Verdict
At RM89,900, the Honda City costs RM3,900 less than the RM93,800 MG 5, yet reaches 100 km/h in 10.2 seconds against 11.5 seconds and carries a far larger 519-litre boot versus 401 litres. Its 119 hp also tops the MG’s 112 hp, while Honda SENSING adds adaptive cruise control and steering lane-keeping assistance. The MG counters with 150 Nm, a roomier 2,680 mm wheelbase, 17-inch wheels, a sunroof and 360-degree camera. For most Malaysian sedan buyers, the City is the more rounded choice; the MG suits those who prioritise cabin footprint and equipment.
Pick the Honda City if you want quicker 10.2-second performance, a 519-litre boot, adaptive cruise control and an eight-year unlimited-mileage warranty.
Pick the MG 5 if you want the longer 2,680 mm wheelbase, 17-inch wheels, sunroof, blind-spot monitoring and a 360-degree camera.
Key differences
- Performance: Honda City 0-100 km/h in 10.2 seconds; MG 5 in 11.5 seconds.
- Output: Honda City 119 hp and 145 Nm; MG 5 112 hp and 150 Nm.
- Dimensions: Honda City wheelbase 2,600 mm and length 4,577 mm; MG 5 wheelbase 2,680 mm and length 4,675 mm.
- Boot space: Honda City 519 litres; MG 5 401 litres.
- Wheels: Honda City 15-inch alloys with 185/60R15 tyres; MG 5 17-inch alloys with 215/50R17 front and 215/55R17 rear tyres.
- Warranty: Honda City eight years/unlimited mileage; MG 5 five years/unlimited mileage.
City
- Quicker 10.2-second 0-100 km/h time and higher 119 hp output.
- 519-litre boot is 118 litres larger.
- Honda SENSING includes adaptive cruise control and steering lane-keeping assistance.
- No blind-spot information system, sunroof or 360-degree camera.
- Shorter 2,600 mm wheelbase and smaller 15-inch wheels.
- Lower 145 Nm torque and a 40-litre fuel tank.
5
- Longer 2,680 mm wheelbase and wider 1,842 mm body.
- Sunroof, blind-spot information system and 360-degree camera.
- 150 Nm torque, 17-inch alloys and a 45-litre fuel tank.
- 11.5-second 0-100 km/h time trails the City by 1.3 seconds.
- 401-litre boot is 118 litres smaller.
- Passive cruise control and lane-keeping warning only; warranty is five years rather than eight.
What the City has over the 5
What the 5 has over the City
Based on the published spec sheets of the selected variants — a blank field on one side can also mean unlisted data.
The 5's wheelbase is 80 mm longer, which usually translates to more rear legroom. The 5 is 94 mm wider — more shoulder room, but a tighter fit in parking bays. Boot space favours the City: 519 litres against 401.
Representative body-type outlines, drawn to scale from each car's length and height.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM89,900✓ | RM93,800 |
| Body type | Sedan | Sedan |
| Segment | B-Segment | B-Segment |
| Assembly | CKD | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM90 | RM90 |
| Monthly instalment (est.) | RM920/mo✓ | RM960/mo |
| Insurance / year (est.) | RM2,617✓ | RM2,718 |
| Fuel / year (est.) | RM2,229 | — |
| Energy cost / 100 km (est.) | RM11.14 | — |
| 5-year running costs (est.) | RM24,679 | — |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC, Naturally Aspirated with Dual Variable Valve Timing and Variable Valve Lift | 16-valve DOHC, Naturally Aspirated with Variable Valve Timing |
| Capacity | 1,498 cc | 1,498 cc |
| Horsepower | 119 hp at 6,600 rpm✓ | 112 hp at 6,000 rpm |
| Torque | 145 Nm at 4,300 rpm | 150 Nm at 4,500 rpm✓ |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline 4 | Inline 4 |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Bore × Stroke | 73 mm × 89.5 mm | 75 mm × 84.8 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 10.6 | 11.5 |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | CVT Automatic | CVT Automatic |
| Transmission Name | EarthDreams Technology CVT with G-Design Shift | iCVT |
| Transmission Manufacturer | Honda | — |
| Driveline | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 10.2 seconds✓ | 11.5 seconds |
| Rated Economy | 5.6 L/100 km | — |
| Top Speed | 196 km/h | — |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,577 mm | 4,675 mm |
| Width | 1,748 mm | 1,842 mm |
| Height | 1,467 mm | 1,480 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,600 mm | 2,680 mm |
| Weight | 1,116 kg | — |
| Fuel Tank | 40 litres | 45 litres |
| Doors | 4 | 4 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 519 litres✓ | 401 litres |
| Front Tyre | 185/60R15 | 215/50R17 |
| Rear Tyre | 185/60R15 | 215/55R17 |
| Spare Tyre | Tyre Repair Kit | Space Saver |
| Factory Tyres | — | Maxxis Primetra S |
| Wiper Blade (Driver) | 26 inch | — |
