Zakirin
The Honda City (RM 84,900 to RM 111,900) is Malaysia’s benchmark non-national B-segment sedan, offering a naturally aspirated 1.5-litre DOHC i-VTEC engine (121 PS / 145 Nm) alongside a high-torque 1.5-litre e:HEV RS hybrid option (253 Nm motor), standard Honda SENSING ADAS across all trims, 6 standard airbags, and a 519-litre boot. The Nissan Almera (RM 83,888 to RM 95,888) counters as a turbocharged commuter powered by a 1.0-litre 3-cylinder turbo engine (100 PS / 152 Nm), delivering low-end torque, an ultra-low RM 20 annual road tax, Zero Gravity inspired seats, and an Intelligent 360-degree Around View Monitor.
Quick Verdict:
- Choose the Honda City if:You want higher top-end horsepower (121 PS i-VTEC or 253 Nm e:HEV hybrid), standard full-suite Honda SENSING (Adaptive Cruise Control & Lane Keep Assist on every trim), standard 6 airbags across the board, rear air vents, and a massive 519-litre boot.
- Choose the Nissan Almera if:You prioritize strong low-rpm turbo torque (152 Nm from 2,400 rpm), the lowest annual road tax in the segment (RM 20), a 360-degree Around View Monitor with Moving Object Detection, a compliant suspension ride, and Zero Gravity front seats.
💰 Estimated Monthly Ownership Breakdown
| Cost & Ownership Factor | Honda City (1.5 S / E / V / RS / e:HEV) | Nissan Almera (1.0T VL / VLP / VLT) |
| Price (OTR w/o Insurance, Peninsular) | RM 84,900 – RM 111,900 | RM 83,888 – RM 95,888 |
| Standard Manufacturer Warranty | 5 Years / Unlimited Mileage (+8-Yr Hybrid Battery) | 5 Years / Unlimited Mileage |
| Estimated 5-Year Maintenance Cost | ~RM 3,200 – RM 3,800 (Honda Service Schedule) | ~RM 3,100 – RM 3,700 (TCEAS Scheduled Service) |
| Annual Road Tax (Peninsular MY) | RM 90 (1,498 cc) | RM 20 (999 cc) |
| Claimed Fuel Consumption | 5.6 L/100 km (Petrol) / 3.6–4.0 L/100 km (e:HEV) | 5.4 L/100 km (~18.4 km/L) |
| Luggage Space (Boot) | 519 Litres (Petrol) / 410 Litres (e:HEV RS) | 482 Litres |
| Est. Monthly Loan (9-Yr @ 3.0%–3.5%) | ~RM 895/mo (Base S) – ~RM 1,185/mo (e:HEV RS) | ~RM 885/mo (VL) – ~RM 1,010/mo (VLT) |
📊 Comprehensive Specification Comparison
| Feature / Spec | Honda City (1.5L Petrol / 1.5L e:HEV RS) | Nissan Almera (1.0L Turbo VLT) |
| Segment / Body Style | 5-Seater B-Segment Sedan | 5-Seater B-Segment Sedan |
| Assembly | CKD (Local Assembly, Melaka, Malaysia) | CKD (Local Assembly, Serendah, Malaysia) |
| Engine Type | 1.5L 4-Cyl DOHC i-VTEC (Petrol) / 1.5L Atkinson + e:HEV Motor | 1.0L 3-Cylinder 12V DOHC Turbocharged (HR10DET) |
| Displacement | 1,498 cc | 999 cc |
| Transmission Type | Continuous Variable Transmission (CVT / e-CVT) | X-Tronic CVT with D-Step Logic & Sport Mode |
| Drivetrain Layout | Front-Wheel Drive (FWD) | Front-Wheel Drive (FWD) |
| Max Power Output | 121 PS @ 6,600 RPM (Petrol) / 109 PS Motor (e:HEV) | 100 PS (99 hp / 74 kW) @ 5,000 RPM |
| Max Torque | 145 Nm @ 4,300 RPM (Petrol) / 253 Nm Motor (e:HEV) | 152 Nm @ 2,400–4,000 RPM |
