CITY / GM1 / 2009-2013

Fifth generation (2009–20)

The fifth generation Honda City was unveiled in Bangkok, Thailand in September 2008 followed by launches in India, Pakistan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore and China (Guangzhou Honda) in the following months. It is manufactured in number of locations including Turkey, Thailand, Pakistan and Brazil.

Depending on market conditions, the City is available in a range of engine and specification levels. Generally in Asian markets the City comes in three variants – S, V and SV models. In some markets the V and SV is replaced by the E. For South America the range includes the DX, LX, EX, and EXL models.

The range of four-cylinder engines include a 1.3 producing 73 kW (98 hp) at 6,000 rpm,^{[ ]} a 1.5 engine putting out 120 PS (88 kW), which both are available in manual and automatic transmissions (India and Indonesia) and a 1.8-liter R18A engine (China markets only).^{[ ]}

In South America the range is offered with the i-VTEC 1.5-liter flex-fuel engine that is shared with the Brazilian Honda Fit. The power output is 115 hp with petrol and 116 hp using ethanol. Manual and automatic gearboxes are available.

In the Philippines, the 5th generation City was launched in 2009 available in 2 trims: 1.3 S and 1.5 E. The 1.3 liter is available in 5 speed manual or 5 speed automatic while the E variant is only available in 5 speed automatic with paddle shifters.

The City was briefly offered in selected European countries including Poland with a 1.4-litre i-VTEC engine mated to either a 5-speed manual or a 6-speed i-SHIFT automated manual transmission.

Since it was launched in India in November 2008, the City became the best-selling model of the company in the country, with sales volume even surpassing that of Thailand, previously the best selling market for the City. The Honda City has been the leader in the mid-sized sedan segment for a decade, with 35% market share in 2010. In India it came with a 1.5 litre petrol engine mated to a manual transmission and a CVT.

Pakistani market also welcomed the new Honda City on 31st January 2009, just four months after its international debut. In the beginning, it was only launched in 1.3 variant but then 1.5 was launched after a few years.

In February 2009, Honda Australia have released the Thai-made City into the Australian market in two 1.5-litre variants (VTi and VTi-L). According to Honda Australia's boss, Yasuhide Mizuno, the City will compete with other light sedans such as the Japanese built Toyota Yaris, the Korean-made Holden Barina and the Nissan Tiida (also Thai).^{[ ]} This will be the first City released in Australia since the 1980s. It replaces the formerly smaller-sized Civics.

The City was launched in 2011 in South Africa as the Ballade, to fit below the Civic and above the Jazz (Fit) sold there

In September 2011, Honda Automobile (Thailand) Ltd revealed the revamped Honda City, with new front grille design, new front and rear bumpers, new taillamps design, new alloy wheels, eco driving indicator and dual front airbags to every model. The revised model was launched in India in December 2011 including five variants – Corporate, E, S, V and V (Sunroof) – and increased ground clearance to 165mm (previously 160mm) and also length increased by 20mm.

Honda Cars Philippines launched the facelift version of the City in early 2012. It has a redesigned front grille, front and rear bumper and new alloy wheels for the 1.5 E variant, blue illumination gauge and silver accent air conditioning switch. In 2013, a new designed alloy wheels for both 1.3 and 1.5 variants and a color of the City has been replaced Habanero Red has been replaced with Carnelian Red for the City. A Modulo version is available in both variants and in 2013 a Mugen version is available for the 1.5 variant only.

Honda Cars India, the Indian subsidiary of Honda Motor Co. Ltd. launched the facelifted fifth generation Honda City in India. The facelifted fifth generation Honda City was launched in India in seven variants. All variants are powered by the same 1.5 litre i-VTEC petrol engine which delivers 118PS of power with 146Nm of maximum torque.^[21] The diesel version of the fifth generation Honda City is powered by the 1.5-litre Earth Dreams i-DTEC turbodiesel engine from the Honda Amaze. The fifth generation Honda City diesel cars were manufactured very few and in hundreds and were given to some selected dealers in only some states of India. The fifth generation Honda City Diesel was available on demand through the selected dealers and was launched in the starting days of January 2014, only a few days before the sixth generation Honda City launch in India.

Honda Atlas (Pakistan) resumed the production of Honda City on May 1, 2012 after it was halted due to supply chain disruption caused by massive flooding in Thailand. This resumption of production is marked by Honda as it comes with the range of facelifted Honda City under the banner of Honda City Aspire. In October 2014, Honda Atlas launched the facelifted Honda City, with new features including new taillights, revamped chrome grille, blinkers on side mirrors, rear window brake light, keyless entry system and new bumpers. The interior also received some changes. The speedometer dials were changed from orange to blue optitron. This generation of Honda City still remains in production in Pakistan with minor facelifts and feature updates with no sign of launching the newer generation. There is a chance that Honda may skip the sixth generation of City in Pakistan or launch it after the launch of the seventh generation in other markets.