Verdict
At RM85,900 against RM133,900, the Honda City Hatchback is the cheaper, lighter and more upright car, with a 5-door body, 1,149 kg kerb weight and clever ULTRA Seat rear layout. The Honda Civic asks RM48,000 more, but the gap buys a larger C-segment sedan with 180 hp and 240 Nm, a quicker 8.3-second 0-100 km/h time, 2,735 mm wheelbase and a far bigger 497-litre boot. If you carry people and luggage often, the Civic’s size is not just cosmetic.
Pick the Honda City Hatchback if you want the lower price, 5-door practicality, full-size spare tyre and easier-to-place B-segment footprint.
Pick the Honda Civic if you want stronger turbo performance, more boot space, rear air vents and the more complete equipment list.
Key differences
- Price: Honda City Hatchback RM85,900; Honda Civic RM133,900
- Power and torque: Honda City Hatchback 119 hp/145 Nm; Honda Civic 180 hp/240 Nm
- 0-100 km/h: Honda City Hatchback 10.7 seconds; Honda Civic 8.3 seconds
- Size: Honda City Hatchback 4,350 mm long with 2,600 mm wheelbase; Honda Civic 4,678 mm long with 2,735 mm wheelbase
- Boot space: Honda City Hatchback 289 litres; Honda Civic 497 litres
- Rear suspension and brakes: Honda City Hatchback torsion beam with rear drums; Honda Civic multi-link with rear solid discs
City Hatchback
- Much lower entry price than the Civic
- 5-door hatchback body with 60:40 split-folding ULTRA Seat
- Full-size spare tyre, where the Civic uses a space saver
- 119 hp and 145 Nm are well down on the Civic’s 180 hp and 240 Nm
- 289-litre boot is much smaller than the Civic’s 497 litres
- No reverse camera or rear air vents, while the Civic gets both
Civic
- Turbocharged 1.5 litre engine gives much stronger output and quicker acceleration
- 497-litre boot and 2,735 mm wheelbase make it the roomier car on paper
- Adds LED reflector headlamps, auto wipers, rear air vents, front parking sensors and a reverse camera
- Costs RM48,000 more than the City Hatchback
- Four-door sedan body lacks the City Hatchback’s 5-door access and ULTRA Seat layout
- Uses a space-saver spare tyre and has no paddle shift
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM 85,900✓ | RM 133,900 |
| Body type | Hatchback | Sedan |
| Segment | B-Segment | C-Segment |
| Assembly | CKD | CKD |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC, Naturally Aspirated with Dual Variable Valve Timing and Variable Valve Lift | 16-valve DOHC, turbocharged with variable valve timing |
| Capacity | 1,498 cc | 1,498 cc |
| Horsepower | 119 hp | 180 hp✓ |
| Torque | 145 Nm | 240 Nm✓ |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline | Inline |
| Timing Type | Chain | Chain |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Bore | 73 mm | 73 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 10.6 | 10.3 |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | CVT 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 | 10.7 seconds | 8.3 seconds✓ |
| Top Speed | 195 km/h | 200 km/h✓ |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,350 mm | 4,678 mm |
| Width | 1,748 mm | 1,802 mm |
| Height | 1,488 mm | 1,415 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,600 mm | 2,735 mm |
| Weight | 1,149 kg | 1,349 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 40 litres | 47 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 4 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 289 litres | 497 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 185/60R15 | 215/55R16 |
| Rear Tyre | 185/60R15 | 215/55R16 |
| Spare Tyre | Full size | Space Saver |
| Factory Tyres | Continental UltraContact UC6 | Continental MaxContact MC5 |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Malaysia (CKD) | Malaysia (CKD) |
| Chassis | Unibody | Unibody |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Struts | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Torsion Beam | Multi-link |
| Front Wheels | 15" Alloy | 16" Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 15" Alloy | 16" Alloy |
| Front Brakes | Ventilated Discs | Ventilated Discs |
| Rear Brakes | Drums | Solid Discs |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Curtain | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for Rear Doors | Manual for Rear Doors |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | 5 Three-point |
| ISOFIX | Available on 2 Outer Rear Seats | Available for 2 Outer Rear Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes, Honda Sensing | Yes, Honda Sensing |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | Halogen Projector | LED Reflector with Auto High Beam |
| Taillamps | LED Combination | LED Combination |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Manual Adjustable | Manual Adjustable |
| Rear Seats | Manual Recline, 60:40 Split Folding, ULTRA Seat | 60:40 Split-fold |
| Front Air-con | Manual Air-con | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | — | Rear AC Vents |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 Front USB | 1 Front, 2 USB Front, 2 USB Rear |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights | Map Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Audio | Radio with 4 Speakers | 9.0" Advanced Display Audio Touchscreen with Google Services Built-in, 8 Speakers, Wired Android Auto, Wired and Wireless Apple CarPlay |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Driver Side One Touch Up and Down | Four Windows, Front Auto Up and Down with Anti Pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Entry (Push Button Start) |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | — | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | — |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Remote Control Activation | Remote Control Activation |
| Parking Sensor Front | — | 4 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 2 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | — | Yes |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Electroluminescent Analogue | Digital/Analogue |
| Parking Brake | Handbrake | Electronic |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 5 years | 5 years |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM 90 | RM 90 |
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.
City Hatchback vs Civic FAQ
Is the Honda City Hatchback or Honda Civic better?
The Civic is better for performance, space and equipment, with 180 hp, 240 Nm and a 497-litre boot. The City Hatchback is better value if you prioritise price, a 5-door body and the ULTRA Seat layout.
What is the price difference?
The Honda Civic costs RM48,000 more than the Honda City Hatchback. That extra spend mainly buys the bigger C-segment body, stronger turbo engine, larger boot and more cabin equipment.
Which car is quicker from 0-100 km/h?
The Honda Civic is quicker, taking 8.3 seconds from 0-100 km/h. The Honda City Hatchback takes 10.7 seconds, reflecting its lower 119 hp and 145 Nm outputs.