| 0–100 km/h Acceleration | 10.2–10.4 seconds (Petrol) / 9.9 seconds (e:HEV) | ~11.5 seconds |
| Top Speed | 195–200 km/h (Petrol) / 173 km/h (e:HEV) | ~180 km/h |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 40 Litres | 35 Litres |
| Dimensions (L x W x H) | 4,589 mm x 1,748 mm x 1,467 mm | 4,495 mm x 1,740 mm x 1,460 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,600 mm | 2,620 mm |
| Turning Radius | 5.0 metres | 5.3 metres |
| Kerb Weight | 1,117 – 1,135 kg (Petrol) / 1,250 kg (e:HEV) | 1,090 – 1,114 kg |
| Luggage Capacity | 519 Litres (Petrol) / 410 Litres (e:HEV RS) | 482 Litres |
| Wheels & Tyres | 15-inch or 16-inch Alloys (185/55 R16 on V/RS) | 15-inch (VL) / 16-inch Alloys (205/55 R16 on VLP/VLT) |
| Rear Air Vents | Standard (from E variant upwards) | Not Available |
| Infotainment Screen | 8.0-inch Display Audio (Wireless CarPlay/AA on RS) | 8.0-inch Touchscreen (Apple CarPlay only) |
| Instrument Cluster | 4.2-inch MID (S/E) / 7.0-inch Semi-Digital Cluster (V/RS) | 7.0-inch Semi-Digital Advanced Drive-Assist Display |
| Parking Aids | Multi-Angle Reverse Camera / Honda LaneWatch (V/RS) | Intelligent Around View Monitor (360° PVM with MOD) |
| Airbags | 6 SRS Airbags (Standard across all variants) | 2 Airbags (VL) / 6 SRS Airbags (VLP & VLT) |
| Active Safety (VSA / HSA) | Standard (VSA, TCS, HSA, ABS, EBD, BA) | Standard (VDC, TCS, HSA, ABS, EBD, BA) |
| ADAS Safety Suite | Full Honda SENSING (ACC w/ LSF on RS, LKAS, CMBS, RDM) | IFCW & IFEB (AEB Standard) / BSW & RCTA (VLT only) |
⚡ Key Differences Breakdown
🚗 Powertrain, Turbo Response & Road Tax
- Honda City: Uses a naturally aspirated 1.5-litre 4-cylinder DOHC i-VTEC engine outputting 121 PS and 145 Nm of torque. It delivers linear, high-revving power with strong passing capability at top speeds above 100 km/h. Buyers can also opt for the e:HEV RS hybrid, which provides an instant 253 Nm of electric motor torque and an ultra-frugal 3.6–4.0 L/100 km rating.
- Nissan Almera: Powered exclusively by a downsized 1.0-litre 3-cylinder turbocharged HR10DET engine producing 100 PS and 152 Nm of torque from just 2,400 rpm. The low-end turbo boost makes city stop-and-go driving effortless without revving the engine hard. The 999 cc displacement qualifies for an annual road tax of just RM 20 (versus RM 90 for the City).
🎨 Dimensions, Boot Space & Practicality
- Honda City: Measures longer overall at 4,589 mm with a slightly wider 1,748 mm body. It boasts a class-leading 519-litre boot on petrol variants (410L on the hybrid due to the IPU battery pack), standard rear air-conditioning vents, and a tight 5.0m turning radius.
- Nissan Almera: Measures 4,495 mm in length with a slightly longer 2,620 mm wheelbase (+20 mm). It provides generous rear passenger legroom and a deep 482-litre boot. However, it lacks dedicated rear passenger air vents on the center console and has a wider 5.3m turning circle.
