Review: Honda City Hatchback RS e:HEV – Worth the price and wait?

No doubt, the third-gen Jazz hatchback is a hard act to follow up from. Just see how many of them have flooded our roads since it was introduced in 2014, and how it outsold countless rivals that came and went in the same time too.

Though a fourth-gen successor was revealed globally at the end of 2019, Honda elected not to offer it in certain key ASEAN markets – ours included. Instead, Honda took said new fourth-gen car’s bones and repackaged it altogether to birth the City and City Hatchback duo.

The result of which was surprisingly stellar to say the least and, in the case of the City Hatchback model’s flagship RS e:HEV hybrid variant featured, the added electrification it boasts arguably made it yet another tough one for rivals to beat.

We’ve spent a weekend sampling one recently to find out firsthand just how good the segment’s lone electrified offering really is. More importantly, we also set out to see if it really is worth meeting its premium asking price and perhaps the long waiting period too…

OVERVIEW

On the surface, the City Hatchback’s design is friendly to say the least, especially when compared with the Jazz it replaced. Sure, it loses out on its predecessor’s slightly aggressive and sharper looks, but there’s quite an appeal in this more rounded redux.

 In RS e:HEV form, the stance is boosted further with things like black-finished honeycomb grille, two-tone 16-inch alloy wheels, full-LED lighting, and the somewhat ‘sporty’ RS badging and exterior trims. Unlike the lesser variants slotted below, this flagship really stands out.

 Don’t be fooled by its proportions, this is still a relatively compact urban runabout. Compared to the car it replaces, it sits slightly longer (4,349mm with a 2,600mm wheelbase) and wider (2,600mm), and this really pays off in terms of cabin comfort and practicality.

Apart from that, there’s little to loathe with the way the City Hatchback looks, especially in this sporty and electrified RS e:HEV form. And the story is similar once you climb aboard…

ON THE INSIDE

Inside, things look and feel pleasantly familiar. Efficient space utilisation is the key foundation to any well-designed cabin, and it’s a trait Hondas are renowned for. What you get is lots of comfortable space all around, and plenty of useful storage spaces and cupholders too.

 In this range-topper’s case, the presentation of it all is pretty good too thanks to bits like the black-finished headliner, the adoption of an electronic-parking brake module, 7-inch digital TFT dash display, the combination of suede and leather upholstery, as well as the automatic single-zone climate control with rear vents present.

 Other key features worth mentioning as well include keyless entry and ignition plus remote ignition function, not forgetting the 8-inch touchscreen infotainment unit boasting both Apple and Android connectivity, reverse camera display, crisp-sounding 8-speaker hi-fi setup, as well as the presence of no less than four USB charge ports.

 For the price it commands, perhaps the addition of a few more features like a wireless smartphone charging pad would’ve sweeten things. That aside, it’s safe to say this electrified flagship B-segment hatchback fighter from Honda is a treat to be in for both driver and passengers – a fact further boosted by the cabin’s decent NVH-suppression levels too.

 Lastly comes Honda’s versatility party trick fuelled by the ‘ultra seats’ at the rear. The ability to fold the bench upwards, or the backrests all the way down to perhaps double – or triple – the standard 289-litre boot space makes for a hatchback that can lug plenty of things. In other words, annual trips to Ikea should be a cinch.

DRIVING

Looks and kit aside, what sets this RS e:HEV variant apart is the way it drives. This largely stems from the i-MMD hybrid petrol-electric powertrain, which consists of a 1.5-litre petrol 4-cyl mill, an electric motor and 1.3 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, single-speed CVT transmission, and front-wheel-drive setup.

Unlike past Honda hybrids, this one sees the petrol mill, rated at 98 PS and 127 NM, serving as a generator to charge up the battery most of the time. It only clutches in to provide drive directly at higher speeds and aggressive throttle inputs. Instead, most of this hatch’s drive is supplied by the latter electric system, which outputs 109 PS and a meatier 252 NM of twist.

The result isn’t a fast car, but one that’s respectably zippy – 0-100 KMH in 9.7 secs – thanks to the instant torque provided by the electric system. In fact, this is what grants this hatchback all the low-end grunt needed for typical city driving, whilst the switch-over to petrol power for the higher-speed duties felt seamless too.

What needs getting used to is the single-ratio CVT transmission which, typically, isn’t the most dynamic nor refined thing around. Nevertheless, get to grips with the powerband and the drive can be both smooth and highly efficient, the latter bolstered by its claimed 3.6 litres/100 KM average too.

In terms of drive dynamics and handling, this isn’t the sharpest tool in the shed to say the least. Instead, the City Hatchback’s prowess lies in ride comfort thanks to the soft spring and damper setting dialled in at all four corners, not forgetting the lightweight feel of the electric steering system too.

Couple that with the equally respectable NVH suppression mentioned earlier, it’s plain to see that this is one city car that’s easy to live with on the daily. Also, given the next set of facts, this is also one of the safest offerings in its space too.

SAFETY

This is one front where this electrified RS e;HEV variant of the City Hatchback truly shines. Brimmed with the full ‘Honda Sensing’ ADAS suite, there are things such as adaptive cruise control, LaneWatch camera, forward collision warning, autonomous emergency braking, as well as lane-departure warning and lane-keep assist present.

Those, by the way, come on top of key basics such as ABS with EBD and BA, hill-start assist, stability control, six airbags, as well as ISOFIX childseat anchors. Effectively, what Honda have done here is build upon a relatively safe car and made it even safer thanks to the amount of advanced driver assistances primed.

 As far as safety in this segment goes, the City Hatchback RS e:HEV is indeed second to none.

RUNNING COSTS & RELIABILITY

Being the sole hybrid in segment does have its perks on this front, and it stems mostly from the electrified system’s ability to deliver the aforementioned high efficiency especially in ‘ECON’ drive mode. A full fill-up of its 40-litre tank should grant at least 350 KM of travel and cost you no more than RM80.

Of course, with any hybrid or electrified offering, the biggest ownership scare stems from the battery’s lifespan. Honda has addressed this concern adequately to say the least through the inclusion of a separate 8-year, unlimited mileage warranty coverage for the battery. This, by the way, comes on top of Honda’s usual 5-year, unlimited-mileage warranty plus five times free labour for services.

Effectively, the presence of separate powertrain warranties, plus the free services, ought to ease any worries regarding long-term ownership. Above all else though, the inclusion of all that is somewhat warranted given this Honda’s princely asking price.

SHOULD YOU BUY ONE?

At RM109,800 sans insurance, the Honda City Hatchback RS e:HEV is no bargain indeed. In fact, by breaking the RM100,000 mark, this sole electrified offering also stands as the priciest of the lot too – next to its booted twin the City RS of course, which commands RM108,800.

Sure, the City Hatchback 1.5V Sensing variant slotted below seems like a better deal considering it boasts equal levels of safety as the RS. However, you’ll lose out on the magic of electrification, not to mention the sportier looks and high-tech features that the latter adds.

Yes, while it may be one of the finest offerings this segment has ever seen, perhaps it’s been unfairly priced out of reach for some. Nevertheless, if you are fortunate enough to afford one, perhaps this really is a car worth the asking price and waiting time.

SPECIFICATIONS

Honda City Hatchback 1.5 RS e:HEV