2020 Honda City RS vs 2020 Nissan Almera VLT – Battle of the High Spec Newcomers

With the arrival of the all-new 2020 Honda City, the B-segment is all set to witness a tough battle between the City and also the all-new 2020 Nissan Almera which was unveiled just last month, but which one has the better list of offerings?

Since both models are leaps and bounds ahead of what they were, choosing between the two is surely going to be a tough call for potential buyers who don’t have a specific model in mind, as both the all-new City and the all-new Almera are handsome, fuel-efficient, and come packed with features.

So, in an effort to help you decide better, we have put both the range-topping variants of the 2020 Honda City and the 2020 Nissan Almera in comparison. 

In terms of dimensions, this is how both of them stand side-by-side:

Both models are almost identical, but there is slight difference especially with the length of the wheelbase, which is longer with the Almera by 20 mm. Regardless, both are super spacious cars, especially in the rear.

As for the powertrain and performance, the City RS, which is slated to arrive only in January 2021, clearly has the upper-hand over the Almera VLT, thanks to the i-MMD mild hybrid system.

That being said, below is how both models stand next to each other:

Now, most importantly, the list of standard features offered in both models is as mentioned below:

Honda City RS 1.5 e-HEV

• Keyless entry with push start
• Rear air-cond vents
• Steering audio buttons and Bluetooth (with a call button).
• Remote engine start
• Paddle shifters (deceleration selector paddle for the RS)
• Cruise control
• 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Leather steering and gear lever
• 8 speakers
• 7.0-inch digital meter panel with hybrid-specific displays
• Ultrasuede seats with red stitching
• Aluminium pedals
• Black headliner
• LED headlights, taillights, DRLs
• 16-inch wheels
• Multi-angle reverse camera
• 4 airbags
• 60:40 split-folding rear seats
• Honda Sensing (Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS is autonomous emergency braking or AEB), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS), Road Departure Mitigation (RDM), Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and Auto High-Beam (AHB).

Nissan Almera 1.0 Turbo VLT

• Zero Gravity seats
• Keyless entry and push-start ignition
• Power folding side mirrors
• Tilt/telescopic steering wheel
• Faux carbon-fibre gear knob
• Steering-mounted audio control buttons
• 3 USB ports
• 60:40 split foldable rear seats
• In-glass radio antenna
• Gloss black trunk lid spoiler
• 16-inch wheels
• Leather seats
• Auto air-conditioning
• Six-speaker Nissan Connect Infotainment system
• Eight-inch touchscreen display
• Apple CarPlay
• Rear-view camera
• Seven-inch digital speedometer display
• Intelligent Around View Monitor, Intelligent Forward Collision Warning, Intelligent Forward Emergency Braking
• 6 airbags
• Rear Cross Traffic Alert
• Blind Spot Warning

So there you have it - the all-new 2020 Honda City RS e-HEV and the all-new 2020 Nissan Almera VLT side-by-side. As exciting as they sound, the pricing for both models are yet to be disclosed by the respective manufacturers. We can expect both models to be priced between RM90,000 and RM100,000.

In all, choosing between the two models above depends on what you're looking for in a car. If it is downright power and speed, the City is the car for you, but if you don't mind having lesser torque, but with a much cheaper road tax, the Almera will tickle you in the right places.

We must also not leave the good old Toyota Vios out of the equation. One might argue that the car is outdated compared to the Almera and the City, but the Vios has one clear advantage above the other two - it has already proven itself to be a super-reliable and durable model that has somewhat stood the test of time.

So, if you don't fancy all the new high-tech stuff, and all you want is a car that is reliable, durable, economical, and practical, the Vios is waiting for you. That being said, which one would you go for?

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