Zakirin
Executive Overview & Vehicle Identity
- Segment: B-Segment 4-Door Sedan
- Platform Architecture: Honda Global Small Car Platform (Advanced Compatibility Engineering – ACE Body Structure)
- Internal Chassis Codes: GN2 (1.5L i-VTEC Petrol) / GN3 (1.5L e:HEV Hybrid)
- Assembly / Origin: Pegoh, Melaka, Malaysia (CKD)
- Trim Lineup: 1.5L E, 1.5L V, 1.5L RS, 1.5L e:HEV RS (Note: The entry-level S grade has been officially retired from the Malaysian sedan roster)
- Official Pricing (Peninsular Malaysia, OTR without Insurance):
- 1.5L E: RM 89,900.00
- 1.5L V: RM 94,900.00
- 1.5L RS: RM 99,900.00
- 1.5L e:HEV RS: RM 111,900.00
- Factory Warranty Coverage: 5-Year Unlimited Mileage Manufacturer Warranty; 8-Year / Unlimited Mileage High-Voltage Hybrid Battery Warranty with 5 times free labor service on Honda Malaysia Official Pricing Guide
HONDA CITY SEDAN DOSSIER OVERVIEW
- ICE Propulsion: 1.5L L15ZF DOHC i-VTEC 4-Cylinder (121 PS / 145 Nm) + Stepless CVT with G-Design Shift
- Hybrid Propulsion: 1.5L Atkinson Cycle + Intelligent Multi-Mode Drive (e:HEV / 109 PS Drive Motor / 253 Nm) + e-CVT
- Standardized Braking: 4-Wheel All-Disc Brakes (Ventilated Front / Solid Rear) across the entire range
- Active Safety Standard: Honda SENSING with Lead Car Departure Notification standard on all trims
- Cockpit & Lighting: Full Auto LED Headlamps, 8-inch to 10-inch Display Audio with Wireless Apple CarPlay & Wireless Android Auto, and an 8-Speaker Audio Suite (4 Woofers + 4 Tweeters) standard
1. Powertrain & Propulsion Architecture
The updated Honda City platform offers two distinct powertrain philosophies: a high-revving naturally aspirated DOHC i-VTEC petrol engine and Honda’s dual-motor Intelligent Multi-Mode Drive (i-MMD / e:HEV) series-parallel hybrid system, detailed on Honda Malaysia Official City Portal
.
Propulsion Flow Dynamics:
- 1.5L i-VTEC (Petrol): DOHC 16-Valve Head (10.6:1 CR) -> 89 kW (121 PS) @ 6,600 RPM | 145 Nm @ 4,300 RPM
- 1.5L e:HEV (Hybrid): Atkinson DHE Generator -> 1.3 kWh Lithium-ion Pack -> P3 Traction Motor (109 PS / 253 Nm)
A. 1.5L DOHC i-VTEC Petrol (E, V, RS Petrol)
- Engine Code: Honda L15ZF
- Cylinder Configuration: In-line 4-cylinder, transverse front-mounted
- Displacement: 1,498 cc (1.50 Litres)
- Bore x Stroke: 73.0 mm x 89.5 mm (Under-square / long-stroke geometry)
- Bore-to-Stroke Ratio: 0.82 (Optimized for broad mid-range torque)
- Compression Ratio: 10.6:1
- Valvetrain: Double Overhead Camshaft (DOHC), 4 valves per cylinder (16 valves total), timing chain driven with Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control (i-VTEC)
- Fuel Delivery: Programmed Multi-Point Electronic Fuel Injection (PGM-FI)
- Cylinder Block / Head: Die-cast aluminum alloy block and cylinder head
- Maximum Power Output: 89 kW (121 PS / 119 hp) @ 6,600 RPM
- Maximum Torque Output: 145 Nm (107 lb-ft) @ 4,300 RPM
- Specific Power Output: 80.77 PS/L (59.41 kW/L)
- Specific Torque Output: 96.79 Nm/L
B. 1.5L Intelligent Multi-Mode Drive e:HEV Hybrid (RS e:HEV)
- Internal Combustion Engine: 1.5L Atkinson-cycle 4-cylinder DOHC i-VTEC (LEB-H5)
- Combustion Output: 72 kW (98 PS) @ 5,600 – 6,400 RPM
- Combustion Torque: 127 Nm @ 4,500 – 5,000 RPM
- Combustion Compression Ratio: 13.5:1 (Ultra-high thermal expansion ratio)
- Electric Traction Motor (P3 Drive): Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor
- Electric Motor Output: 80 kW (109 PS / 108 hp) @ 3,500 – 8,000 RPM
- Electric Motor Torque: 253 Nm (186.6 lb-ft) @ 0 – 3,000 RPM
- Traction Battery Pack: High-rate 1.3 kWh Lithium-ion cell battery module mounted beneath the luggage compartment floor
2. Transmission & Driveline Kinematics
Drivetrain Operation:
- Petrol Lineup: Engine -> Hydraulic Torque Converter -> Steel Belt CVT -> G-Design Logic -> Front Wheels
- e:HEV Hybrid: EV Drive Mode (0-60 km/h) -> Hybrid Engine-Generator Mode -> Direct Lock-Up Highway Clutch
- Petrol Transmission: Stepless Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) paired with a torque converter and Honda G-Design Shift control to eliminate shift shock and maintain direct engine connection under acceleration
- Hybrid Transmission: Single-Speed Direct-Drive Transmission (e-CVT) utilizing an electronically managed multi-plate hydraulic lock-up clutch for direct engine drive during high-speed highway cruising
- Driver Shifter Controls:
- Petrol (E, V, RS): Steering-wheel paddle shifters offering 7 virtual stepped shift ratios
- Hybrid (e:HEV RS): Deceleration selector paddles providing 3 levels of regenerative braking energy management
3. Chassis, Suspension & Dynamic Hardware
The chassis is engineered with Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body architecture, pairing an electric power steering rack with an upgraded braking setup verified via the Honda Malaysia City Technical Specifications
.
