Verdict
At RM106,800, the Aion ES costs RM16,900 more than the RM89,900 Honda City, but brings electric running, a 55.2-kWh battery rated at 442 km, 136 hp and 225 Nm. It is also 233 mm longer and rides on a 150 mm longer wheelbase. The City answers with a 519-litre boot versus 450 litres, an unlimited-mileage eight-year warranty and a clearly specified Honda SENSING suite. Choose on charging access: the ES accepts 6.6-kW AC and 60-kW DC charging, while the City’s 1.5-litre petrol engine is rated at 5.6 L/100 km.
Pick the Aion ES if you can charge regularly and want 442 km of claimed EV range, 225 Nm and a larger C-segment sedan.
Pick the Honda City if the RM16,900 saving, 519-litre boot and unlimited-mileage warranty matter more than EV driving.
Key differences
- Price: Aion ES RM106,800; Honda City RM89,900.
- Power and torque: Aion ES 136 hp and 225 Nm; Honda City 119 hp and 145 Nm.
- Energy use: Aion ES has a 55.2-kWh battery and 442 km range; Honda City is rated at 5.6 L/100 km with a 40-litre tank.
- Charging: Aion ES supports 6.6-kW AC and 60-kW DC charging; Honda City uses petrol refuelling.
- Dimensions: Aion ES is 4,810 mm long with a 2,750 mm wheelbase; Honda City is 4,577 mm long with a 2,600 mm wheelbase.
- Boot and warranty mileage: Aion ES has a 450-litre boot and 160,000-km warranty; Honda City has a 519-litre boot and unlimited-mileage warranty.
ES
- 442 km claimed range from a 55.2-kWh battery.
- 136 hp and 225 Nm electric motor output.
- Larger 4,810-mm body and 2,750-mm wheelbase.
- Costs RM16,900 more.
- 450-litre boot is 69 litres smaller.
- Eight-year warranty is capped at 160,000 km.
City
- RM89,900 price is RM16,900 lower.
- 519-litre boot is larger than the ES's.
- Honda SENSING includes adaptive cruise control, collision mitigation braking and lane-keeping assist.
- 119 hp and 145 Nm trail the ES's 136 hp and 225 Nm.
- Smaller 4,577-mm body and 2,600-mm wheelbase.
- RM90 annual road tax is RM20 higher.
What the City has over the ES
Based on the published spec sheets of the selected variants — a blank field on one side can also mean unlisted data.
The ES's wheelbase is 150 mm longer, which usually translates to more rear legroom. The ES is 132 mm wider — more shoulder room, but a tighter fit in parking bays. Boot space favours the City: 519 litres against 450.
Representative body-type outlines, drawn to scale from each car's length and height.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM106,800 | RM89,900✓ |
| Body type | Sedan | Sedan |
| Segment | C-Segment | B-Segment |
| Assembly | CBU | CKD |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM70✓ | RM90 |
| Monthly instalment (est.) | RM1,090/mo | RM920/mo✓ |
| Insurance / year (est.) | RM3,025 | RM2,617✓ |
| Fuel or electricity / year (est.) | RM1,110✓ | RM2,229 |
| Energy cost / 100 km (est.) | RM5.55✓ | RM11.14 |
| 5-year running costs (est.) | RM21,022✓ | RM24,679 |
| Charging (estimated) | ||
| AC charge 0–100% (est.) | 8.4 hours | — |
| DC charge 10–80% (est.) | 65 min | — |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 400V architecture | 16-valve DOHC, Naturally Aspirated with Dual Variable Valve Timing and Variable Valve Lift |
| Capacity | — | 1,498 cc |
| Horsepower | — | 119 hp at 6,600 rpm |
| Torque | — | 145 Nm at 4,300 rpm |
| Cylinder Arrangement | — | Inline 4 |
| Fuel | Electric | Petrol |
| Bore × Stroke | — | 73 mm × 89.5 mm |
| Compression Ratio | — | 10.6 |
| Number of Motors | 1 | — |
| Motor Horsepower | 136 hp | — |
| Motor Torque | 225 Nm | — |
| Battery Capacity | 55.2 kWh | — |
| EV Range | 442 km | — |
| Charging Rate (AC) | 6.6 kW | — |
| Charging Rate (DC) | 60 kW | — |
| V2L | 3.3 kW | — |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Single Ratio Automatic | CVT Automatic |
| Transmission Name | — | EarthDreams Technology CVT with G-Design Shift |
| Transmission Manufacturer | — | Honda |
| Driveline | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | — | 10.2 seconds |
| Rated Economy | — | 5.6 L/100 km |
| Top Speed | — | 196 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,810 mm | 4,577 mm |
| Width | 1,880 mm | 1,748 mm |
| Height | 1,545 mm | 1,467 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,750 mm | 2,600 mm |
| Weight | — | 1,116 kg |
| Fuel Tank | — | 40 litres |
| Doors | 4 | 4 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 450 litres | 519 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 215/55 R17 | 185/60R15 |
| Rear Tyre | 215/55 R17 | 185/60R15 |
| Spare Tyre | — | Tyre Repair Kit |
| Wiper Blade (Driver) | — | 26 inch |
| Wiper Blade (Passenger) | — | 14 inch |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | China (CBU) | Malaysia (CKD) |
