The facelifted 2023 Honda City sedan will soon be upon us (bookings are open, and the car has been spotted), bringing with it a set of key feature updates beyond the visual nip-and-tuck. We already have some details of what's coming, so let's take a look at them via a 'New vs Old' comparison.

For clarity, we used pictures of the Thai spec car for both new and pre-facelift versions; they are identical as sold in Malaysia too.

Exterior: New bumpers, wheels, and...colour?

Par for the course of facelift exercises, the City sedan wears a new look on the outside. Opting for simpler lines in place of more the pre-update car's angular ones, it looks closer to the Civic now.

The front bumper, for instance, is now slightly elongated, with a sharper lip. Its foglamp covers are also smaller, lending a cleaner look.

Besides the front bumper (and grille pattern), the new City also gains fresh dual-tone wheels. Cleaner, though some might argue the older ones were a little more sportier.

Move to the back and the rear nip-and-tuck sees the City earn a new bumper with a rather aggressive diffuser.

Also read: Spied: 2023 Honda City facelift bares it all, updated Vios rival readies for imminent launch

Now, the colour question. Expect the current range to stay on – Ignite Red Metallic, Platinum White Pearl, Lunar Silver Metallic, Meteoroid Grey Pearl, Crystal Black Pearl – though we reckon the new WR-V's Stellar Diamond Pearl to also make it over to the car sometime down the line.

Interior: New details, wireless phone connectivity

This is still a bit of a mystery for the Malaysian-spec car, but if the pre-facelift was any indication, expect it to match up to the Thailand model in terms of aesthetic and features.

Should it follow Thailand's tact, then it should gain new red detailing around the dash, with the general design staying largely the same. Connectivity bump sees 2 new USB-C ports at the back.

Also read: Official bookings open for 2023 Honda City facelift in Malaysia; adds LCDN and LSF on e:HEV RS, coming Q3 2023

The other main change is wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay (current car is wired) through the 8-inch infotainment screen, and 'normal' variants now get a 4.2-inch TFT multi-info display that was previously exclusive to the RS.

Upholstery for the RS models have also been revised, with them now being combination leather plus synthetic leather, instead of the pre-facelift car's leather and suede.

Honda Sensing update: LCDN, LSF, now here

The most notable upgrade for the Thai-market cars, and ours too after this, is in the safety department. Low-speed follow (LSF) is added to the car's adaptive cruise control (ACC), to go with the Lead Car Departure Notification (LCDN) feature.

The rest of the ADAS features encapsulate Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Road Departure Mitigation (RDM), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Lane Keep Assist System (LKAS), and Auto High Beam (AHB).

Also read: 2023 Honda City facelift launched in Thailand - now with LSF, starting price equals to RM 83.8k

More importantly, Honda Sensing is now standard across all variants of the City sedan.

Powertrain: 1.5 NA, 1.5 e:HEV hybrid

The sole equalising factor will be the powertrain; things remain status quo in Thailand and so it seems it will be in Malaysia as well. In that case, the Honda City will be offered with two engine options:

• 1.5 NA 4-cyl i-VTEC; 121 PS/145 Nm, CVT
• 1.5 dual-motor hybrid; combined 253 Nm, e-CVT

Conclusion: Coming soon

All-in-all, the 2023 Honda City facelift brings with it light, but meaningful updates. The new look freshens up the model in a hotly-contested segment, and the presence of a more holistic ADAS system is a much needed shot in the arm against the all-new 2023 Toyota Vios.

That said, a price hike is inevitable, given the expansion of Sensing's features and all the variants its included in. The quantum of it we will only know upon launch, but for reference, here's what the City sedan is currently priced at:

• Honda City 1.5L S – RM 77,600
• Honda City 1.5L E – RM 85,600
• Honda City 1.5L V – RM 90,600
• Honda City 1.5L V Sensing – RM 94,600
• Honda City 1.5L RS – RM 108,800