Verdict
The Honda City is the rational Malaysian family choice at RM84,900, undercutting the iCaur V23 by RM47,880 while carrying five people and 519 litres of luggage. Its 1.5-litre petrol engine returns a rated 5.6 L/100 km, and the 40-litre tank suits straightforward long-distance use. The V23 is much quicker, reaching 100 km/h in 7.5 seconds against 10.2 seconds, and its 81.76-kWh battery has a stated 430-km range. But its four-seat cabin and 234-litre boot make it the more specialised SUV.
Pick the Honda City if you need five seats, a 519-litre boot and the RM47,880 lower purchase price.
Pick the iCaur V23 if you want all-wheel drive EV performance, a 430-km stated range and richer cabin equipment.
Key differences
- Price: Honda City RM84,900; iCaur V23 RM132,780.
- Performance: Honda City 0-100 km/h in 10.2 seconds; iCaur V23 in 7.5 seconds.
- Powertrain: Honda City 119 hp/145 Nm 1.5-litre petrol; iCaur V23 dual motors with 208 hp/292 Nm.
- Practicality: Honda City has five seats and a 519-litre boot; iCaur V23 has four seats and a 234-litre boot.
- Dimensions: Honda City is 4,580 mm long with a 2,600-mm wheelbase; iCaur V23 is 4,220 mm long with a 2,735-mm wheelbase.
- Warranty: Honda City gets five years with unlimited mileage; iCaur V23 gets seven years/150,000 km plus an eight-year/160,000-km battery warranty.
City
- RM47,880 cheaper to buy.
- Five seats and a 519-litre boot.
- Rated 5.6 L/100 km fuel economy.
- Slower 10.2-second 0-100 km/h time versus 7.5 seconds.
- Manual front seats without ventilation.
- Halogen projector headlamps versus LED projectors.
V23
- 208 hp and 292 Nm from two motors with all-wheel drive.
- 81.76-kWh battery with 430-km stated range.
- Powered ventilated front seats and a 15.4-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
- RM47,880 higher purchase price.
- Four seats and a 234-litre boot versus five seats and 519 litres.
- 150,000-km manufacturer warranty limit versus unlimited mileage.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM84,900✓ | RM132,780 |
| Body type | Sedan | SUV |
| Segment | B-Segment | B-Segment |
| Assembly | CKD | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM90✓ | RM180 |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC, Naturally Aspirated with Dual Variable Valve Timing and Variable Valve Lift | 400V architecture |
| Capacity | 1,498 cc | — |
| Horsepower | 119 hp | — |
| Torque | 145 Nm | — |
| Fuel | Petrol | Electric |
| Bore | 73 mm | — |
| Compression Ratio | 10.6 | — |
| Number of Motors | — | 2 |
| Motor Horsepower | — | 208 hp |
| Motor Torque | — | 292 Nm |
| Battery Capacity | — | 81.76 kWh |
| EV Range | — | 430 km |
| Charging Rate (AC) | — | 6.6 kW |
| Charging Rate (DC) | — | 104 kW |
| V2L | — | 3.3 kW |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | CVT Automatic | Single Ratio Automatic |
| Transmission Name | EarthDreams Technology CVT with G-Design Shift | — |
| Transmission Manufacturer | Honda | — |
| Driveline | Front Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 10.2 seconds | 7.5 seconds✓ |
| Rated Economy | 5.6 L/100 km | — |
| Top Speed | 196 km/h✓ | 140 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,580 mm | 4,220 mm |
| Width | 1,748 mm | 1,915 mm |
| Height | 1,467 mm | 1,845 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,600 mm | 2,735 mm |
| Weight | 1,125 kg | 1,820 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 40 litres | — |
| Doors | 4 | 5 |
| Seats | 5 | 4 |
| Boot Space | 519 litres✓ | 234 litres |
| Front Tyre | 185/60R15 | 265/45R21 |
| Rear Tyre | 185/60R15 | 265/45R21 |
| Spare Tyre | Space Saver | — |
| Factory Tyres | — | Chao Yang Radial RP76+ |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Malaysia (CKD) | China (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Strut | MacPherson Struts |
| Rear Suspension | Torsion Beam | Multi-link |
| Front Wheels | 15" Alloy | 21" Alloys |
| Rear Wheels | 15" Alloy | 21" Alloys |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack & Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain | Driver & Front Passenger, Front Side, Curtain Airbags |
| 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 | 4 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | — | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available on Two Outer Rear Passenger Seats | Available on rear seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes, with Nighttime Pedestrian Detection and Cyclist Detection | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | All Seats |
| Safety Notes | Lead Car Departure Notification | — |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | Halogen Projector | LED Projectors |
| Taillamps | LED Combination | Full LED |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | — | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | — |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Manual Adjustable | Powered Front Seats with Ventilation |
| Rear Seats | 60:40 Split-folding | 50:50 Split-folding |
| Front Air-con | Manual Air-conditioning | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Rear Vents | — |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 Front USB | 1 Wireless Charger, 2 USB Front |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights | Map Lights & Ambient Lighting |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front |
| Audio | Radio with Bluetooth and 4 Speakers | 15.4" Touchscreen with Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, 6-speaker Sound System |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Driver Side Auto Up and Down with Anti-pinch | Four Windows, Auto Up & Down with Anti-pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Start (Depress Brake Pedal) |
| Locks | Keyless Operation with Walk-away Auto Lock | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | — | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | — |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Remote Control Activation | Remote Control Operation |
| Parking Sensor Front | — | 4 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 2 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, with Multi-angle | 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✓ | 150,000 km |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 5 years | 7 years✓ |
| Warranty Notes | Free Labour for Five Times within 100,000 km or Five Years | 8 Years/160000 km Battery Warranty, Drive Unit & High Voltage Components |
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 & V23 for sale
City vs V23 FAQ
Is the Honda City or iCaur V23 better?
The Honda City is better for carrying five people, luggage and keeping the purchase cost down. The iCaur V23 is better for 7.5-second EV acceleration, all-wheel drive and its 430-km stated range, but it has only four seats and a 234-litre boot.
What is the price difference?
The iCaur V23 costs RM47,880 more than the Honda City. That extra spend brings dual-motor all-wheel drive, an 81.76-kWh battery, 430-km stated range, powered ventilated front seats and a larger touchscreen.
How does the iCaur V23 charge?
The iCaur V23 supports AC charging at up to 6.6 kW and DC charging at up to 104 kW. It also has 3.3-kW vehicle-to-load capability. The Honda City is petrol-powered, with a 40-litre fuel tank and rated consumption of 5.6 L/100 km.
