Does the new Honda City really justify its price?

The new Honda City 2025 promises style, safety, and comfort, but critics question its steep price. Can it compete with Corolla, Elantra, and MG, or remain just a reliable sedan?

By Staff Reporter
September 10, 2025

“It’s time for an exciting and sensational drive. Book your favourite Honda City today.” With this bold tagline, Honda Pakistan has once again pitched its popular sedan as the ultimate urban companion. But the question remains: does the new Honda City truly justify its steep price tag, or has it lost its way in a market chasing luxury and innovation?

The Honda City has long been celebrated for its fuel efficiency, reliability, and comfortable drive, making it a preferred choice for middle-class families and young professionals. Its latest models — City 1.2L, City Aspire, and the newly introduced City 1.5L Aspire S — come with upgraded interiors, smart infotainment systems, and enhanced safety features.

This year, Honda Atlas officially launched the Honda City 1.5L Aspire S, adding fresh energy to its sedan lineup. The model now offers two new exterior colors — Canyon River Blue and Ignite Red — alongside black styling elements such as a sporty trunk spoiler, shark fin antenna, dark chrome trims, and premium alloy wheels. These touches give the car a more aggressive, youthful presence on the roads.

Inside, Honda has refined the cabin with leather-wrapped steering, stitched details, and upgraded hi-grade seats. A new addition of tweeters improves the audio experience, while safety has been bolstered with ABS, EBD, and an ESP 9.3 modulator, making the car safer in city traffic and on highways. LED headlamps, fog lamps, and rear lights further elevate its premium feel, aligning the City closer to modern sedan standards.

Yet, despite these stylish upgrades, critics argue that the fundamentals haven’t changed much. The 1.5L engine remains the same, meaning performance isn’t dramatically different from the previous generation. While Honda has leaned heavily on design and comfort enhancements, rivals like the Toyota Corolla Altis, Hyundai Elantra, and MG sedans continue to lure buyers with stronger engines, advanced driver-assist technologies, and more competitive pricing.

Priced at PKR 6,149,000, the new Aspire S positions itself in the mid-size sedan category but faces the same critique that has dogged the City in recent years: it feels expensive for what it delivers. Automobile experts say that while the Honda City remains dependable, it no longer carries the same prestige or innovation required to rival luxury-oriented competitors.

For many buyers, the choice now boils down to priorities. Those who value style, safety, and Honda’s proven reliability may find the Aspire S a worthy upgrade, especially with its bold new colors and premium touches. But for customers chasing cutting-edge tech or stronger performance at the same price point, alternatives may feel more appealing.

Until Honda redefines its strategy, the City will likely continue its reign as a safe and practical sedan—but perhaps not as the premium statement it aspires to be.

Bookings for the new Honda City, including the Aspire S variant, are now open at all Honda 3S dealerships across Pakistan.