style LEDs with slim LED strips, and the taillights have been upgraded to smoked LEDs. The wheels also have a new design, with the RS version distinguished by black painted rims. Following these changes, the vehicle length has increased to 4,594 mm, while the wheelbase remains at 2,600 mm.
The interior space is where the difference in user experience is most noticeable. In Thailand, the top-of-the-line City is equipped with a 10-inch central screen supporting wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. It also features an electronic parking brake, wireless phone charging, and interior ambient lighting. These features could help the City improve its competitiveness against rivals like the Toyota Vios and Hyundai Accent.
Regarding the engine, the 2026 City in Vietnam will most likely retain the 1.5L naturally aspirated gasoline engine. Honda SENSING is expected to continue to be present on all versions. In addition, a 360-degree camera and LaneWatch system may be added, although these features have not been officially confirmed for the Vietnamese market.
While awaiting the release of the new version, the current City model is being heavily discounted by dealerships. The standard version currently has a suggested retail price of just over 430 million VND, while the top-of-the-line RS version has dropped to just over 490 million VND. According to sales staff, the discounted vehicles are mainly from the last remaining stock at dealerships, aimed at clearing inventory before shifting to selling the upgraded version.
This policy comes at a time when the sales race in the B-segment sedan market is shifting. The Vios consistently outsold the City in the early months of the year, with 1,118 units sold in January and 1,004 in March, while the City only achieved 398 units in March. However, the City's sales increased to 912 units in June and continued to reach 1,034 units in July. During the same period, the Vios achieved 968 units in July.
Leading the market for two consecutive months shows that City is experiencing significant sales improvement ahead of its facelift. If introduced in Vietnam in October as reported by dealers, the 2026 City will continue to compete with a new design, added amenities and driver-assistance technologies, while the 1.5L gasoline engine will most likely be retained.