We’ve reported on the servicing costs for several models in the past, and here’s another one. This time, we’re comparing the Proton X50 and Honda City, not because they directly compete against each other, but because they are popular choices among car buyers in the market for a B-segment model, and somewhat overlap in terms of pricing – X50 (RM79,200-RM103,300); City (RM74,191-RM86,561).
So, if you’re looking for a comparison where the X50 is put up against something from the compact SUV segment, head over here instead. However, if you’re curious about the servicing costs of the two most popular SUV and sedan nameplates in the Malaysian B-segment market currently, read on.
Before we proceed, there’s some housekeeping in order. Firstly, all the data you see here is available from the official websites of Proton and Honda Malaysia. Secondly, we’re comparing the X50, which has the same service schedule for both its 1.5 litre turbo three-pot engines, to the City with the new 1.5 litre naturally-aspirated DOHC i-VTEC engine.
Thirdly, we couldn’t include the newly-priced Nissan Almera – another hot B-segment model – into the comparison, because the Almera’s service schedule is not readily available (yet). Lastly, our tables only go up to five years or 100,000 km, but we will mention items that are required beyond that point.
Looking at the overall figures, the City 1.5L is cheaper to maintain when compared to the X50, but only by RM657.24 over five years/100,000 km. This is the same story when compared on a year-to-year basis, as the sedan has significantly lower servicing costs from year one to four, although it does get close in the fifth year.
It should be noted that the X50 uses fully-synthetic engine oil, while the City gets semi-synthetic lubricant by default. Should you request for fully-synthetic oil for your City, the price goes up from RM114.69 per change (includes drain plug gasket) to RM130.80, which brings the grand total over five years/100,000 km to RM3,830.81. This is still cheaper than the X50, but by a smaller delta of RM496.14.
Referring to the individual tables, we can see that the City requires fewer engine oil filter changes, as this happens every 20,000 km compared to the X50 that needs a new one every 10,000 km. The same can be said of the air and cabin filters, which may cost more each time for the City, but is still cheaper across five years/100,000 km.
Meanwhile, the X50 only replaces its DCT oil at the 90,000-km mark, whereas the City’s CVT needs new lube at the 40,000 km intervals. Additionally, the X50 uses just three regular spark plugs, which may need to be changed more frequently – every 40,000 km – but are still cheaper overall compared to the City that requires four new iridium spark plugs at the 100,000-km mark.
Other notable mentions include fuel filter changes, which happen every 20,000 km for the X50, but the City only gets a new one at the 140,000-km mark. Honda also recommends a coolant change for the City after 10 years/200,000 km, while the X50 undergoes this service at the 60,000-km mark. Still on the topic of service items required beyond five years/100,000 km, the X50 needs a new timing (RM195.16) and drive (serpentine) belt (RM112.89) at 110,000 km – the City uses a timing chain instead.
Proton currently offers five times free service labour for the first 30,000 X50 customers, but Honda offers the same benefit as standard to all City customers. As you can see, the free labour is applied on specific servicing appointments with both models, mainly those with more items than others to help keep costs of ownership down.
Of course, servicing costs are just one aspect of vehicle ownership, and there are plenty of other things to consider. Given their differing body styles, the cost of tinting and coating is typically less for sedans, and this also extend to car washes, which is something that follows you throughout ownership.
There’s also the matter of general wear and tear items like tyres, which would be cheaper for the City, as the sedan uses smaller wheels ranging from 15 to 16 inches, while the X50’s alloys are 17 to 18 inches in size, depending on variant. Moreover, the X50 has disc brakes at all four corners, which are costlier to maintain compared to the City’s braking system that consists of two discs at the front, and drum brakes at the rear. How much fuel you use is also highly dependent on how frequent and far you drive.
The tables do show that the City will be the cheaper of the two to maintain, likely with lower wear and tear costs too. Of course, all costs are spread out over the years, so in the end, the difference isn’t that significant. It’s just a good reminder to think of maintenance costs too when buying a new car.
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Not a good comparison. The breakdown and part replacement cost of x50 is killing.
RON95. Honda can
Resale. Honda wins
Reliability. VTEC wins
Walnut blasting. Honda don’t need
So overall. Honda wins
Reliability – Honda fail – 1/10
Safety – Honda fail – 2/10
Resale Value – 5/10 but still fail
Tech – Honda fail 3/10
Design – Honda fail 4/10
Overall – Grade E (15/50)
Both are Protons. Just need to rebadge the white car
Smart guys get Honda City.
Racun people get Honda City. While smart guys get either Persona, Almera, Vios
(Like) Proton TGDI Engine with high quality
(Dislike) Honda iVTEC Engine with poor quality
Honda City is not real sport car and younger car but absolutely for family car
Smart guys also suffers sudden fuel pump malfunction. Suddenly smart guys not so smart anymore.
