2021 Honda City Hatchback vs Toyota Yaris – Which one should you buy?
- News
- Buying Guide
- December 7, 2021
- Arif Chan

Just launched today in Malaysia is the Honda City Hatchback, the Honda Jazz’s replacement, and direct competitor to the Toyota Yaris in the B-segment hatchback category.
Let’s see how these two hatchbacks stack up against one another.
Variants & Pricing – Honda City Hatchback offers more choices

Launched in five variants, pricing for the Honda City hatchback is as such, mirroring its sedan counterpart with the RS variant topping the range.
Honda City Hatchback | Toyota Yaris |
---|---|
City Hatchback S RM 75,670 |
Yaris J RM 70,940 |
City Hatchback E RM 83,080 |
Yaris E RM 80,380 |
City Hatchback V RM 87,860 |
Yaris G RM 84,808 |
City Hatchback RS e:HEV RM TBA | - |
The Toyota Yaris, on the other hand, is offered in three variants, with no hybrid option in sight.
At their cheapest, price of the Honda City Hatchback S is RM 7X,XXX, while the Toyota Yaris 1.5 J starts at RM 70,940.
Performance Overview – Honda City Hatchback more powerful than Toyota Yaris (even in the non-RS versions)
Honda City Hatchback | Toyota Yaris | |
---|---|---|
Engine | 4-Cylinder,16-Valve, DOHC i‑VTEC | 4-cylinder, 16-valve, DOHC, Dual VVT-i |
Engine Code | L15ZF | 2NR-FE |
Displacement | 1,498 cc | 1,496 cc |
Max. Power | 121 PS @6,600 rpm | 107 PS @6,000 rpm |
Max. Torque | 145 Nm @4,300 rpm | 140 Nm @4,200 rpm |
Bore x Stroke | 73 mm x 89.5 mm | 72.5 mm x 90.6 mm |
Compression Ratio | 10.6:1 | 11.5:1 |
Transmission | CVT | CVT |

The difference in maximum power output is rather significant with the Honda City Hatchback having a 14 PS advantage over the Toyota Yaris.
Torque figures are higher in the Honda City too, despite having a lower compression ratio than the Toyota Yaris.

Of course, the Honda City Hatchback RS e: HEV tops the performance chart with its hybrid system producing 109 PS / 253 Nm from the electric motor, 98 PS / 127 Nm from the combustion engine.
Dimensions – Honda City Hatchback is bigger overall
Honda City Hatchback | Toyota Yaris | |
---|---|---|
Length | 4,349 mm | 4,140 mm |
Width | 1,748 mm | 1,730 mm |
Height | 1,488 mm | 1,475 mm |
Wheelbase | 2,600 mm | 2,550 mm |
Min. Turning Radius | 5.0 m | 5.1 m |
Kerb Weight | ??? | 1,140 kg |
Fuel tank capacity | ??? | 42 L |

Placed side-by-side, the Honda City Hatchback is the bigger car in all dimensions, but it does offer a smaller turning radius of 5.0 m, just a tad shorter than the Toyota Yaris’s 5.1-m turning radius.
Exterior Features
On the outside, both cars are almost equally equipped, getting LED lights and 16-inch wheels in the higher variants.


A difference in the headlights department is that the Honda City Hatchback gets the “Auto” light function while the Toyota Yaris doesn’t.
Honda City Hatchback | Toyota Yaris | |
---|---|---|
Headlights | LED (V, V Sensing, RS:e:HEV) | LED (E,G) |
Daytime Running Lights | LED | LED |
Taillights | LED | LED |
Rims | 16-inch alloy wheels (V, V Sensing, RS) | 16-inch alloy wheels (E,G) |
Interior Features
On the inside the Honda City hatchback feels more ‘modern’ with bigger screens and a fully-digital meter cluster. No variants of the Toyota Yaris get leather seat upholstery and honestly, leaves much to be desired.

Honda City Hatchback | Toyota Yaris | |
---|---|---|
Infotainment unit |
8-inch touchscreen (E,V, RS e:HEV) |
7-inch touchscreen (E,G) |
Instrument cluster |
7-inch digital display (V Sensing, RS e:HEV) |
Optitron & 4.2-inch digital display (E,G) |
Rear Seat Folding | ULTRA seats | 60:40 Split |
Upholstery | Leather / Combination Leather / Fabric (variant dependent) | Fabric (all variants) |
USB Charging Ports | 2 | 2 |
Android Auto & Apple Carplay | Yes | Yes |
Safety Features

For safety features, we shall be comparing the range-topping Honda City RS e:HEV and the Toyota Yaris 1.5 G. While the previous Jazz was severely lacking in this department, the Honda City Hatchback is now picking up the Jazz’s slack.

Honda Sensing, which entails FCW, CMBS, LDW, LKAS, RDM, ACC, AHB is only equipped on the RS and V Sensing variants.
Honda City Hatchback RS e:HEV | Toyota Yaris 1.5 G | |
---|---|---|
AEB (Autonomous Emergency Braking | ✔ | ✔ |
LDW (Lane Departure Warning) | ✔ | ✔ |
BSM (Blind Spot Monitor) | Honda Lane Watch | ✔ |
HSA (Hill Start Assist) | ✔ | ✔ |
ACC (Adaptive Cruise Control) | ✔ | ✖ |
DVR (Digital Video Recorder) | ✖ | ✔ |
One good thing about the Toyota Yaris is that it offers a DVR in the E and G variants.
Warranty & Service –
Both the Honda City Hatchback and Toyota Yaris come with a 5-year/unlimited mileage warranty, so its good whichever hatchback you decide to go for.
Honda City Hatchback | Toyota Yaris | |
---|---|---|
Warranty | 5 years, Unlimited Mileage | 5 years, Unlimited Mileage |
Conclusion
While the Jazz may have been old and lacking in comparison to the Toyota Yaris, the Honda City Hatchback offers a decent package of performance and features to tregain the lead in the B-segment hatchback category.
If anything, it is now the Yaris that needs to step up its game.
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