All the time put your self within the footwear of the automotive’s goal market, and never simply see it from your personal perspective. That was what my former editor advised me after I was studying the ropes of automotive reviewing many moons in the past. This difficult ‘buloh’ of a author was a younger and malleable ‘rebung’ then, and this principal has been embedded since.
The identical thought ought to apply for the automobiles that we buy, particularly a household automotive, because it’s alleged to be a sensible ‘software’ for day by day use, versus an occasional toy. It’s OK to be egocentric with the latter however not the previous.
In the case of the proper software for the household, the Honda Metropolis is a tried and examined selection within the B-segment sedan market, and Honda Malaysia has shipped over 448,000 items of the sedan to this point (not together with the Metropolis Hatchback), together with 93,000 items of the newest fifth-generation mannequin.
The Metropolis’s longstanding reputation with Malaysians stems from its uncanny capacity to supply the proper mix of area, consolation, practicality and security – the qualities that make a superb household automotive. However all of that applies to all compact sedans, no? Because the Honda Metropolis is nearly all the time talked about in the identical breath because the Toyota Vios, let’s examine the newest variations of the Honda and its arch-rival.
The fifth-generation Metropolis was launched right here in October 2020, and the present facelifted model surfaced precisely a yr in the past in August 2023. Right now’s fourth-generation Toyota Vios got here out just a few months earlier, in March final yr. The newest Vios is a comparatively large shift from the earlier template – now primarily based on the Daihatsu New World Structure (DNGA) platform, it has daring styling and a sloping roofline.
The latter could be good for appears to be like, however rear headroom suffers consequently – the Vios isn’t just extra cramped than the Metropolis on the again, however it’s tighter than its predecessors too, and also you don’t need to be basketball tall to note this. Evaluating dimensions, the Metropolis – at 4,589 mm lengthy, 1,748 mm huge and 1,467 mm tall – is 164 mm longer, 8 mm wider and 13 mm decrease on the highest level of the roof.
You received’t discover the latter although, as a result of most top is normally on the centre of the automotive, after which the Vios roofline tapers down. There’s not a lot in distinction in wheelbase lengths – the Vios’ 2,620 mm is definitely 20 mm longer than the Metropolis’s WB, however the Metropolis is legendary for its additional lengthy rear legroom that places automobiles within the section above to disgrace, and the fifth-gen continues the pattern. That is one thing it’s important to expertise to consider – cross your legs whereas at it.
Boot area is a crucial issue in the case of household automobiles, extra so in Malaysia, which has a robust balik kampung tradition. With 519 litres or cargo area (for the petrol variant, 410L for the hybrid), the Metropolis beats the Vios (475L) comfortably, and it does so with a spare tyre within the boot flooring (petrol solely), versus the Vios’ tyre restore equipment. That is the primary Vios to not include a spare wheel, and that’s one thing many Malaysians need for reassurance.
One other large omission for a household automotive is the Vios’ lack of folding rear seats, which permits for lengthy objects to utilise the automotive’s cabin area. The Metropolis has 60:40 folding rear seats to construct on its bigger boot, so the Honda is the higher automotive for strollers and buying.
Security needs to be a principal consideration in the case of shopping for a household automotive. Right here, Honda leads the best way with six airbags and the Honda Sensing driver help security suite as normal throughout the vary, from the entry stage RM84,900 S onwards.
The ADAS pack consists of Ahead Collision Warning (FCW), Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), Adaptive Cruise Management (ACC), Street Departure Mitigation (RDM), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Lane Protecting Help System (LKAS), Automated Excessive Beam (AHB) and Lead Automobile Departure Notification (LCDN). Low Velocity Observe (LSF) is obtainable on the e:HEV RS.
The Vios additionally has six airbags as normal, however the RM89,600 base E variant’s ADAS suite lacks lane protecting management, auto excessive beam and adaptive cruise management – these three are solely out there on the range-topping G.
Talking of trim ranges, the Metropolis vary is a extra complete one with 5 variants, versus the Vios’ two. The Metropolis household begins from a cheaper price level too (RM84,900 for the S versus RM89,600 for the Vios E) and has a hybrid choice for many who need to maximise gasoline effectivity. Honda’s common RS trim stage can also be out there for each petrol and hybrid powertrains, giving patrons a sporty choice.
Now, B-segment household sedans aren’t the sportiest sort of autos round, and neither ought to they be, however drivers on the lookout for a bit extra pep from their day by day would possibly need to go for the Honda. Each Metropolis and Vios are powered by 1.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder engines, however the Honda’s i-VTEC unit trumps Toyota’s Twin VVT-i engine in output right here – 121 PS/145 Nm versus 106 PS/138 Nm.
In apply, the Metropolis’s superior on-paper figures interprets to noticeably quicker off-the-line acceleration, as we found at (of all locations) a Proton occasion late final yr.
Lastly, Honda Join is a car telematics system that means that you can entry a spread of security, safety and comfort options in your smartphone. It’s out there on RS variants of the Metropolis.
The Vios does have its sturdy factors, most notably in its daring design (if it’s your cup of tea within the first place, as design is subjective) and its much-improved cockpit, however it looks like within the areas that matter essentially the most for a household sedan – particularly area, consolation, practicality and security – the Metropolis stays on high. The Honda additionally scores bonus factors for having the higher efficiency, extra variants, a decrease entry worth, and helpful tech corresponding to Honda Join.
Wanting by way of the prism of a household automotive, the Honda Metropolis stands above the remaining as the very best B-segment sedan in Malaysia. For full particulars and specs of all variants, click on right here.