Everyone knows why honda kualiti already susah, so that’s why for those who booked city, most have already changed their mind to x50
That’s the reason why honda recalling so many fuel pump for 55,000 vehicles compare to other Japanese brands
Copy and Paste II:
“Reasons:
– Cheapo Dashboard
– Copying from other cars
– 4 airbags
– Sleepy NA Engine
– Reliability also failure”
If today we used rm80k to buy x50 or city.
In 2025, we plan to upgrade our ride & trade in x50 is rm65k but city resale value is 50k only
That really makes me question the earlier X50 vs HR-V servicing comparison as according to their table, the cost price is actually for mineral engine oil. For the same service interval, their new City is mandated to use a higher grade (ie more expensive) semi-synth fluid so what is wrong with using cheaper mineral oil here?
Proton X50 versus Haval H2.
Toyota Vios FL versus Honda City 1.5L
Meh! Rm500 more on a 5 year basis amortised is just Rm 100 per year, breakdown to monthly is just Rm8.30 per month extra. Peanuts when you see how still kosong City comes with compared to X50. Japanese are the ultimate King of Ripoff Value. Syabas!
King of Ripoff Value! Spot on!
And also the best of dangerous vehicles for honda
Yeah lets blame the Japanese because they’re the ones who decided to slap import duties on foreign cars in malaysia. Oh wait.
3 years ago people are moaning about how unfair car prices are in Malaysia, now the same people are defending proton like they are some kind of lord & savior.
Yup blame the import duties, cuz you don’t need half a brain to think there happens to be cases when this logic doesn’t apply. Take KIA Forte a C segment car sold at B segment prices, or first gen Nissan Almera sold at Rm 69,000 which was unheard of fro a non-national brand, or Hyundai Ioniq sold below Rm 100,000 then, or Honda City now comes at Rm 74,000 when it used to cost Rm 90,000 for starters, or perhaps you didn’t know Thailand and Indonesian car prices of equivalent models are currently pricier than sold here? Easier & lazier to keep blaming something cuz you don’t need to think hard about it.
Couldn’t agree more with Gary. Can’t wait to drive my new City next week.
Rubbished a lot cheaper compare with Honda Toyota or Mazda. Eyyyaakksss that super ugly noisy Isuzu NHR ridel alike City go ahead.
LIKE: X50
DISLIKE: CITY
if dislike… just ignore CITY and buy X50… with high maintenance cost. Haha
High? So Rm500 more for 5 years is considered high for you? You shouldn’t buy a car then. Stick to your motor.
X50 maintenance cost is slightly expensive because they sell TGDI Engine but more reliable so don’t need to pay so much for replacing spare parts again. City maintenance cost is cheap because they sell NA Engine but very expensive for replacing spare parts again and again.
So which is better? X50 or City?
People should have more wiser to choose from less stress when buying City or X50
Expected more cancelled bookings for Honda City and decided to switch to Almera, Vios and X50. Bye2City
First time i head suv maintenance cost can be cheaper than sedan. Some more say suv nore reliable part. Joke of the day.
Really, you test drive any suv or sedan to feel whether it is expensive or not based on maintenance cost? Nope. Out of your point bro
Hmm…I’m still waiting for an upcoming article about “reasons of should not buying honda.” which we are still looking forward. Hope Paultan will do that soon
Mario…. just learn to respect Honda pls
Like how you “respect” Proton? Nice joke Kunta/Newme.
Kemon la bro. Apa salahan drb honda
Am I Mario? Please bro, when you reply, please don’t simply call other names as john/Mario. Wake up and chill bro.
Sorry I’m sleeping for replying to you wrong person. Haha
Yo bro….respect please. My name is not Mario bro. Come on
Nak tipu pun agak-agak lah.
Not everyone can come out with a reliable GDI engine. And now you are talking about TDGI engine, China made some more. Vs NA engine some more. Macam kerabat Addy je.
Kipas jangan tak kipas. Nanti gaji kena potong.
Newme you were awfully quiet at the ‘Denso fuel pump recall’ comment section, are you feeling ok now? Btw, Denso is Japanese and owned by Toyota some more but still suffering from failures. Please get yourself out of the prejudice cave, this ain’t the 90’s anymore.
Haha, what is denso pump got to do with me? I dont even work in car industry. Anyway, good to see them recalling. This is good biz practice. Not some ripoff china companies.
