After its unveiling a couple of weeks ago, Honda India has finally launched the City Hybrid today. Called the Honda City e: HEV, the self-charging sedan comes in at a price of Rs 19.5 lakh, which makes it Rs 4.46 lakh more expensive than the top-spec petrol CVT variant (all prices, ex-showroom).

So what’s new here? Apart from the introduction of a hybrid powertrain, the Honda City e: HEV gets some minor cosmetic updates, including a honeycomb mesh grille at the front, a design element synonymous with many EVs today. 

The rear houses a boot lid spoiler along with a diffuser which sits just below the bumper. The biggest visual change here is the blue ‘e: HEV’ badging, helping it differentiate from its petrol siblings. 

Step inside and you’ll notice slightly darker interiors compared to the beige ones seen on the standard car. Honda has also added cooling vents at the rear, to maintain the temperature of the batteries. 

At the centre sits an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with smartphone connectivity. Then there are the driver aid functionality features like lane assist, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning and more, along with a sunroof and automatic climate control. 

As we mentioned earlier, the Honda City e: HEV gets a 109hp electric motor, which works in tandem with the City’s 1.5-litre petrol engine (98hp). Combined power output is 126hp, with a claimed range of 26.5kpl. Honda says the City Hybrid is capable of running in pure EV mode for a short period of time. 

Since the hybrid segment is relatively new in our market, the company is offering a 3-year/unlimited km warranty on the new Honda City e: HEV, with a standard 8-year warranty on the lithium-ion battery. We’ll be putting Honda’s claims about the City Hybrid to test soon. Until then, stay tuned! 

( Image Credits: Honda Motors )