Honda City: Top four alternatives

Can any manufacturer get their vehicle right from the first generation. Of course, yes. Haven’t you seen the Toyota Corolla? It is one example of how each generation of the car has been much appreciated by one and all who bought and has used it for ages to come. There is one more car and it incidentally is also from the ‘Land of the Rising Sun’. It is the Honda City.

The car has so far seen four generation changes and each generation has not only looked different from the previous but also coveted by its customers. A used 2000 City will still command a premium, more than the IDV mentioned on its insurance papers. Isn’t it proof enough of the car’s desirability and reliability? However, with time, customers have also deviated on to other car brands. One that offer far better value or driving dynamics than the City. Here are four options if you aren’t pleased with the big H’s offering.

Toyota Vios

The Vios came late to the party started by the Honda. The Toyota Vios is based on a modified Corolla chassis and is one solid contender to the Honda. It is nearly as long as the City at 4,410mm compared to 4,442 of the Corolla. The Vios is slightly wider than the City and boasts a higher capacity fuel tank as well. Look wise, the Vios strays away from the usual Toyota designs. However, unlike the others, this one will be a love-hate relationship. You either like it or loathe it. The 15-inch wheels don’t do justice to the car as it needs bigger wheels. Perhaps the 16-inch from the Honda is the preferred choice. The cabin though is well specced and only the base J trim gets a manual single-DIN audio system while the other variants come with a touchscreen infotainment system that not only supports Android Auto and CarPlay but also gesture control. The seats are comfortable but the back ones lack the underthigh support of a chauffeur-driven car. Boot space at 506 litres is lower than that of the City and so is the overall kerb weight. Toyota has got a 1.5-litre engine that is good for 107 horses and 140 Nm. The engine can be paired with either a CVT or a 5-speed manual. Prices of the Vios start from RM 74,980 and go up to RM 93,980.

Nissan Almera

The workhorse of this group can actually be called a relic. Both in terms of age and reliability. The Nissan Almera runs like a clockwork and more often than not, the taxi you just jumped in will be an Almera. Of all the cars in this conversation, the Nissan Almera is the most boring to look at. The design hasn’t changed from 2011 and over the years, a couple of upholstery changes have done little for the Almera. But ignore the exterior and you will find an interior which is vastly bigger in space and has almost limo-like comfort. Speaking of which, there are few creature comforts in the cabin and one of them is the automatic climate control. Nissan also offers a few cup and bottle holders, unlike the Vios which shockingly doesn’t have space for keeping knick-knacks. There is also a rear AC vent here.

The 1.5-litre 102 PS/139 Nm, this petrol engine has good luggability and is mated to a 5-speed manual and 4-speed automatic transmission. The fuel efficiency of 14.9 kmpl shouldn't be taken with a pinch of salt as this car is quite capable of achieving those numbers and with aggressive driving thrown in. Ride quality is very good while the handling is average. The icing on the cake is that the Almera is priced from RM 64,6395 to RM 77,374 making it the one of the most affordable of the lot here.

Volkswagen Polo Sedan or the Vento

The Volkswagen Polo-based compact sedan is the benchmark when it comes to European attack on the City’s dominance. Conceptualised in India and developed for the emerging markets, the Vento is a formidable joy. It has those nice solid European looks and the interior looks German as well. However, there is a lack of features, you only get climate control and a touchscreen audio system. Space is premium at the back considering it’s derived from a not-so-spacious hatchback. The best part is the 480-litre boot which swallows in quite some luggage. What we absolutely love about the Vento is the 1.2-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol motor that puts out 105 PS of power and 175 Nm of torque. The 7-speed DSG automatic transmission gives you a feel of slicing warm butter with a knife. There are paddle shifters too. In the real world, the Vento TSI easily gives around 14 kmpl. However, the Vento is priced on the higher side of things - RM 81,888 to RM 88,488.

Proton Persona

There has to be something Malaysian too, don't you agree. The Proton Persona is slightly smaller than the rest of the cars here. It has a reputation for reliability and is also the cheapest of the cars here. Prices start from RM 42,742 while the top-spec can be yours for as less as RM 54,342. The exterior is better looking than the Nissan here but also boasts projector headlights and LED DRLs. It also has a touchscreen infotainment system as well as a 510-litre boot. Proton also gives six airbags, traction control and ABS. The engine is a not-so-enthusiastic 1.6-litre 107 PS/150 Nm unit that can be ordered with a 5-speed manual or a CVT. Efficiency-wise, the Persona based on its lower kerb weight should easily give 14+ kmpl.