Verdict
At RM89,900, the Honda City costs RM44,700 more than the RM45,200 Proton Persona, and that is a very large jump in this B-segment sedan class. The City is 211 mm longer, has a 45 mm longer wheelbase and a 519-litre boot, while its 119 hp 1.5-litre also beats the Persona’s 107 hp. More importantly, the extra money brings six airbags, autonomous braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, adaptive cruise control and LED projector headlamps. The Persona counters with 5 Nm more torque and a space-saver spare, but it is the budget-led choice.
Pick the Honda City if you can justify RM44,700 more for six airbags, Honda SENSING driver assistance, a longer 2,600 mm wheelbase and markedly richer cabin equipment.
Pick the Proton Persona if keeping the purchase price to RM45,200 matters most and you can accept four airbags, no autonomous braking and a simpler cabin.
Key differences
- Price: Honda City RM89,900; Proton Persona RM45,200.
- Power: Honda City 119 hp at 6,600 rpm; Proton Persona 107 hp at 5,750 rpm.
- Torque: Honda City 145 Nm at 4,300 rpm; Proton Persona 150 Nm at 4,000 rpm.
- Length/wheelbase: Honda City 4,577 mm/2,600 mm; Proton Persona 4,366 mm/2,555 mm.
- Safety: Honda City has 6 airbags and autonomous braking; Proton Persona has 4 airbags and no autonomous braking.
- Boot space: Honda City 519 litres; Proton Persona 510 litres.
City
- 119 hp from its 1.5-litre engine
- Six airbags plus autonomous braking, lane-keeping assist and adaptive cruise control
- 519-litre boot, rear air vents, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- RM44,700 dearer
- 145 Nm is 5 Nm down on the Persona
- Tyre repair kit instead of a space-saver spare tyre
Persona
- RM45,200 entry price
- 150 Nm at 4,000 rpm
- Space-saver spare tyre and rear foglamp
- 107 hp trails the City’s 119 hp
- Four airbags versus the City’s six, with no autonomous braking or lane-keeping assist
- No rear air vents, reverse camera, smartphone integration or split-folding rear seat
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM89,900 | RM45,200✓ |
| Body type | Sedan | Sedan |
| Segment | B-Segment | B-Segment |
| Assembly | CKD | CKD |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM90 | RM90 |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC, Naturally Aspirated with Dual Variable Valve Timing and Variable Valve Lift | 16-valve DOHC, Naturally Aspirated with Variable Valve Timing |
| Capacity | 1,498 cc | 1,597 cc |
| Horsepower | 119 hp at 6,600 rpm✓ | 107 hp at 5,750 rpm |
| Torque | 145 Nm at 4,300 rpm | 150 Nm at 4,000 rpm✓ |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline 4 | Inline 4 |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Bore × Stroke | 73 mm × 89.5 mm | 76 mm × 88 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 10.6 | 10 |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | CVT Automatic | CVT Automatic |
| Transmission Name | EarthDreams Technology CVT with G-Design Shift | CVT |
| Transmission Manufacturer | Honda | Punch |
| Driveline | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 10.2 seconds | —✓ |
| Rated Economy | 5.6 L/100 km | —✓ |
| Top Speed | 196 km/h✓ | — |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,577 mm | 4,366 mm |
| Width | 1,748 mm | 1,722 mm |
| Height | 1,467 mm | 1,554 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,600 mm | 2,555 mm |
| Weight | 1,116 kg | 1,175 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 40 litres | 40 litres |
| Doors | 4 | 4 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 519 litres✓ | 510 litres |
| Front Tyre | 185/60R15 | 185/55R15 |
| Rear Tyre | 185/60R15 | 185/55R15 |
| Spare Tyre | Tyre Repair Kit | Space Saver |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Malaysia (CKD) | Malaysia (CKD) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Strut | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Torsion Beam | Torsion Beam |
| Front Wheels | 15" Alloys | 15" Multi-spoke Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 15" Alloys | 15" Multi-spoke Alloy |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Crash Safety Ratings | ||
| ASEAN NCAP | — | 5 stars |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 6 (Dual Front, Side and Curtain Airbags) | 4 (Driver and Passenger, Front Side) |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | — |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for Rear Doors | Manual for Rear Doors |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | 5 Three-point |
| ISOFIX | Available on Two Outer Rear Passenger Seats | Available on 2 Outer Rear Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes, with Nighttime Pedestrian Detection and Cyclist Detection | — |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | No |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | — |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | Front Seats Only |
| Safety Notes | Honda SENSING: ACC, CMBS, LKAS, LDW, RDM, Auto High Beam, Lead Car Departure Notification | — |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projector, Auto | Halogen Reflector |
| Taillamps | LED Combination | Normal Bulb |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | — |
| Rear Foglamps | — | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Fabric | Manual Adjustable |
| Rear Seats | 60:40 Split-folding | Fixed Backrest |
| Front Air-con | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control | Manual Single-zone |
| Rear Air-con | Rear Vents | — |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 Front USB, 2 Rear USB | 1 Front, 4 Front USB, 2 Rear USB |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights | LED Map Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 1 Rear |
| Audio | 8" Display Audio with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 4 Speakers + 4 Tweeters | Radio/MP3 Player with 2 Speakers |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Driver Side Auto Up and Down with Anti-pinch | Four Windows, Driver's Side Auto Down |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Manual Key |
| Locks | Keyless Operation with Walk-away Auto Lock | Remote Control Activation |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | — |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control | — |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | — |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | — |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | — |
| Boot Operation | Remote Control Activation | Manual Operation |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 2 Sensors | 2 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, with Honda LaneWatch | — |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | — |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Digital/Analogue | Backlit Analogue |
| Parking Brake | Handbrake | Handbrake |
| Convenience Notes | Remote Engine Start | LCD Multi-info Display |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited✓ | 150,000 km |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 8 years✓ | 5 years |
| Warranty Notes | Free labour for up to 5 services (100,000 km/5 years) | 3 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 & Persona for sale
City vs Persona FAQ
Is the Honda City or Proton Persona better?
The Honda City is the more complete car on equipment and safety, with six airbags, autonomous braking and adaptive cruise control. The Proton Persona is the rational lower-cost alternative at RM45,200, but it gives up a substantial amount of active safety and convenience kit.
What is the price difference?
The Honda City costs RM89,900 and the Proton Persona RM45,200, so the difference is RM44,700. Both are locally assembled B-segment petrol sedans with RM90 annual road tax.
Which has better safety equipment?
The Honda City has the stronger safety specification: six airbags, autonomous braking with nighttime pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-keeping steering correction and collision warning. The Proton Persona has four airbags, ABS/EBD and stability control, but none of those driver-assistance systems.