Good kah? When problem happen then only recall, why can’t they fix the problem before leaving factory? Why does Takata only take action after few death cases? So if your loved ones died because they only recall NOW after the fact is that GOOD?! You claimed not to work in car industry but your comments been reflecting you have vested interest as your hate is bordering absurdity level otherwise.
oh ya … then we should bring in Geely GE, Lifan 320, Landwind X7, Youxia Ranger X, Shenaguan Noble, Dojo Pioneer, Yogomo S325, Geely Merrie 300, Zotye SR9 … all coming from the same village as Geely.
Tyre replacement cost, brake pad, should be considered too
For proton x50 18inch rim, it’s pretty expensive when it’s actually a B segment only
Normal things to replace, rule of thumb across all car.
Engine Oil,Oil Filter – 10k km
Spark Plug, Air Fillter – 20k km
Coolant – 30k km
ATF, Brake Fluid, Power, Steering Fluid- 40k km
Manual Gear Oil – 50k km
Fuel Filter – 60k km
Timing Belt – 90k km
Honda city is cheaper, BUT…. mesti ada BUT…
Proton X50 takleh kalah. Mesti ada BUT.
If Proton X50 is cheaper, then riuh sekampung, pasang kain rentang, kenduri 3 hari 10 malam.
Honda City is cheaper, yes but service tak boleh buat. Proton X50 is cheaper, yes and service mesti buat
Proton boleh setakat yang mampu because most of the time, part takde.
That is vendor problem since sales are too hot for them to catchup supply plus MCO, EMCO, RMCO, CMCO caused a lot of disruption everywhere not just car parts supply. Something Proton can control.
Newme, you sound stressed. The falling sales making your boss ask you to troll harder, is it? Better improve your trolling quality then, otherwise you might be on unemployment soon.
I am waiting for SOMEONE to come in and start accusing Paul Tan of being paid by Honda fanboys for this huge gallery of pics and the multiple write ups about this car.
Where is that DK guy that claimed he is impartial and unbiased? You know, the DK guy that asked PT to repent just because he doesn’t like articles about X50. Not sure why he is suspiciously quiet when articles are about Honda…
They should include fuel cost to 100,000 km as well so we can know the ownership cost
CVT Auto Gear under Earth Dreams. Better buy Almera will do
Nissan have bad CVT
China car but still expensive to maintain
You mean honda is also expensive to maintain too?
You think like that because people like you “auto-label” anything China made to be cheaply-made and without any quality. If Geely is not from China, would you say the same thing?
Buy other brands better. Honda makes you more headache for sure
Like:CITY
Dislike:X50
Hi,
We can’t take Proton X50 to compare Honda City, the best is compare with Honda HRV.
Thanks
With all rounder spectacular features, the X50’s should be compare against XC40, X1, Q3, Evoque, and just forget the Rest…..
The writer is comparing the wrong thing
The write is sleeping or really do not know his intentions what is he trying to compare with …(Apple to Apple or Apple to Orange)
Irrespective of the segment price ,He should compare SUV OR CUV WITH SUV OR CUV
while comparing sedan ( City) to sedan ( Almera)
Now the question is what is the expected servicing cost between XC50 and HRV?? what about that compare to X1 too???
Reason for this comparison is written in the story above.
And we’ve already done a similar comparison vs the Honda HR-V here: https://paultan.org/2020/10/29/2020-proton-x50-versus-the-x70-and-honda-hr-v-we-compare-servicing-costs-over-five-years-100000-km/
Now that is an interesting idea. So while we’re in the silly nonsense of comparing apples to oranges and only does so because of near similar pricing, let me chip in my Ford Ranger 2.2 XL. Coming in at Rm 103,888 which is just a mite higher than X50 Flagship, and so happens conveniently this site has the servicing cost for my Ranger too.
https://paultan.org/2019/11/22/five-year-maintenance-costs-for-toyota-hilux-ford-ranger-mitsubishi-triton-pick-up-trucks-compared/
And what do we find? Somehow my Ranger service for 5 years will cost me RM 7,347.92. So in this silly comparison my Ranger dwarves both cars, in fact almost the same with both their servicing costs combined. Pickup trucks must be a rip-off for costing me this much!
So is comparing servicing costs across segments all because of car pricing similarities legit? Readers be the judge.
Once we see a lot of consumers start cross-shopping between the X50/City and pick-up trucks, then sure.
SUV has its own purpose.
Sedan has its own purpose.
Pickup has its own purpose.
Some might crossshop, but majority would not consider the other segments because they do not see importance of those purposes that it brings.
there are many people who cross shop between sedan and suv. x50 is an entry level priced suv, maybe alot of people will be first time suv buyer. this kind of story will show people if suv is more costly to maintain if they are not familiar.
7 seater vs 5 seater? while the sedan win my 2 child need to use bus or train?
You’re at wrong comment section. Please navigate yourself to Mitsubishi Expander articles instead.
not apple to apple comparison
Of course not. This is the most popular apple and orange instead. Both at similar price tag. You should read the article before commenting, they include the reason for the comparison.