| Wiper Blade (Passenger) | 14 inch | — |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Malaysia (CKD) | Thailand (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Strut | MacPherson Struts |
| Rear Suspension | Torsion Beam | Torsion Beam |
| Front Wheels | 15" Alloys | 17" Alloys |
| Rear Wheels | 15" Alloys | 17" Alloys |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 6 (Dual Front, Side and Curtain Airbags) | 6 (Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain) |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for Rear Doors | Manual For Rear Doors |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | 5 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | — | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available on Two Outer Rear Passenger Seats | Available On Outer Two Rear Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes, with Nighttime Pedestrian Detection and Cyclist Detection | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Warning Only |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | All Seats |
| Safety Notes | Honda SENSING: ACC, CMBS, LKAS, LDW, RDM, Auto High Beam, Lead Car Departure Notification | — |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projector, Auto | LED Projector |
| Taillamps | LED Combination | LED Combination |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | — | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Fabric | Power Adjustable Driver's Seat, Manual Adjustable Front Passenger Seat |
| Rear Seats | 60:40 Split-folding | One-piece Folding |
| Front Air-con | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Rear Vents | Rear AC vent |
| Sunroof | — | Yes |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 Front USB, 2 Rear USB | 1 Front, 3 USB |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights | Map Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Sun Shade | — | Sunroof Shade |
| Audio | 8" Display Audio with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 4 Speakers + 4 Tweeters | 10.25" Touchscreen with Wired Apple CarPlay & Android Auto |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Driver Side Auto Up and Down with Anti-pinch | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation with Walk-away Auto Lock | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control | Passive Cruise Control |
| Tiptronic | — | ✓ |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | — |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Remote Control Activation | Manual Operation |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 2 Sensors | 3 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, with Honda LaneWatch | Yes, 360-degree Camera |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | — | ✓ |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Digital/Analogue | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Handbrake | Electronic |
| Convenience Notes | Remote Engine Start | — |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 8 years✓ | 5 years |
| Warranty Notes | Free labour for up to 5 services (100,000 km/5 years) | 7 Years/Unlimited Mileage Warranty on Powertrain |
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). Insurance: comprehensive motor tariff, no NCD. Instalment: 10% down, 2.5% flat rate, 9 years. Prices checked November 2026.
Used City & 5 for sale
Our reviews & guides
Honda City
MG 5
City vs 5 FAQ
Is the Honda City or MG 5 better?
The Honda City is the better all-round pick: it is RM3,900 cheaper, quicker to 100 km/h, has 118 litres more boot space and adds adaptive cruise control with steering lane-keeping assistance. Choose the MG 5 for its longer wheelbase and richer convenience equipment.
What is the price difference?
The MG 5 costs RM3,900 more than the Honda City. That gap buys 17-inch wheels, a sunroof, blind-spot information, navigation, a power-adjustable driver’s seat and a 360-degree camera, but not stronger acceleration or a larger boot.
Which sedan is quicker?
The Honda City is quicker, reaching 100 km/h in 10.2 seconds versus 11.5 seconds for the MG 5. The Honda has 119 hp, seven hp more than the MG, although the MG has 150 Nm against 145 Nm.
Which one is locally assembled?
The City is assembled in Malaysia (CKD), while the 5 is fully imported (CBU) from Thailand. Local assembly generally helps pricing and spare-parts supply, and CKD programmes usually signal a longer-term commitment to the model here.
Which has the better warranty?
The City carries a 8-year manufacturer warranty against 5 years for the 5. City: Free labour for up to 5 services (100,000 km/5 years). 5: 7 Years/Unlimited Mileage Warranty on Powertrain.