Used Honda City GM6/7 from RM 50k - C-Segment practicality, Bezza prices, how much to maintain?

UPDATE for July 2023: For a limited time period, CARSOME is offering an additional 1+1 year warranty for selected units of Honda City. Find out more here.

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There is a common phrase said amongst car enthusiasts’ circles, “life is too short to drive boring cars”. Of course, anyone would jump at the chance to drive a classic Alfa Romeo or BMW, but 99 percent of the time, a practical and reliable car that gets the job done is all we need.

After all, what use is a cool car if cannot carry your luggage and breaks down half the time?

This brings me to the (GM6) Honda City, albeit ubiquitous and lacking pizazz – it is quite possibly one of the best sedans to ever go on sale in Malaysia. Offering C-Segment rivalling space and practicality, robust powertrains and great refinement, the GM6 City can be had for the price of a new Perodua Bezza today. That said, is the GM6 City a no-brainer purchase, or is there a catch?

The GM6 Honda City range in Malaysia

Launched in 2014, the Honda City GM6 came in four variants (S, S+, E and V). These are mainly equipment differences, as they all shared one sole powertrain: a 120 PS / 145 Nm 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder i-VTEC engine paired with a CVT-type automatic. 

The Honda City GM6 was then given a facelift in 2017, and with it refreshed looks and more equipment. This facelift exercise of the Honda City also spawned a Sport Hybrid i-DCD (GM7) variant.

With the facelift, there were again four variants, S, E, Sport Hybrid and the V, which remained in the top spot.

The Honda City Hybrid was powered by a 1.5-litre petrol engine, driving through a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission with an integrated electric motor and a lithium-ion battery.

Unlike preceding models with the mild-hybrid Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) powertrain, the new City i-DCD model is a full-hybrid, so the A/C works even when the engine is off and it can do standing starts purely on electric power. 

Also read: Used Mazda Biante from RM 60k - More comfortable than Serena, drives better, sliding doors for Alza money

The variant to buy and current market prices

Used units of the GM6 City range between RM 50k for early 2014 and 2015 units and rise to just under RM 75k for the newer 2019 – 2020 units. Thus, choices are aplenty across a rather wide price range. The 1.5 Hybrid variant typically ranges between RM 55k and RM 65k.

Besides deciding on a suitable price range, the other major consideration is choosing between naturally aspirated or hybrid 1.5-litre powertrains. Of course, the complex hybrid componentry - notably the battery and inverter - are relatively expensive to replace, after some years, but offer superb returns in terms of fuel economy and performance for the price.

With cars such as the GM6 City, higher mileage cars need not be a deterrent factor – as parts and repairs are easily accessible. Rather pay attention to the overall quality of the paint, interior and driving feel for signs of wear, and or lack of care.

Alternatively, check out these immaculate examples on Carsome, which are offered with an extended warranty and cash discounts for a limited time only.

Maintenance and common problems?

Let's put it this way, this section is going to be very short. The GM6 City is beautifully engineered and features a proven powertrain that is about as reliable as they come. 

Also read: Used Honda Civic FB for under RM 65k Newer and better than the Civic FD, how much to maintain and repair?

Well-maintained vehicles, which follow the maintenance schedule to a tee are known to drive well even after 250,000 km. 

Here’s a simplified table of the basic maintenance schedule of a GM6 City:

Also read: How to make your GM6 Honda City drive better... and harder

Service costs for the GM6 City are reasonable, the main cost differences between the naturally-aspirated and hybrid variants are the replacements of the air filter and transmission oil.

The Hybrid actually requires less maintenance and intervals are longer, but requires a more expensive air filter every 20k km. 

Drivetrain and suspension components will start to signs of ageing around the 125k km mark so these are a few issues to look out for. 

Oil leaks on the GM6 City have been known to occur at the engine and transmission oil sumps, but these are sometimes the case of lack of maintenance or mechanic error.

That said, it is wise to get your car up on a hoist, remove the engine and transmission underbody cover (which hides these issues) and properly inspect the corresponding area.

As for the City Hybrid, batteries are offered with an 8-year warranty and cost about RM 5,500 to replace. However, all City Hybrids are barely 5 years old and still benefit from their manufacturer warranties. 

Additionally, past experience with IMA models suggests that Honda hybrids are more reliable than Toyota, with fewer complaints about premature wear of the ABS pump, A/C compressor, and steering rack - all weak points of the Toyota Prius.

Also read: Toyota Vios vs Honda City: Which one has better resale value?

Conclusion 

Years on, the GM6 City is a compelling option for a wide range of buyers – first-time car buyers, the travelling businessman and growing families alike – given its versatile range of abilities.

The GM6 City offers a venerable option to buyers who prefer a used Japanese vehicle, over a brand new Proton Saga or Perodua Bezza, for its promise of practicality, quality, performance and value retention. 

To browse for more quality used cars with warranty, visit CARSOME today or download the CARSOME app here.