| Front Suspension | — | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | — | Torsion Beam |
| Front Wheels | 17 | 15" Alloys |
| Rear Wheels | 17 | 15" Alloys |
| Steering | — | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | — | 6 (Dual Front, Side and Curtain Airbags) |
| ABS/EBD | — | ✓ |
| Stability Control | — | ✓ |
| Alarm | — | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | — | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | — | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | — | Manual for Rear Doors |
| Seat Belts | — | 5 Three-point |
| ISOFIX | — | Available on Two Outer Rear Passenger Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | — | Yes, with Nighttime Pedestrian Detection and Cyclist Detection |
| Lane-keeping Assist | — | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | — | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | — | All Seats |
| Safety Notes | — | Honda SENSING: ACC, CMBS, LKAS, LDW, RDM, Auto High Beam, Lead Car Departure Notification |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | — | LED Projector, Auto |
| Taillamps | — | LED Combination |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | — | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | — | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | — | Fabric |
| Rear Seats | — | 60:40 Split-folding |
| Front Air-con | — | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | — | Rear Vents |
| Power Sockets | — | 1 Front, 1 Front USB, 2 Rear USB |
| Interior Lighting | — | Map Lights |
| Cup Holders | — | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Audio | — | 8" Display Audio with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 4 Speakers + 4 Tweeters |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | — | Four Windows, Driver Side Auto Up and Down with Anti-pinch |
| Engine Start | — | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | — | Keyless Operation with Walk-away Auto Lock |
| Auto Headlamps | — | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | — | Adaptive Cruise Control |
| Paddle Shift | — | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | — | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | — | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | — | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | — | Remote Control Activation |
| Parking Sensor Rear | — | 2 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | — | Yes, with Honda LaneWatch |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | — | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | — | ✓ |
| Hill Start Assist | — | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | — | Digital/Analogue |
| Parking Brake | — | Handbrake |
| Convenience Notes | — | Remote Engine Start |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | 160,000 km | Unlimited✓ |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 8 years | 8 years |
| Warranty Notes | — | Free labour for up to 5 services (100,000 km/5 years) |
Specs shown for the selected variant of each car. ✓ marks the better figure where lower/higher is objectively better. Road tax: West Malaysia, private registration. Running-cost estimates assume 20,000 km/year. Fuel at RM1.99/litre (RON95, subsidised). Electricity at RM0.44/kWh (TNB domestic, home charging); public DC charging costs around RM1.30/kWh. Charging times estimated from battery capacity and peak charging rates. Insurance: comprehensive motor tariff, no NCD. Instalment: 10% down, 2.5% flat rate, 9 years. Prices checked November 2026.
Used ES & City for sale
Our reviews & guides
Aion ES
Honda City
ES vs City FAQ
Is the Aion ES or Honda City better?
The Aion ES is better for drivers with dependable charging who want EV range, stronger torque and a larger body. The Honda City is the stronger practical buy for its lower price, bigger boot, unlimited-mileage warranty and specified safety equipment.
What is the price difference?
The Aion ES costs RM106,800 and the Honda City costs RM89,900, so the Aion is RM16,900 dearer.
Which has the bigger boot?
The Honda City has the bigger boot at 519 litres, 69 litres more than the Aion ES’s 450 litres.
How long does charging take?
The ES's 55.2 kWh battery takes about 8.4 hours for a full AC charge, and an estimated 65 minutes from 10% to 80% on a DC fast charger at its 60 kW peak.
Which one is locally assembled?
The City is assembled in Malaysia (CKD), while the ES is fully imported (CBU) from China. Local assembly generally helps pricing and spare-parts supply, and CKD programmes usually signal a longer-term commitment to the model here.