Ratings: 2021 Honda City RS e:HEV - Meet the new boss of B-segment sedans

The Honda City RS e:HEV is the range-topping variant that sits above the Honda City 1.5L E, S, and V.  As always, we'll put it through our very own WapCar Rating system to break things down for you.

Let's see where it stands in the B-segment saloon category, against the Nissan Almera, Toyota Vios, and Proton Persona.

2021 Honda City RS e:HEV: Driving Performance - 34/50 pts, quick but doesn't feel like it

Among all the B-segment sedans that we have tested, the 2021 Honda City RS e:HEV is the quickest, being powered by an electrified drivetrain.

We recorded a 0-100 km/h time of  10.2 seconds for the Honda City RS. (Toyota Vios - 12.7s, Proton Persona - 11.7s, Nissan Almera - 12.4s).

Braking distance of the Honda City is also decent in its segment with a recorded 42.9 metres. An obvious thing you will feel in the Honda City RS is the electric propulsion. It feels more akin to an electric car than most other hybrids.

Handling of the Honda City RS is decent. The added weight makes the car feel a little more surefooted.

2021 Honda City RS e:HEV: Ride Comfort - 35/50 pts, supple ride quality 

The seats in the Honda City RS are plush and the seat back supports your lower back nicely. Pair that with the supple suspension, and the cabin of this B-segment sedan is fairly comfortable.

Cabin noise in the Honda City is kept low. When the combustion engine kicks in, it is quite audible and can sound rough at times. But the cabin is well-insulated from rolling noise. There are no jarring turbulent wind noises too, so we'll give some points to that.

In the back, the seat base offers decent thigh support, and the recline angle allows for a good seating position.

2021 Honda City RS e:HEV: Quality and Features - 36/50 pts, Honda Sensing puts it ahead

Exterior build quality of the Honda City RS is excellent. The panel gaps only show a maximum of 0.5 mm difference between the left and right side.

Paint thickness is consistent and the averages are comparable to its rivals.

As B-segment car, the Honda City RS doesn't go beyond necessary in terms of exterior materials. There are no gas hood struts, elaborate styling pieces, or double-glazed windows.

The amount of hard plastics in the cabin is as expected of a B-segment saloon. The critical touch points have a slight luxurious feel, such as the leather pieces on the dashboard and centre console.

Android Auto/Apple Carplay connection is quick and stable with a dedicated USB port.

The bulk of the controls feel tactile and intuitive, allowing you to keep your eyes on the road as opposed to touch-sensitive controls only in some cars.

A full suite of ADAS is available on the Honda City RS e:HEV, including adaptive cruise control and lane keep assist. There's also Honda's proprietary LaneWatch camera. These have earned the City RS significant points over its lower rung variants as well as rivals.

2021 Honda City RS e:HEV: Space and Practicality - 32/50 pts, slightly compromised boot space

As with other Honda cars, passenger room is excellent in the Honda City. Honda's brilliant interior packaging has maximised space on the inside without destroying the proportions on the outside.

Boot space of the Honda City is rated 410 litres (non-hybrid City has 506 litres). Adding to the convenience of the Honda City are the seat release levers in the trunk for loading long items.

Although the Honda City is capable of seating 5 people, fitting 3 adults abreast in the rear is a squeeze due to the narrow body.

2021 Honda City RS e:HEV: Fuel Consumption – 16/20 pts, efficient without trying

After a journey of 125 km broken down to about 40% highway and 60% city driving, it required 6.51 litres of fuel to brim the tank. This translates to a calculated fuel consumption of 5.2-litre/100 km.

As a caveat, it must be said that given the driving conditions and weather were not particularly kind to the City RS.

As a saving grace, a fellow colleague, which separately drove a City RS claimed a fuel economy of 4.2-litre/100km over a total distance of over 1,000 km, which is closer to Honda's claimed figure of 3.6-litre/100km.

Also read: Saying the Civic 1.8S is a better RM 100k car than the Honda City RS e:HEV is flawed logic, here's why

2021 Honda City RS e:HEV: Purchase and Cost – 23/30, priciest B-segment but you do get a lot in return 

The Honda City RS e:HEV is priced at RM 105,950*, which puts it above all other B-segment sedans on sale, including the Mazda 2 that currently retails for RM 100,770*.

*OTR without SST

The given warranty for the Honda City is of 5-year/unlimited mileage while the hybrid battery has a separate 8-year/unlimited mileage warranty. Total maintenance cost over 5 years for the Honda City is only RM 56 more than the 1.5L V.

Also read: Honda City RS costs RM 19k more than City 1.5V, but only RM 56 more to maintain over 5 years

2021 Honda City RS e:HEV: Conclusion - 173/250 pts overall

Overall, the Honda City RS e:HEV proved to be a strong all-rounder with good comfort, a spacious and practical interior, and it's very fuel efficient.

Most impressively, it features the Honda Sensing suite of ADAS which makes it the most complete in its segment in terms of advanced safety features.

Negative points of the Honda City RS e:HEV are the slightly compromised boot and relatively high asking price, depending on your perspective.

Still, it packs the most advanced hybrid powertrain on sale in Malaysia and not to forget that it's the safest car in its segment thanks to Honda Sensing. It offers these at an accessible price for the common man.

Also read: Review: 2021 Honda City RS e:HEV – Hybrid perfomance for the common man