Zakirin
The Honda City (RM 84,900 to RM 111,900) is Malaysia’s B-segment sedan, offering standard Honda SENSING active safety across all variants, standard 6 airbags, a cavernous 519-litre boot, ~1.1-tonne curb weight, and a choice between a 1.5-litre i-VTEC petrol engine (121 PS / 145 Nm) or an ultra-efficient e:HEV RS hybrid (253 Nm motor). The Proton S70 Non-Turbo (1.5 NA) (RM 59,800 to RM 62,800 / RM 56,800 to RM 59,800 with launch rebate) brings C-segment body proportions down to entry-level pricing with a naturally aspirated 1.5-litre 4-cylinder engine (120 PS / 150 Nm), a smooth torque-converter CVT, standard Electronic Parking Brake (EPB), and wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto.
Quick Verdict:
- Choose the Honda City if:You want standard Level 2 ADAS (Honda SENSING with AEB and Adaptive Cruise Control) on every single trim level, lighter curb weight with crisper city agility, higher real-world fuel economy (especially on the e:HEV RS hybrid).
- Choose the Proton S70 Non-Turbo if:You want maximum sedan for your money with an immediate saving of RM 25,000 to RM 37,000, a wider and longer C-segment body footprint (4,602 mm length), a smooth torque-converter CVT for easy traffic crawls, standard Electronic Parking Brake with Auto Hold, more features overall and standard Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
💰 Estimated Monthly Ownership Breakdown
| Cost & Ownership Factor | Honda City (1.5 S / E / V / RS / e:HEV) | Proton S70 1.5 NA (Lite / Prime) |
| Price (OTR w/o Insurance, Peninsular) | RM 84,900 – RM 111,900 | RM 59,800 – RM 62,800 (Rebate: RM 56,800 – RM 59,800) |
| Price Savings Advantage | – | Saves RM 25,000 – RM 37,000 upfront |
| Standard Manufacturer Warranty | 5 Years / Unlimited Mileage (+8-Yr Hybrid) | 5 Years / Unlimited Mileage |
| Estimated 5-Year Maintenance Cost | ~RM 3,200 – RM 3,800 (ProCare Schedule) | ~RM 2,800 – RM 3,400 (Scheduled Service) |
| Annual Road Tax (Peninsular MY) | RM 90 (1,498 cc) | RM 90 (1,499 cc) |
| Claimed Fuel Consumption | 5.6 L/100 km (Petrol) / 3.6–4.0 L/100 km (e:HEV) | ~5.8 – 6.2 L/100 km (~16.1 – 17.2 km/L) |
| Luggage Space (Boot Capacity) | 519 Litres (Petrol) / 410 Litres (e:HEV) | 500 Litres |
| Est. Monthly Loan (9-Yr @ 2.5%–3.2%) | ~RM 895/mo (Base S) – ~RM 1,185/mo (e:HEV RS) | ~RM 610/mo (Lite) – ~RM 640/mo (Prime) |
📊 Comprehensive Specification Comparison
| Feature / Spec | Honda City (GN2/GN3 Facelift) | Proton S70 Non-Turbo (1.5 NA) |
| Segment / Body Classification | B-Segment Compact Sedan | C-Segment Executive Sedan (B-Segment Pricing) |
| Platform Underpinnings | Honda Global Small Car Platform | B-segment Modular Architecture (BMA) |
| Assembly Status | CKD (Local Assembly, Melaka, Malaysia) | CKD (Local Assembly, Tanjong Malim, Malaysia) |
| Engine Type | 1.5L 4-Cyl DOHC i-VTEC (L15ZF) / 1.5L e:HEV | 1.5L 4-Cylinder DOHC 16V Naturally Aspirated |
| Displacement | 1,498 cc | 1,499 cc |
| Transmission Type | Continuous Variable Transmission (CVT / e-CVT) | Continuous Variable Transmission (CVT w/ Torque Converter) |
| Drivetrain Layout | Front-Wheel Drive (FWD) | Front-Wheel Drive (FWD) |
