Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. officially unveiled the new City Hatchback at Bonifacio High Street. Building upon the success of its predecessor, the updated model now features both interior and exterior enhancements. The 2024 Honda City Hatchback RS receives a mid-cycle refresh that introduces several substantial updates. The big news for this iteration is the inclusion of the Honda SENSING suite, which features adaptive cruise control, a collision mitigation braking system, and various lane assist systems. There's also a new auto high beam feature for 2024. Another notable feature is the addition of Honda's Agile Handling Assist system, which applies brakes to the front inner wheel of the car during a turn to avoid understeer.
While the 1.5-litre i-VTEC engine and CVT drivetrain remains the same, the exterior of the 2024 Honda City Hatchback RS sees several noteworthy changes. The new grille, for instance, stands out. Whereas the older grill had a big, solid nose-area, the new chain link pattern grille opens up the center of the car's face. This redesign gives the front of the vehicle a more sporty and dynamic look.
Another significant update is the front airdam. The old one looked quite tame, but the new RS has an aggressive airdam that juts out of the bottom center of the bumper, looking almost like a central front-splitter all done up in faux-carbon fiber. Aside from adding a sporty touch, some aerodynamic improvements may be had.
The side profile also gets a boost with new, prominent side skirts that add more subtle aero to the car's looks. The car also comes with a new rear-diffuser, one that is done in faux carbon-fiber as well, and features 4 vertical winglets to manage the exit of air coming from the car's underside.
Completing the aggressive stance of the new City Hatchback RS are new split 5-spoke wheels that come in Berlina Black. These are 16-inch units that come wrapped in 185/55 R16 tires. The Berlina Black wheels complement the overall sporty look of the car, specially with the new Sonic Gray Pearl color.
Inside the 2024 Honda City Hatchback RS, the updates are equally impressive. Although the size of the infotainment system remains the same at 8-inches, the new unit is more responsive, and features the addition of wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, adding modern convenience to a Honda’s clever little hatchback.
The driver's cockpit has also been updated with a new 4.2" full-color TFT driver information monitor right smack in the middle of the reworked gauges. The cluster's ambient lighting strips at the side are carried over from the old one. The new gauge cluster feels fresh and provides clear and vibrant information.
Steering wheel controls have been mildly refined as well. Although the tiller has the same look and feel as the outgoing model's, the addition of ADAS buttons on the right side just underneath the cruise control points to this model's new SENSING capabilities, making it easier for drivers to access the new safety and driver-assist features. For 2024, the seats get a faux-leather upgrade with more red fabric accents and a red leather strip running down the middle.
Safety has been a paramount focus in the New City Hatchback, thanks to the inclusion of Honda SENSING. This system aligns with Honda's push to achieve a collision-free society by 2050, providing safer roads for all users. The suite of Honda SENSING features available in the New City Hatchback includes Lead Car Departure Notification, which alerts the driver when the car ahead has started moving, Adaptive Cruise Control, Collision Mitigation Braking System, Lane Keep Assist System, Road Departure Mitigation and Lane Departure Warning, which prevents the vehicle from unintentionally leaving the road, and Auto High Beam, once only available on higher Honda models, automatically switches between high and low beams as needed. For added safety and convenience, the New City Hatchback will also now automatically lock the car as the driver walks away.
The new color option, Sonic Gray Pearl, is available exclusively for the City RS Hatchback, and joins the existing color palette which includes Ignite Red Metallic, Platinum White Pearl, Meteoroid Gray Metallic, and Brilliant Sporty Blue Metallic.
The RS variant is the sole variant available and puts the New City Hatchback at a price of ₱1,189,000. This model, along with other Honda vehicles, will be showcased at the 9th Ave. Bonifacio High Street Activity Center until June 16, 2024. Visitors can also experience a Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) test ride from Saturday to Sunday, providing a firsthand look at the vehicle's advanced safety features.