2020 Honda City looks (way) better in the metal

We take a closer look at the all-new Honda City at the 2019 Thailand International Motor Expo

Last month, we saw Honda unveil the all-new Jazz / Fit at the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show. Donning a new look which resulted in mixed reactions from almost everyone, the B-segment hatchback looked unlike anything the company has ever designed.

Fast forward to November, Honda followed it up with the reveal of the 2020 City just a few days ago. Now shown in the metal at this year's Thailand International Motor Expo, we get a closer look at what could be Honda's most important model for the next decade (apart from the Jazz).

Now on its fifth-generation, the all-new B-segment sedan adopts a sleek new look courtesy of a bolder 'Solid Wing Face' design, as well as a swept-back roofline. Borrowing styling cues from the Civic the RS version, it also comes equipped with full LED headlights (lesser variants come with halogen projectors).

In addition, it also gets additional black finishes on the side mirror caps, hood trim, and ducktail spoiler. It even gets nice twin-spoke alloy wheels, and an integrated diffuser on the rear bumper.

Prefer your City with a Modulo kit? The sedan can also be specified with that aesthetic upgrade. It gets turbine-style alloy wheels, a bodykit complete with side skirts, LED foglights, and an optional rear wing that comes with an integrated brake light.

If the outside of the City is impressive, you might also like its more upright cabin design. Looking a lot like a mini Accord, the three-spoke steering wheel, vertical aircon vents, and a new automatic climate control system give the City's interior a more upscale finish. Leather comes as standard on the high-grade versions, while a touchscreen display (with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto) provides onboard infotainment.

A new turbocharged VTEC engine now powers the Thai-spec City. Derived from the Euro Civic, it is a 1.0-liter, three-cylinder turbo that puts out 122 PS along with 173 Nm of torque. While the engine only gets a 2 horsepower increase, its torque is now at par with the Civic's 1.8-liter naturally aspirated engine. No manual transmissions here as the new City is only paired with a CVT - in Thailand at least.

So the City looks great up close, but when will it arrive here? Sadly there is no word yet from Honda Cars Philippines Inc. regarding the all-new City's arrival into the country. Let's hope that it will not be a long wait, and that it will still be assembled at the company's Sta. Rosa plant.