Honda City vs Toyota Vios 2023: What Do You Get for the Same Price?

In 2020, the fith generation Honda City was launched with considerable upgrades like rear airconditioning vents and a larger footprint. Now, the Vios follows suit with its fourth generation, also launching with rear airconditioning and larger footprint including larger wheelbase.

Since your decision to buy a car isn't down to how many airconditioning vents there are, we've decided to compare the all-new variants side by side and see just how much value you're getting for your buck. We're not comparing every single thing but we're comparing what we feel is important.

The Honda City has five variants: S, E, V, V-Sensing, and RS (a hybrid model). The Toyota Vios has only two variants the E and G. For this comparison we're going to compare what you get for about the same price between the two which are the:

• Honda City V - RM90,600
• Honda City V-Sensing - RM94,600
• Toyota Vios E - RM89,600
• Toyota Vios G - RM95,500

Engine and Transmission compared

	City V	City V-Sensing	Vios E	Vios G
Engine (4-cylinder)	1.5L	1.5L	1.5L	1.5L
Max Power (PS)	121	121	106	106
Max Torque	145Nm	145Nm	138Nm	138Nm
Transmission	7-speed CVT	7-speed CVT	7-speed CVT	7-speed CVT

So far so same for the four models in the price range. Of course, you could pay for the RM106,000 RS version of the City with a hybrid engine, but it's not exactly entry-level pricing is it? While on paper the City seems to eek out more power, real world figures are never so cut and dry. You may also receive a better fuel economy on the lower-powered Vios.

Here, the city seems to eek out a win, but more in principal than actual real-world wins.

Interior Equipment compared

	City V	City V-Sensing	Vios E	Vios G
Leather Steering/Upholstery	Yes	Yes	Fabric	Yes
Digital Screen	8-inch display with wired CarPlay/Android Auto	8-inch display with wired CarPlay/Android Auto	9-inch with wireless CarPlay/Android Auto	9-inch with wireless CarPlay/Android Auto
USB Charging Ports	2	2	3	3
Speakers	8	8	4	6
Steering	Telescopic	Telescopic	Tilt	Telescopic
Paddle Shifter	Yes	Yes	No	Yes

The tilt steering on the Vios E is a bummer. Once you've gone telescopic, you don't go back. But the Vios gets a wireless Qi charger in the arm rest. That said, it's in the arm rest where you can't access it easily. We know you're not supposed to use your phone while you drive but, c'mon. This limits the utility of the charger.

The Honda City also gets remote start for the car which is cool but its utility is... suspect.

Overall, we think leather seats are the most lasting and most worth-in investment for a car's interior you can make. Even on this writer's shitty 10-year-old Proton Sage 1.6 FLX SE, the leather seats have never failed to prove its utility. The next best thing are leather steerings with telescopic adjustments. These two things are what you interact with every day and are the main points of contact (for your butt, back, and arms).

In this sense, the City kinda seems like a better offering.

Security features compared (All the letters compared)

	City V	City V-Sensing	Vios E	Vios G
Airbags	6	6	6	6
Front sensors	-	-	2	2
Rerverse camera	Yes (with left lane watch)	Yes (with left lane watch)	360 view camera	360 view camera
Lane departure Warning	-	Yes with departure control	Yes	Yes with departure control
Lane keeping system	-	Yes	-	Yes
Adaptive cruise control	-	Yes	-	Yes
Auto high beam	-	Yes	-	Yes
Auto brake hold	-	-	-	Yes
Pre-collision warning	-	Yes	Yes	Yes

Basically, if you don't pay for the V-Sensing variant, your Honda City does not have all the fancy letters, (FCW, CMBS, LDW, LKAS, RDM, ACC, AHB to be exact) but the Vios comes with some of these letters at the entry E variant (PCS, LDW, LDP, FDA) and G variant adds on more letters (LKC, AHB, ACC). Both companies alter the words slightly, inexplicably, just for branding which we assume is meant to shock and awe buyers who are not aware.

If you're crazy for features, safety features in particular, you may want to look at the Vios in this case since the cheaper E variant comes with more safety features than the City V variant which... doesn't come with anything and locks those features in the "Sensing" package. However both cars offer these other letters as standard (VSA, ABS, EBD, BD, BA, HSA).

These variants of safety letters were prerviously kept locked behind a paywall too but are now, thankfully, available as standard. If you want cars without these letters or want to pay for these letters you may look to the Proton or Perodua who still put a price on your safety.

So, the Honda has a bigger boot at 519 litres compared to Vios' 475g litres. The City's rear seats also fold down for more storage which is really an extremely practical feature for anyone who has ever shopped for a cabinet at IKEA.

We feel this is a must for family cars and if you're shopping in this range, you may be using your car for far more than just transporting people. The Vios takes another hit in the spare tyre arena in that it doesn't have any. There's a repair kit and a hidden storage space in the boot instead. Again, the City has the advantage. Yes, a temporary repair kit can do the job, but it doesn't beat an actual replacement.

Finally, the Vios comes with bigger tyres at 195 width for the E variant and 205 width for the G while the City has only a 185 width for all variants. The rim is also bigger on the G at 17-inches while the rest of the cars in this comparison have 16-inch wheels.

More width = more expensive though, but you get a little better comfort.