Honda City Hatchback Launched In Malaysia, Petrol Models From RM75,670

The first-ever Honda City Hatchback has been launched in Malaysia at a very attractive base price.

After much teasing, Honda Malaysia has finally launched the Honda City Hatchback. The City Hatchback will be available in Malaysia with petrol and hybrid powertrain options. The petrol models, badged City S, City E and City V will be available in showrooms immediately with pricing revealed and deliveries expected in January. The hybrid model, badged the City RS e:HEV, will be available later on, with pricing and deliveries to be confirmed. This mirrors what happened last year with the City sedan launch.

What is the City Hatchback

The City Hatchback replaces the Honda Jazz in ASEAN and other markets in the Oceania and South America region. It was developed alongside the current-generation City sedan. However, the pandemic widened the gap between the launch of both cars. In many ways, the City Hatchback is the same as the City sedan. However, this 5-door model was developed from the get-go to have a more ‘energetic’ concept to appeal to more youthful buyers in the region.

It features the same two powertrain options:

A 1.5-litre DOHC VTEC petrol engine mated to a CVT. This has 121PS and 145Nm of torque.

An i-MMD hybrid featuring a 1.5-litre DOHC VTEC Atkinson cycle engine with an electric motor and e-CVT with 109PS and 253Nm of torque. This engine is explained by us here.

It also features Honda Sensing advanced driver assist on the RS model.

Compared to its rivals in the segment, Honda Malaysia says the City Hatchback delivers more features, space and power. It is the only B-segment hatchback to offer a choice of either petrol or hybrid power, 60:40 rear folding seats with tall mode, rear air cond vents, an electric parking brake and Honda LaneWatch. However, these come with a number of asterisks, as will be explained below. In short, most of these features are reserved for the City Hatchback V and RS e:HEV model.

How is it different from the City Sedan?

To achieve this more ‘Energetic’ feel in the Hatchback model, Honda has done a few noteworthy things besides redesigning the roofline, rear end and rear passenger compartment.

Just like the Jazz before it, the City Hatchback has its fuel tank located in the centre of the vehicle, which changes the dynamics of the hatchback variant for the better (from our short drive in Sepang). This is not done on the sedan model. By doing this, Honda is able to fit the 5-door model with Ultra Seats. These seats allow for more foot-room than the sedan variant for rear passengers. The seats can also fold-flat in a 60:40 split unlike its direct rivals. This is because Ultra Seat bottoms are engineered to dive down when the seat backs are folded down. What’s more, Ultra Seat bottoms can also be folded upward, allowing tall items to be stored in the rear passenger footwell.

The Hatchback has also been lowered slightly (3mm shorter) and it has a shorter overall body length (204mm shorter). Luggage room is also down by 230 litres in the boot.

Other minor changes are as follows:

• On the City Hatchback V, the front grille has the same honeycomb pattern as on the RS model.
• On the City Hatchback RS, the seat sides and carpet piping feature red upholstery
• On the City Hatchback, the aircond vent trim pieces feature gloss black trim
• On the City Hatchback, only the RS variant has rear air cond vents, but this is still a segment-first
• Two new colours come to the Hatchback variant, Ignite Red Metallic and Meteoroid Gray Metallic

Here’s how the City Hatchback is equipped and priced in Malaysia

• Honda City S (RM75,670*)
  • Projector Halogen headlights
  • LED rear combi lights
  • Door mirror-mounted turn signals
  • Ultra Seats
  • 4 airbags

• Honda City E (RM83,080*)
  • City S features PLUS these
  • Remote Engine Start
  • 8″ Display Audio with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
  • Reverse Camera
  • Auto Air Conditioning
  • Paddle Shifters
  • Cruise Control

• Honda City V (RM87,860*)
  • City E features PLUS these
  • Auto LED headlights
  • LED front fog lights
  • 16″ alloy wheels (single tone)
  • Honda LaneWatch
  • 6 airbags

• Honda City RS e:HEV
  • Honda i-MMD powertrain
  • City V features plus these
  • Electric parking brake
  • Honda Sensing
  • Honda Connect
  • RS bodykit and interior
  • Rear air conditioner vents

Colour choices are as follows:

• City S, E, V
  • Ignite Red Metallic (new)
  • Meteoroid Gray Metallic (new)
  • Platinum White Pearl
  • Lunar Silver Metallic
  • Crystal Black Pearl
• City e:HEV RS
  • Ignite Red Metallic
  • Platinum White Pearl
  • Meteoroid Gray Metallic