If you’re in the market for a hatchback, now’s a good time to shop because Malaysia’s 2 most popular Japanese hatchbacks, the Honda City Hatchback and the Toyota Yaris, have both been refreshed within the past 3 months. What do you look for in a B-segment hatchback: looks, interior, safety, or price?
We pored over the spec sheets of the Honda City Hatchback RS and Toyota Yaris G Limited, priced at RM100,900 and RM99,600 on the road without insurance respectively, the duo are only RM1,300 apart, a negligible difference. If you’re undecided between the both, read on and let us help you make the RM100k decision.
Exterior – It’s a draw
The City Hatchback RS sports a slightly different face than its sedan sibling, which was facelifted in August last year, wearing the RS exterior design package, it comes with honey comb mesh with faux air intakes. Updated in September last year, the Yaris G Limited features a more elaborate front fascia with a pair of ‘fins’ at the also-faux air intakes below the headlights for a sportier look.
At the rear, the City Hatchback appears more athletic than the front with a pronounced rear diffuser, but it looks tame in comparison with the Yaris G Limited. The top-spec Yaris comes with Aero Kit as standard, giving the car red highlights all around, including the diffuser, making it the more striking car of the duo. Both cars come with a rear roof spoiler, again, the one on the Yaris G Limited has the more flamboyant piece of plastic tacked to it.
Clean and muscular or detailed and sporty? You decide.
RELATED: 2024 Honda City Hatchback facelift launched in Malaysia, from RM86k – Honda Sensing as standard
Interior – Toyota Yaris G Limited wins with a true wireless experience
Both cars come with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but the Yaris G Limited edges further ahead with a wireless charger and 9-inch screen while the City Hatchback RS makes do with an 8-inch screen.
When it comes to interior, the City Hatchback RS closes the gap with leather upholstery (available from the V onwards), RS interior design, and sports pedals, which feel more premium than the Yaris G Limited’s fabric seats and faux moulded plastic stitching (yikes).
It’s hard to choose fake stitching over a classy leather clad interior, but being the pragmatic (read: lazy) folks that we are, the Yaris G Limited is our choice because we just couldn’t be bothered to connect a charging cable to the phone, especially when wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are equipped.
Safety – Honda City Hatchback RS wins with more convenience
It’s a close fight when it comes to the safety. The Yaris G Limited and the City Hatchback RS are both equipped with a suite of active and passive safety systems to put your mind at ease.
With Toyota’s Safety Sense package, the Yaris G includes:
- Pre-collision braking
- Lane departure alert
- 3D panoramic view monitor
- Blind spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert
- Hill start assist control
With Honda’s Sensing package, the City Hatchback RS features:
- Front collision warning
- Collision Mitigation Braking System
- Lane Detection Warning
- Lane Keep Assist System
- Road Departure Mitigation
- Adaptive Cruise Control
- Lead Car Departure Notification System
- Auto High Beam
- Walk Away Auto Lock
- LaneWatch
- Honda Connect telematics suite
Both cars have 5-star NCAP ratings. The Yaris G Limited has 7 airbags, one more compared to the City Hatchback RS and the 3D panoramic view monitor is better to have compared to LaneWatch too, but if we had to pick, we would go for the Honda because of its more convenient adaptive cruise control. Though it’s a pity that Low Speed Follow, a feature that offers even more convenience, is only available on the e:HEV RS version.
Drive – Toyota Yaris G Limited wins with performance and handling enhancements
Both cars are powered by 1.5-litre naturally aspirated engines, channelling power to the front wheels via CVTs. The Honda produces 121 hp and 145 Nm, while the Toyota delivers out 107 hp and 140 Nm.
The City Hatchback might win in terms of numbers, but the Yaris G Limited comes with added performance parts, namely chassis brace, performance shock absorbers, throttle controller, and cold air intake. These give the car sharper throttle response and handling, further enhancing the Toyota’s already impressive road manners.
Conclusion – The RM100k question
It’s not an easy choice to make because you’ll be getting a lot of car for the money with both, but if we have to choose, the Yaris G Limited wins us over with its wireless experience and factory-fitted performance parts.