| Max Power Output | 121 PS @ 6,600 RPM (Petrol) / 109 PS Motor (e:HEV) | 120 PS (118 hp / 88 kW) @ 6,100 RPM |
| Max Torque | 145 Nm @ 4,300 RPM (Petrol) / 253 Nm Motor (e:HEV) | 150 Nm @ 4,000–5,000 RPM |
| 0–100 km/h Acceleration | 10.2 – 10.4 seconds (Claimed) (Petrol) / 9.9s (e:HEV) | ~11.2 – 11.6 seconds |
| Top Speed | 195 – 200 km/h (Petrol) / 173 km/h (e:HEV) | ~180 km/h |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 40 Litres | 50 Litres |
| Dimensions (L x W x H) | 4,589 mm x 1,748 mm x 1,467 mm | 4,602 mm x 1,809 mm x 1,466 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,600 mm | 2,627 mm (+27 mm longer) |
| Kerb Weight | 1,117 – 1,135 kg (Lighter, nimbler) | ~1,280 – 1,295 kg |
| Boot Space | 519 Litres (Petrol) / 410 Litres (e:HEV) | 500 Litres |
| Wheels & Tyres | 15-inch (S/E) / 16-inch Alloys (185/55 R16 on V/RS) | 16-inch (205/55 R16 Lite) / 17-inch Alloys (205/50 R17 Prime) |
| Headlights | Halogen Projectors (S/E) / Full LED (V/RS) | Halogen Reflectors (Lite) / Full LED Auto (Prime) |
| Parking Brake | Traditional Mechanical Handbrake (EPB on e:HEV) | Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Hold Standard |
| Infotainment Display | 8.0-inch Display Audio (Wired CarPlay/AA; Wireless on RS) | 8.0-inch Touchscreen (Wireless CarPlay & AA Standard) |
| Airbags | 6 SRS Airbags (Standard across all trims) | 6 SRS Airbags (Standard across all trims) |
| Active Safety Suite | Full Honda SENSING Level 2 (Standard across all trims) | Blind Spot Monitoring, RCTA, RCW, DOW (No AEB/ACC) |
⚡ Key Differences Breakdown
🚗 Powertrain, Transmission Calibration & Power-to-Weight
- Honda City: Powered by a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated 4-cylinder DOHC i-VTEC engine delivering 121 PS and 145 Nm of torque. Paired with a lightweight ~1,120 kg chassis and D-Step logic CVT, it sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in roughly 10.3 seconds. The lighter kerb weight provides low-speed throttle response and lower urban fuel consumption (~5.6 L/100 km).
- Proton S70 Non-Turbo: Employs a naturally aspirated 1.5-litre 4-cylinder engine (120 PS / 150 Nm) paired with a torque-converter CVT. The torque converter eliminates the low-speed clutch hesitation of dual-clutch systems in stop-and-go jams. However, because the S70 body is heavier (~1,285 kg), 0–100 km/h acceleration takes around 11.2 to 11.6 seconds.
🎨 Exterior Dimensions, Platform Presence & Boot Capacity
- Honda City: Follows classic B-segment packaging efficiency (4,589 mm length, 1,748 mm width, 2,600 mm wheelbase). It maximizes interior space packaging to provide a class-leading 519-litre boot on petrol variants and a tighter 5.0-metre turning radius that makes tight U-turns and compact street parking easy.
- Proton S70 Non-Turbo: Sits on the wider BMA platform, offering genuine C-segment exterior presence (4,602 mm length, 1,809 mm width, 2,627 mm wheelbase). The 61 mm wider body and longer wheelbase provide a more planted highway stance with greater high-speed composure across uneven expansion joints. Boot space is generous at 500 Litres.