| Subsystem | 1.5L E Specification | 1.5L V Specification | 1.5L RS Petrol | 1.5L e:HEV RS |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Strut | MacPherson Strut | MacPherson Strut | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Torsion Beam | Torsion Beam | Torsion Beam | Torsion Beam |
| Front Brakes | 260 mm Ventilated Discs | 260 mm Ventilated Discs | 260 mm Ventilated Discs | 260 mm Ventilated Discs |
| Rear Brakes | Solid Disc Brakes | Solid Disc Brakes | Solid Disc Brakes | Solid Disc Brakes |
| Parking Brake | Manual Handbrake Lever | Manual Handbrake Lever | Manual Handbrake Lever | Electronic (EPB) + Auto Hold |
| Steering System | Electric Power Steering | Electric Power Steering | Electric Power Steering | Electric Power Steering |
| Turning Radius | 5.0 metres | 5.0 metres | 5.0 metres | 5.0 metres |
| Wheel Fitment | 15″ Alloy Wheels | 16″ Alloy Wheels | 16″ Dual-Tone RS Alloys | 16″ Dual-Tone RS Alloys |
| Factory Tires | 185/60 R15 | 185/55 R16 | 185/55 R16 | 185/55 R16 |
| Spare Wheel Setup | Full-Size Spare Wheel | Full-Size Spare Wheel | Full-Size Spare Wheel | Temporary Repair Kit |
4. Dimensions, Weights & Spatial Packaging
◄──────────────────── 4,580 mm – 4,589 mm (Length) ────────────────────►
┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ ▲
│ [Spacious 5-Seater Cabin] [519L / 410L Luggage Space] │ │ 1,467 mm
└──────┬────┬──────────────────────────────────────────────┬────┬──────┘ ▼
│ │◄────────────── 2,600 mm (Wheelbase) ─────────►│ │
- Overall Length: 4,580 mm (E, V) / 4,589 mm (RS Petrol & RS e:HEV with aerodynamic front and rear bumper styling)
- Overall Width: 1,748 mm
- Overall Height: 1,467 mm (Unladen)
- Wheelbase: 2,600 mm
- Front / Rear Track: 1,495 mm / 1,485 mm (E Variant: 1,500 mm / 1,490 mm)
- Ground Clearance: 145 mm (Petrol) / 135 mm (e:HEV Hybrid)
- Kerb Weight Breakdown:
- 1.5L E: 1,116 kg
- 1.5L V: 1,127 kg
- 1.5L RS Petrol: 1,134 kg
- 1.5L e:HEV RS: 1,245 kg
- Fuel Tank Capacity: 40 Litres
- Boot Capacity (VDA Standard):
- Petrol Models (E, V, RS): 519 Litres (Class-leading cargo volume)
- Hybrid Model (e:HEV RS): 410 Litres (Accommodates IPU traction battery beneath floor)
5. In-Depth Variant Hierarchy & Differences
Variant Progression:
1.5L E (Entry Lineup) -> 1.5L V -> 1.5L RS Petrol -> 1.5L e:HEV RS (Flagship)
1. Honda City 1.5L E (Baseline Standard)
- Drivetrain: 1.5L DOHC i-VTEC (121 PS / 145 Nm) paired with Stepless CVT and paddle shifters (7 virtual speeds).
- Brakes & Chassis:4-wheel disc brakes (solid rear discs), 15-inch alloy wheels (185/60 R15).