🛋️ Cabin Tech, ADAS Safety & Driver Assistance
- Honda City: Leads in driver assistance technology by making Honda SENSING standard on every trim level—including Autonomous Emergency Braking (CMBS), Lane Keeping Assist (LKAS), Road Departure Mitigation (RDM), Auto High Beam (AHB), Lead Car Departure Notification (LCDN), and Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low-Speed Follow on the RS hybrid. All variants also include 6 airbags.
- Nissan Almera: Makes Intelligent Forward Collision Warning (IFCW) and Intelligent Forward Emergency Braking (IFEB/AEB) standard across all variants. The range-topping VLT adds Blind Spot Warning (BSW), Rear Cross-Traffic Alert (RCTA), and an Intelligent Around View Monitor (360-degree camera with Moving Object Detection), which simplifies tight parking. However, it lacks Adaptive Cruise Control and Lane Keep Assist.
🌟 3 Things We Love
Honda City
- Standard Honda SENSING & 6 Airbags Across All Trims: Providing full Level 2 ADAS (including Adaptive Cruise Control and Lane Keep Assist) and 6 airbags from the entry-level S variant sets a segment benchmark.
- Cavernous 519-Litre Boot & Rear Air Vents: The deepest luggage capacity in the B-segment paired with standard rear air-con vents makes it a comfortable, practical family road-trip sedan.
- High-Torque e:HEV RS Hybrid Option: The 253 Nm electric drive motor delivers punchy low-end acceleration while returning exceptional fuel economy (under 4.0 L/100 km).
Nissan Almera
- Punchy Low-End Turbo Torque (152 Nm from 2,400 RPM): The 1.0L turbo engine pulls smoothly off the line without needing to rev high, making daily city driving relaxed and quiet.
- 360-Degree Camera with Moving Object Detection (VLT): The Around View Monitor provides a clear bird’s-eye perspective with live moving hazard alerts, simplifying multi-storey carpark maneuvering.
- Ultra-Low RM 20 Annual Road Tax: The 999 cc engine ensures minimal annual road tax commitments alongside competitive 18.4 km/L fuel efficiency.
⚠️ 2 Things That Need Work
Honda City
- Higher Price Tag on Upper Trims: The RS Petrol (RM 99,900) and e:HEV RS (RM 111,900) reach near C-segment price territory, requiring higher monthly loan installments.
- Manual Handbrake Lever on Petrol Variants: Only the flagship e:HEV RS hybrid gets an Electronic Parking Brake with Auto Hold; all four petrol variants retain a traditional handbrake lever.
Nissan Almera
- No Adaptive Cruise Control or Lane Keep Assist: The Almera VLT features standard cruise control, BSW, and AEB, but lacks active lane centering and adaptive radar cruise control.
- No Rear Passenger Air Vents & Apple CarPlay Only: The cabin lacks dedicated rear AC blower vents, and its 8.0-inch touchscreen supports Apple CarPlay but lacks native Android Auto compatibility.
🏁 Buying Conclusion
The Honda City is the more complete, versatile, and tech-loaded family sedan. Ranging from RM 84,900 to RM 111,900, it justifies its price by offering standard Honda SENSING (Level 2 ADAS) on every single variant, standard 6 airbags, rear air conditioning vents, punchier 121 PS / 253 Nm powertrains, and a massive 519-litre boot. For families and long-distance highway commuters who prioritize semi-autonomous safety and maximum passenger practicality, the City remains the top recommendation.
The Nissan Almera is the refined choice for urban commuters and cost-conscious drivers. Priced between RM 83,888 and RM 95,888, its 1.0-litre turbo engine delivers effortless city torque, smooth X-Tronic CVT performance, an ultra-low RM 20 annual road tax, Zero Gravity seats, and a 360-degree Around View Monitor on the VLT. If your driving consists primarily of town commutes and tight parking scenarios where low-rpm turbo response and low running costs matter most, the Almera is a quiet, comfortable alternative.
