Verdict
The Honda City is the sharper buy for five-seat use: RM15,080 less buys 119 hp and 145 Nm rather than the Mitsubishi Xpander’s 104 hp and 141 Nm, a 519-litre boot and autonomous braking with nighttime pedestrian and cyclist detection. Its claimed consumption is 5.6 L/100 km, too. The Xpander answers with the practical case for a family MPV: seven seats, a 2,775-mm wheelbase and 17-inch wheels. Pick it only if those extra two seats and flexible three-row cabin matter more than the City’s stronger safety kit and lower running costs.
Pick the Honda City if five seats are enough and you want 119 hp, a 519-litre boot, 5.6 L/100 km claimed economy and autonomous braking.
Pick the Mitsubishi Xpander if you need seven seats, a 2,775-mm wheelbase and second- and third-row folding flexibility.
Key differences
- Price: Honda City RM84,900; Mitsubishi Xpander RM99,980.
- Seating: Honda City 5 seats; Mitsubishi Xpander 7 seats.
- Power and torque: Honda City 119 hp/145 Nm; Mitsubishi Xpander 104 hp/141 Nm.
- Wheelbase: Honda City 2,600 mm; Mitsubishi Xpander 2,775 mm.
- Boot space: Honda City 519 litres; Mitsubishi Xpander 495 litres.
- Wheels: Honda City 15-inch alloys with 185/60R15 tyres; Mitsubishi Xpander 17-inch alloys with 205/55R17 tyres.
City
- 119 hp and 145 Nm from the 1.5-litre petrol engine
- Autonomous braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection
- 519-litre boot and 5.6 L/100 km claimed economy
- Five seats versus the Xpander’s seven
- Halogen projector headlamps versus LED projectors
- 40-litre tank versus 45 litres
Xpander
- Seven seats with 60:40 second-row and 50:50 third-row folding
- 9-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- LED projector headlamps, front foglamps and rear foglamp
- 104 hp and 141 Nm trail the City’s 119 hp and 145 Nm
- No autonomous braking, lane-keeping assist or collision warning
- 495-litre boot is 24 litres smaller than the City’s
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM84,900✓ | RM99,980 |
| Body type | Sedan | MPV |
| Segment | B-Segment | B-Segment |
| Assembly | CKD | CKD |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM90✓ | RM120 |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC, Naturally Aspirated with Dual Variable Valve Timing and Variable Valve Lift | 16-valve DOHC naturally-aspirated, variable valve timing |
| Capacity | 1,498 cc | 1,499 cc |
| Horsepower | 119 hp✓ | 104 hp |
| Torque | 145 Nm✓ | 141 Nm |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Bore | 73 mm | 75 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 10.6 | 10.5 |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | CVT Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | EarthDreams Technology CVT with G-Design Shift | 4AT |
| Gears | — | 4 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | Honda | Jatco |
| 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 | 4,580 mm | 4,475 mm |
| Width | 1,748 mm | 1,750 mm |
| Height | 1,467 mm | 1,720 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,600 mm | 2,775 mm |
| Weight | 1,125 kg | 1,240 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 40 litres | 45 litres |
| Doors | 4 | 5 |
| Seats | 5 | 7 |
| Boot Space | 519 litres✓ | 495 litres |
| Front Tyre | 185/60R15 | 205/55R17 |
| Rear Tyre | 185/60R15 | 205/55R17 |
| Spare Tyre | Space Saver | Full Size |
| Factory Tyres | — | Bridgestone Ecopia 150 |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Malaysia (CKD) | Malaysia (CKD) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Strut | MacPherson strut |
| Rear Suspension | Torsion Beam | Torsion Beam |
| Front Wheels | 15" Alloy | 17" Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 15" Alloy | 17" Alloy |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain | Driver and Passenger |
| 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 | 7 Three-point |
| ISOFIX | Available on Two Outer Rear Passenger Seats | Available for two outer middle row passenger seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes, with Nighttime Pedestrian Detection and Cyclist Detection | — |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | — |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | — |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | Front Seats Only |
| Safety Notes | Lead Car Departure Notification | — |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | Halogen Projector | LED Projectors |
| Taillamps | LED Combination | LED Combination |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Front Foglamps | — | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | — | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Manual Adjustable | Manual Adjustable |
| Rear Seats | 60:40 Split-folding | Second row 60:40 Split Fold, Third row 50:50 Split Fold |
| Front Air-con | Manual Air-conditioning | Single-zone Manual Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Rear Vents | Rear Vents with Blower Control |
| 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 Middle Row, 2 Last Row |
| Audio | Radio with Bluetooth and 4 Speakers | 9" Touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Driver Side Auto Up and Down with Anti-pinch | Four Windows, Driver's Side 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 |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | — |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Remote Control Activation | Remote Control Activation |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 2 Sensors | 2 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, with Multi-angle | Yes |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Electroluminescent Analogue | Electroluminescent Analogue |
| Parking Brake | Handbrake | Electronic |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 5 years | 5 years |
| Warranty Notes | Free Labour for Five Times within 100,000 km or Five 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.
Used City & Xpander for sale
City vs Xpander FAQ
Is the Honda City or Mitsubishi Xpander better?
The Honda City is better for a five-seat buyer wanting stronger 119 hp performance, a larger 519-litre boot and active safety systems. The Mitsubishi Xpander is better only when seven seats and a folding third row are requirements.
What is the price difference?
The Mitsubishi Xpander costs RM15,080 more than the Honda City. That gap brings two extra seats, a longer 2,775-mm wheelbase, 17-inch wheels and a 9-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Which has the better safety equipment?
The Honda City has the stronger safety kit: front side and front/rear curtain airbags, autonomous braking with nighttime pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-keeping steering correction and collision warning. The Xpander has driver and passenger airbags, ABS/EBD and stability control.