- Exterior: Full Automatic LED Headlamps, LED Daytime Running Lights (DRLs), LED rear combi lights, shark fin antenna, body-coloured power-adjustable side mirrors with turn lights.
- Cockpit & Climate: Remote Engine Start, Keyless Smart Entry with Walk-Away Auto Lock, single-zone automatic climate control with rear air-conditioning vents, analogue dials with central monochrome LCD multi-info screen, black fabric seats.
- Infotainment & Audio:8.0-inch Display Audio capacitive touchscreen with Wireless Apple CarPlay and Wireless Android Auto, 2x USB ports, and 8-speaker sound suite (4 woofers + 4 tweeters).
- Safety & ADAS:6 SRS Airbags (Dual front, front side, curtain airbags), VSA, ABS, EBD, BA, Hill Start Assist (HSA), Emergency Stop Signal (ESS), dual rear parking sensors, and multi-angle reverse camera. Honda SENSING is standard:
- Forward Collision Warning (FCW) & Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS / AEB)
- Lane Keep Assist System (LKAS) & Road Departure Mitigation (RDM) with Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
- Auto High Beam (AHB)
- Lead Car Departure Notification System (LCDN)
- Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
2. Honda City 1.5L V
- Upgrades over 1.5L E:
- Wheels & Footwear: 16-inch single-tone alloy wheels with 185/55 R16 tires.
- Lighting: Front LED fog lamps.
- Driver Visibility:Honda LaneWatch Camera (LWC) blind-spot camera on the passenger-side wing mirror.
- Infotainment Upgrade: Upgraded to an expanded 10.0-inch Display Audio touchscreen with Wireless Apple CarPlay and Wireless Android Auto.
- Interior Luxury: Full black leather upholstery, leather-wrapped steering wheel, leather-wrapped gear shift knob, rear center fold-down armrest.
3. Honda City 1.5L RS Petrol
- Upgrades over 1.5L V:
- RS Dynamic Aero Styling: Gloss black front honeycomb grille with RS badge, aggressive lower front bumper lip, rear aero diffuser, gloss black bootlid lip spoiler, gloss black side mirror caps, and black outer door handle accents.
- Wheels: 16-inch dual-tone machine-finished RS sport alloy wheels.
- Instrument Cluster:7.0-inch semi-digital TFT instrument display with red illuminated accent needles and customizable hybrid/drive metrics.
- Interior Sport Details: Combi leather and ultrasuede sport upholstery with red contrast stitching, red-stitched leather steering wheel, sport chrome pedals, and full black interior headlining.
- Telematics: Factory-installed Honda CONNECT smartphone telematics app integration (remote vehicle status, geo-fencing, automatic collision detection, remote climate start).
4. Honda City 1.5L e:HEV RS (Flagship Hybrid)
- Upgrades over 1.5L RS Petrol:
- Propulsion System: 1.5L Atkinson Cycle Engine + Dual-Motor e:HEV Hybrid Powertrain delivering 109 PS and 253 Nm instant motor torque through an e-CVT.
- Chassis & Braking Upgrades:Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold (ABH), replacing the manual handbrake lever.
- Enhanced ADAS Capability: Adds Low-Speed Follow (LSF) to Adaptive Cruise Control, giving full stop-and-go automated tracking in congested urban traffic.
- Steering Controls: Deceleration selector paddles (adjusts multi-stage regenerative braking deceleration force).