🛋️ Cabin Ergonomics, Safety Technology & Price Positioning
- Honda City: Sets the safety benchmark by including the full Honda SENSING Level 2 ADAS suite as standard across every variant (from the RM 84,900 S trim upward), featuring Collision Mitigation Braking System (AEB), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), and Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS). However, petrol trims retain a traditional mechanical handbrake lever.
- Proton S70 Non-Turbo: Priced from just RM 59,800 to RM 62,800, it undercuts the base City S by RM 25,000 while including an Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Hold and Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto as standard on both Lite and Prime trims. Safety covers 6 airbags and rear radar systems (Blind Spot Monitoring, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Door Opening Warning), but it omits camera-based forward collision mitigation (AEB) and Adaptive Cruise Control.
🌟 3 Things We Love
Honda City
- Standard Honda SENSING on All Trims: Offering full Level 2 driver assistance (AEB, ACC, LKAS) and 6 airbags from the entry-level variant provides complete active crash prevention.
- Cavernous 519-Litre Boot & Light Kerb Weight: The deepest luggage capacity in the segment combined with a nimble ~1,120 kg body makes city driving responsive and practical.
- Ultra-Refined i-VTEC & Frugal e:HEV RS Option: Smooth engine harmonics with proven sub-5.6 L/100 km fuel economy and the availability of an ultra-frugal hybrid option.
Proton S70 Non-Turbo
- Unbeatable Sub-RM 63k Price Point: Securing a C-segment sedan with 6 airbags, EPB, rear AC vents, and modern styling between RM 59,800 and RM 62,800 disrupts the budget sedan market.
- Smooth Torque-Converter CVT: Eliminates low-speed hesitation, providing seamless, relaxed creeping in daily urban traffic jams.
- Standard Wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto & EPB: Modern wireless smartphone mirroring and an Electronic Parking Brake with Auto Hold are standard from the base Lite variant up.
⚠️ 2 Things That Need Work
Honda City
- Mechanical Handbrake on Petrol Variants: All four petrol variants (S, E, V, RS Petrol) use a traditional manual handbrake lever; only the RM 111,900 e:HEV RS hybrid gets an electronic parking brake.
- RM 25,000+ Price Premium Over S70 NA: Starting at RM 84,900, the entry City commands an extra ~RM 280 to RM 350 per month in loan repayments compared to the S70 Lite.
Proton S70 Non-Turbo
- No Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) or ACC: While it features 6 airbags and blind spot monitors, it lacks front radar/camera ADAS (AEB and Adaptive Cruise Control).
- Heavier Curb Weight Blunts Straight-Line Punch: Carrying roughly 160 kg more than the City with similar output (120 PS vs 121 PS) results in more relaxed overtaking acceleration on steep highway inclines.
🏁 Buying Conclusion
The Proton S70 Non-Turbo (1.5 NA Lite & Prime) is the undisputed value-for-money champion in the Malaysian sedan market. Priced from RM 59,800 to RM 62,800 (or RM 56,800 to RM 59,800 with launch rebates), it undercuts the base Honda City by over RM 25,000 upfront, dropping monthly loan repayments to around ~RM 610 to RM 640 per month. It delivers a larger C-segment body, a wider 1,809 mm road stance, a smooth torque-converter CVT, standard Electronic Parking Brake with Auto Hold, and Wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. For budget-conscious buyers, fresh graduates, and families seeking maximum car space per Ringgit with low monthly overhead, the S70 Non-Turbo is an extraordinary proposition.
The Honda City remains the choice for buyers who prioritize active safety, lively performance, and long-term fuel efficiency. Ranging from RM 84,900 to RM 111,900, its advantage is standard safety accessibility—delivering full Honda SENSING Level 2 ADAS (including AEB and Adaptive Cruise Control) on every single variant. Paired with a lighter kerb weight for quicker ~10.3s acceleration, a class-leading 519-litre boot, and strong Japanese residual resale value, the City justifies its price premium for drivers who demand comprehensive active crash avoidance and daily driving agility.
