The Honda City e:HEV has taken center stage at the 2025 Bangkok International Motor Show. Honda’s popular subcompact sedan is the latest edition to its e:HEV, or hybrid vehicle, lineup.
The hybrid City has yet to make any noise in our country, however Honda Cars Philippines (HCPI) has been gradually growing its e:HEV offerings. It started with the Honda CR-V RS e:HEV, and then the hybrid Civic and HR-V soon followed. Hopefully, we will get this electrified City sooner rather than later.
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If brought into the Philippine market today, the City e:HEV would make an interesting argument for those in the market for a hybrid sedan. Its direct competitors may be the hybrid Toyota Corolla Altis, and the BYD Seal 5 DM-i. The City e:HEV can slide right in between those two in terms of performance, comfort, and price.
It would serve as a realistic middle-ground for those who find the hybrid Corolla too expensive, and those who aren’t ready to commit to a new brand like BYD.
In our experience with Honda hybrid vehicles, the e:HEV system has consistently provided an impressively smooth and supple driving experience. We haven’t yet tried out the new HR-V e:HEV, but the hybrid CR-V and Civic have already established a wealth of confidence in Honda’s hybrid platform.
However, what routinely raises concerns about Honda hybrids are the prices. Only the HR-V e:HEV is priced below P2 million, with the CR-V topping out at P2.605 million. The Honda City has risen to fame thanks to its reliability and accessible price points. Hopefully, HCPI can retain the latter as the local market for hybrid vehicles expands.
Given the current selection of hybrid sedans, how would you price the Honda City e:HEV?
More photos of the Honda City e:HEV at the 2025 Bangkok International Motor Show:
