Verdict
At RM85,900, the Honda City Hatchback undercuts the RM89,800 Proton X50 by RM3,900 and has a RM90 annual road tax bill against RM120. The X50 puts that extra spend into a 178 hp/290 Nm turbo engine, reaching 100 km/h in 7.6 seconds versus 10.7 seconds, plus a 330-litre boot. It is plainly the stronger family carryall. But the Honda is 202 kg lighter, has Honda Sensing autonomous braking and lane-keeping steering correction, and its ULTRA Seat rear bench adds a useful practicality angle.
Pick the Honda City Hatchback if Honda Sensing autonomous braking, lane-keeping steering correction and a lower RM85,900 entry price matter more than outright pace.
Pick the Proton X50 if you want 178 hp, 290 Nm, a 330-litre boot and far more cabin equipment for RM3,900 extra.
Key differences
- Price and road tax: Honda City Hatchback RM85,900 and RM90/year; Proton X50 RM89,800 and RM120/year.
- Performance: Honda City Hatchback 119 hp, 145 Nm and 0-100 km/h in 10.7 seconds; Proton X50 178 hp, 290 Nm and 7.6 seconds.
- Boot space: Honda City Hatchback 289 litres; Proton X50 330 litres.
- Driver assistance: Honda City Hatchback has autonomous braking and lane-keeping steering correction; Proton X50 has neither, but gets blind spot information.
- Cabin climate: Honda City Hatchback has manual air-con and no rear vents; Proton X50 has single-zone automatic climate control and rear vents.
City Hatchback
- RM3,900 lower purchase price and RM30 lower annual road tax
- Honda Sensing autonomous braking and lane-keeping steering correction
- ULTRA Seat rear bench and full-size spare tyre
- 119 hp and 145 Nm trail the X50's 178 hp and 290 Nm
- No reverse camera, versus the X50's camera and four rear parking sensors
- Manual air-con with no rear vents
X50
- 178 hp, 290 Nm and a 7.6-second 0-100 km/h time
- 330-litre boot, rear air-con vents and 45-litre fuel tank
- 14.6-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus a reverse camera
- Costs RM3,900 more and road tax is RM30 higher per year
- No autonomous braking or lane-keeping assist
- Space-saver spare tyre instead of the Honda's full-size spare
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM85,900✓ | RM89,800 |
| Body type | Hatchback | SUV |
| 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 | 12-valve DOHC, Turbocharged with Direct Fuel Injection and Variable Valve Timing |
| Capacity | 1,498 cc | 1,499 cc |
| Horsepower | 119 hp at 6,600 rpm | 178 hp at 5,500 rpm✓ |
| Torque | 145 Nm at 4,300 rpm | 290 Nm at 2,000 rpm✓ |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline 4 | Inline 4 |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Bore × Stroke | 73 mm × 89.5 mm | — |
| Compression Ratio | 10.6 | — |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | CVT Automatic | Dual-clutch Automatic (Wet) |
| Transmission Name | EarthDreams Technology CVT with G-Design Shift | 7DCT |
| Gears | — | 7 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | Honda | Geely |
| Driveline | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 10.7 seconds | 7.6 seconds✓ |
| Top Speed | 195 km/h | — |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,350 mm | 4,380 mm |
| Width | 1,748 mm | 1,795 mm |
| Height | 1,488 mm | 1,609 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,600 mm | 2,600 mm |
| Weight | 1,149 kg | 1,351 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 40 litres | 45 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 5 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 289 litres | 330 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 185/60R15 | 215/60R17 |
| Rear Tyre | 185/60R15 | 215/60R17 |
| Spare Tyre | Full size | Space Saver |
| Factory Tyres | Continental UltraContact UC6 | GitiComfort F50 |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Malaysia (CKD) | Malaysia (CKD) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Struts | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Torsion Beam | Torsion Beam |
| Front Wheels | 15" Alloy | 17" Alloys |
| Rear Wheels | 15" Alloy | 17" Alloys |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 6 (Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Curtain) | 6 (Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain) |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | — |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for Rear Doors | Manual for Rear Doors |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | 5 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | — | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available on 2 Outer Rear Seats | Available on Two Outer Rear Passenger Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes, Honda Sensing | — |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | No |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | — |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | For All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | Halogen Projector | LED Reflector |
| Taillamps | LED Combination | Full LED |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | — | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Manual Adjustable | Manual Adjustable |
| Rear Seats | Manual Recline, 60:40 Split Folding, ULTRA Seat | 60:40 Split-folding |
| Front Air-con | Manual Air-con | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control System |
| Rear Air-con | — | Rear Vents |
| 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 |
| Audio | Radio with 4 Speakers | 14.6" Touchscreen with Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, 6-speaker Sound System |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Driver Side One Touch Up and Down | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | — | ✓ |
| 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 Front | — | 2 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 2 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | — | Yes |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | — | ✓ |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Electroluminescent Analogue | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Handbrake | Electronic |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 5 years | 5 years |
| Warranty Notes | — | 6 Times Free Labour Servicing |
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 Hatchback & X50 for sale
City Hatchback vs X50 FAQ
Is the Honda City Hatchback or Proton X50 better?
The Proton X50 is better for performance, boot space and cabin equipment, with 178 hp, 290 Nm and 330 litres. The Honda City Hatchback is the better choice for autonomous braking, lane-keeping steering correction and a lower upfront cost.
What is the price difference?
The Proton X50 costs RM3,900 more than the Honda City Hatchback: RM89,800 versus RM85,900. Its annual road tax is also RM120, compared with RM90 for the Honda.
Which has better safety assistance?
The Honda City Hatchback has the stronger active-safety set, with Honda Sensing autonomous braking and lane-keeping steering correction. The Proton X50 counters with blind spot information, but has no autonomous braking or lane-keeping assist.