6. Comprehensive Variant Spec Matrix
| Feature / Hardware Spec | 1.5L E | 1.5L V | 1.5L RS Petrol | 1.5L e:HEV RS |
| Powertrain Architecture | 1.5L i-VTEC (Petrol) | 1.5L i-VTEC (Petrol) | 1.5L i-VTEC (Petrol) | 1.5L e:HEV Hybrid |
| System Output | 121 PS / 145 Nm | 121 PS / 145 Nm | 121 PS / 145 Nm | 109 PS / 253 Nm (Motor) |
| Transmission Type | Stepless CVT | Stepless CVT | Stepless CVT | e-CVT (Direct Clutch) |
| Paddle Controls | 7-Speed Shift Paddles | 7-Speed Shift Paddles | 7-Speed Shift Paddles | Deceleration Paddles |
| Braking Setup (Front / Rear) | Ventilated / Solid Discs | Ventilated / Solid Discs | Ventilated / Solid Discs | Ventilated / Solid Discs |
| Parking Brake | Handbrake Lever | Handbrake Lever | Handbrake Lever | Electronic (EPB + ABH) |
| Wheel Fitment | 15″ Alloy (185/60 R15) | 16″ Alloy (185/55 R16) | 16″ RS Alloy (185/55 R16) | 16″ RS Alloy (185/55 R16) |
| Headlamps / DRLs | Full LED + LED DRLs | Full LED + LED DRLs | Full LED + LED DRLs | Full LED + LED DRLs |
| Front Fog Lamps | No | LED Fog Lamps | LED Fog Lamps | LED Fog Lamps |
| Instrument Cluster | Analogue + LCD | Analogue + LCD | 7.0″ TFT Digital Display | 7.0″ TFT Digital Display |
| Infotainment Screen | 8.0″ Display Audio | 10.0″ Display Audio | 10.0″ Display Audio | 10.0″ Display Audio |
| Wireless Apple CarPlay & AA | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| Audio Suite | 8 Speakers (4+4) | 8 Speakers (4+4) | 8 Speakers (4+4) | 8 Speakers (4+4) |
| Airbags | 6 Airbags | 6 Airbags | 6 Airbags | 6 Airbags |
| Honda SENSING Suite | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard (+ Low Speed Follow) |
| Honda LaneWatch Camera | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Remote Engine Start | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| Honda CONNECT Telematics | No | No | Standard | Standard |
| Upholstery | Fabric | Leather | RS Leather/Ultrasuede | RS Leather/Ultrasuede |
| Boot Capacity | 519 Litres | 519 Litres | 519 Litres | 410 Litres |
| Kerb Weight | 1,116 kg | 1,127 kg | 1,134 kg | 1,245 kg |
7. Performance, Benchmarking & Certified Efficiency
Calculated Engineering Metrics
- Power-to-Weight Ratio (1.5L E): 108.42 PS / Metric Ton (79.75 kW / Ton)
- Power-to-Weight Ratio (RS Petrol): 106.70 PS / Metric Ton (78.48 kW / Ton)
- Torque-to-Weight Ratio (e:HEV RS):203.21 Nm / Metric Ton (Instant low-speed torque delivery)
- 0–100 km/h Acceleration:
- 1.5L E: 10.2 seconds
- 1.5L V: 10.4 seconds
- 1.5L RS Petrol: 10.4 seconds
- 1.5L e:HEV RS: 9.7 seconds
- Top Speed:
- 1.5L E: 196 km/h
- 1.5L V / RS Petrol: 195 km/h
- 1.5L e:HEV RS: 177 km/h
Certified Efficiency Standards
- Rated Fuel Consumption (Petrol Trims): 5.6 L/100 km (17.85 km/L)
- Rated Fuel Consumption (e:HEV Hybrid):3.7 L/100 km (27.02 km/L)
- Theoretical Cruising Range (Petrol): Approximately 714 km on a 40 L fuel tank
- Theoretical Cruising Range (e:HEV):Approximately 1,081 km on a 40 L fuel tank
8. Comparative Segment Matrix: B-Segment Sedans
| Engineering Parameter | Honda City 1.5 RS Petrol | Honda City 1.5 e:HEV RS | Toyota Vios 1.5 G | Nissan Almera 1.0 Turbo VLT |
| Engine Architecture | 1.5L 4-Cyl NA (L15ZF) | 1.5L Dual-Motor e:HEV | 1.5L 4-Cyl NA (2NR-VE) | 1.0L 3-Cyl Turbo (HR10DET) |
| Power Output | 121 PS @ 6,600 RPM | 109 PS (Traction Motor) | 106 PS @ 6,000 RPM | 100 PS @ 5,000 RPM |
| Torque Output | 145 Nm @ 4,300 RPM | 253 Nm (Instant) | 138 Nm @ 4,200 RPM | 152 Nm @ 2,400–4,000 RPM |
| Transmission Type | Stepless CVT | Direct-Drive e-CVT | Split-Gear D-CVT | Xtronic CVT |
| Rear Brakes | Solid Discs | Solid Discs | Solid Discs | Mechanical Drums |
| Parking Brake | Manual Handbrake | Electronic (EPB + ABH) | Electronic (EPB + ABH) | Manual Handbrake |
| Boot Space | 519 Litres | 410 Litres | 475 Litres | 482 Litres |
| Active ADAS Suite | Honda SENSING (Std) | Honda SENSING + LSF | Toyota Safety Sense | Nissan Intelligent Mobility |
| Blind-Spot Monitoring | LaneWatch Camera | LaneWatch Camera | Radar BSM + RCTA | Radar BSM + RCTA |
| Smartphone Connectivity | Wireless CarPlay & AA | Wireless CarPlay & AA | Wireless CarPlay & AA | Wired Apple CarPlay Only |
| Airbags | 6 Airbags | 6 Airbags | 6 Airbags | 6 Airbags |
| Rated Consumption | 5.6 L/100 km (17.9 km/L) | 3.7 L/100 km (27.0 km/L) | 5.2 L/100 km (19.2 km/L) | 5.4 L/100 km (18.5 km/L) |