The Honda is cheaper to maintain, because it has far less options compared with the X50. Everything which is not there, doesn’t have to be maintained!
Cheaper to maintain? Really expensive to replace quality parts for honda
Then we should get a bullet proof kancil or the 80’s Nissan Sunny. Straight forward sevice routine. No electronic parts no ADAS, no ABS, no need to use laptop to calibrate ICU.
just get mazda 2. five years no need pay for service haha.
The costs for maintenance are included in the sales price, of course. Or do you think Mazda will give you anything for free? ;)
Mazda2 is for midgets
Spareparts will sure have problem soon. Good luck h owners
Honda City interior part low quality… Easy to break if remove… believe me cuz I’m car technicians… Today honda car so no quality…
Better buy X50! Better safe and reliable! Not Honda City
(Like) Proton TGDI Engine with high quality
(Dislike) Honda iVTEC Engine with poor quality
Bodoh punya reporter dan editor…sama seperti MP MP Malaysia yg sediada
Satu dunia dah mulakan penggunaan kereta hybrid dan kereta eletrik…
Banyak negara telah bagi pelbagai insentif (low tax) utk menggalakkan rakyat mereka celik ekonomi,celik kualiti alam sekitar dan gunakan kemajuan teknologi utk faedah hidup kat dunia ni..Malaysia dan rakyatnya masih lagi disogokkan dengan teknologi lama yg membazir….
Bro, agak-agak la. What do you want us to do? Ask everyone to buy electric cars only?
We have published many articles on EVs in Malaysia, correcting many misconceptions along the way. You can’t change everything in an instant. No country in the world has achieved that.
Exactly bro… the current government shud have now kickoff program to scrap old vehicles, those above 15 Years and more. Pemangkin negara celik ekonomi & celik kualiti alam sekitar, kereta hibrid & kereta listrik…
better buy a honda city as you got a Honda badge. balik kampung also proud as people think u r successful. if u drive home a proton, they will think u are still not progressing.
You are driving a Civic (allegedly), look where you are now. Still trolling away in comment sections is your idea of success?
Nowadays even the well-to-do, mcm well-known entrepreneur Terlajak laris Rolls Royce impounded for road tax. So their idea of success is cilok-cilok.
Or “acah-acah kaya”
X50 3 cylinder engine output ady same with your Civic turbo 4 cyl. Where to put your face?
I am the Proton X70 owner and many minor problem and major problem.Minor is power window stuck,sunroof stuck,and lock window not function.Major,DCT problem.You called it quality car,better buy City.Proton after sales is bad and my X70 in SC now from October wait for spare part.N/A is more reliable than turbo in 5-6 years and this X50 is junk because its use three cylinder only and turbo,you can’t imagine in 5-6 years the X50 engine is ratlling.This X50 NVH is so loudly and City is quite NVH.City is more cheaper than this X50.Smart guy was buy City because its more cheaper than this X50 and maintenance is more cheaper and if you have old person which is your father,mother you should don’t buy this X50 because X50 is higher. If you see road in China on youtube,i don’t see X50 or X70.What I see is Honda Vezel/HRV and Xrv many on the road.Don’t worry incoming owner City GN2,HM have improved thier quality same like Honda Japan start on September.And I saw many City in the road just now.Where is X50?And i’m not proud of Proton now because Proton is not Hak Milik Kerajaan Malaysia.Proton is Hak Milik China now and yours proud?Even Perodua not changed the teamwork with Daithatsu Japan and UMW.Proton teamwork,1st Mitsubishi 2nd Lotus 3rd Honda 4rd Geely.#I’m not Batak Honda
Dh lettew abam Mario, mak suh balik makan luu.
Jeng Jeng!! Who cares?? Btw, you said Honda Malaysia have improved quality as Honda Jalan then why I heard that some owners that driven Honda Civic just almost a month ago, can see a big problem. Honda Quality and Earth Dream CVT is still nowhere to improve. Trust me.
And it is very strange, your name can be changed from UP to SMF in “ have improved thier quality same like Honda Japan”
Ehehe. I pity you. Really. Such an effortless try.
Dear SMF/UP aka ‘X70 window stuck story guy’. Compete fairly instead of using lies and BS. Instead of spending time here to write an essay of how bad your imaginary X70 is and how good is Honda (likely you are a salesman of), use the time to improve yourself. Incidentally, the fact that you need to stoop so low means X50 really affect a lot of your sales.
The price is not correct provided by honda, such mineral oil price is posted, but when your service for 10K they ask to use fully synthetic oil with its higher price. They are not being transparent. And 80K service will cost you RM850++ one off.
city service is a cheat