Honda City 1.5 RS vs Perodua Bezza 1.3 AV: An RM50k price gap that separates two different worlds

The Honda City 1.5 RS is priced at RM99,900, while the Perodua Bezza 1.3 AV retails at RM49,980. That RM49,920 price difference is practically the cost of another Bezza altogether.

You could spend RM100,000 on a City, or RM50,000 on a Bezza—leaving RM50,000 to do plenty of other things. Put down a deposit on a studio apartment, fund a child’s university education, or simply leave it in a fixed deposit to earn interest.

But if what you need is a car, what these two vehicles offer is on entirely different playing fields.

The City measures 4,594 mm in length, whereas the Bezza comes in at just 4,170 mm—a substantial 424 mm difference. Wheelbase is 145 mm longer, and width is up by 128 mm. This is not a gap that extra equipment can bridge; it is a fundamental difference in platform and body architecture.

However, the Bezza boasts a 508-litre boot against the petrol City’s 519 litres—a mere 11-litre deficit. Perodua’s packaging mastery and space utilisation remain genuinely impressive.

Specification Comparison

3-year resale value figures are derived from used car market data; actual value retention depends on vehicle condition, mileage, and prevailing market demand.

Standard Equipment

The City comes standard across the lineup with six airbags, Vehicle Stability Assist, and the comprehensive Honda SENSING active safety suite.

Autonomous Emergency Braking, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keep Assist, Lead Car Departure Notification, Auto High Beam, Blind Spot Monitoring, and Rear Cross Traffic Alert—all of these are standard even on the entry-level City 1.5 E.

The Bezza 1.3 AV spec sheet includes Autonomous Emergency Braking, Forward Collision Warning, Vehicle Stability Control, Traction Control, and Hill-start Assist.

However, passive safety is limited to just two airbags for the driver and front passenger. There is no Adaptive Cruise Control, no Lane Keep Assist, and no Blind Spot Monitoring.

Moreover, the Bezza's 5-star ASEAN NCAP rating was awarded under an older, less stringent assessment protocol, placing it in a different era compared to current testing standards.

Honda SENSING has gone through multiple iterations in the Malaysian market. Its Lane Keep Assist provides smooth, natural steering corrections through bends, while Adaptive Cruise Control manages acceleration and deceleration seamlessly during convoy driving.

The maturity of such a system isn’t something achieved simply by bolting on sensors. While the Bezza's AEB system is commendable for its price bracket, its active safety scope covers only a fraction of what the City delivers.

If your primary use case involves carrying family members—especially young children—the City’s decisive safety edge is not something that raw powertrain outputs or fuel savings can make up for.

Performance

The City’s 1.5-litre naturally aspirated i-VTEC four-cylinder pushes out 121 PS and 145 Nm, mated to a CVT to complete the 0-100 km/h sprint in 10.4 seconds.

The Bezza’s 1.3-litre unit develops 94 hp and 121 Nm via a 4-speed automatic gearbox. That represents a 27 PS and 24 Nm advantage in favour of the Honda.

That 27 PS deficit isn't overly noticeable in daily stop-and-go urban commutes. Weighed in at nearly 200 kg lighter, the Bezza feels remarkably peppy off the line; in choked Kuala Lumpur traffic, its immediate throttle response is arguably quite charming.

But out on the PLUS Highway when executing an 80-to-110 km/h overtaking manoeuvre, the City’s 121 PS power reserves offer far superior punch. Step on the gas and the speed builds effortlessly, whereas the Bezza demands advance planning with plenty of clear road ahead.

The transmission characteristics diverge even further.

The City's CVT delivers seamless, jerk-free progression in crawling traffic. In contrast, while the Bezza’s 4-speed auto is mechanically simple, durable, and cheap to maintain, its older gear ratios mean the engine revs noticeably higher at motorway speeds, resulting in more pronounced cabin noise during high-speed cruising.

Fuel and Road Tax Savings

On the fuel economy front, the Bezza 1.3 AV claims an official 4.5 L/100 km, against 5.6 L/100 km for the City 1.5 RS.

Assuming an annual mileage of 20,000 km with RON95 petrol at RM2.05 per litre, the Bezza will cost roughly RM1,845 annually in fuel, compared to the City’s RM2,296—an annual saving of RM451. Over five years, the Bezza saves approximately RM2,255.

In terms of road tax, the Bezza’s 1.3-litre engine attracts an annual fee of RM70, whereas the City’s 1.5-litre motor commands RM90 per year. Over a decade, that is a negligible RM200 difference.

On the maintenance side, estimated scheduled servicing costs over five years for the City 1.5 RS stand at around RM3,726.59, compared to approximately RM3,500 for the Bezza 1.3L. The City costs only about RM227 more to maintain over this period—a marginal gap.

Combining fuel, road tax, and scheduled maintenance, the Bezza saves you roughly RM2,600 over a five-year ownership cycle. But with the City commanding an upfront premium of RM49,920, even factoring in the Bezza’s running cost advantages, it would take over 90 years to break even on the purchase price disparity.

The Bezza’s running-cost economy is undeniable, but the money saved at the pump and service centre cannot offset such a massive initial price gulf.

Resale Value

The City records a solid 3-year resale value of approximately 72.2%, while the Bezza, buoyed by Perodua’s brand strength, holds an even more robust 82.9%. In percentage terms, the Bezza is clearly the stronger performer.

However, looking at absolute Ringgit figures paints a different picture. An RM99,900 City retains roughly RM72,100 after three years, representing about RM27,800 in depreciation. An RM49,980 Bezza retains roughly RM41,400, losing just RM8,580.

In real terms, the City loses 3.2 times more money to depreciation than the Bezza. From a pure capital preservation standpoint, the Bezza’s cost-of-ownership advantage is undeniable.

That said, the City commands significantly higher transaction volume on the used market, making it easier to offload quickly. A 72.2% 3-year retention rate ensures it doesn't suffer aggressive market depreciation, though its higher retail price translates to larger monetary loss.

The Bezza’s 82.9% retention means high residual percentage paired with low initial outlay, keeping actual Ringgit depreciation minimal. These two cars operate on fundamentally different second-hand market dynamics.

Which One Should You Buy?

If you have a strict budget cap of RM50,000, commute primarily within urban city limits, and prioritise rock-bottom running costs alongside Perodua’s massive national service network, the Bezza 1.3 AV is the clear choice.

At RM49,980, it delivers a massive 508-litre boot, 4.5 L/100 km fuel economy, RM70 annual road tax, and unbeatable after-sales accessibility. The RM49,920 price premium for the City is substantial capital that demands careful financial consideration.

If you have budget flexibility and place high value on active safety tech, rear cabin refinement, and long-term brand prestige, the City 1.5 RS justifies its RM99,900 asking price.

That extra outlay buys you six airbags, the complete Honda SENSING suite, a 360-degree camera, a 10-inch infotainment screen, a longer 2,600 mm wheelbase, and 121 PS of punch. For regular long-distance family road trips, the City delivers safety, stability, and comfort that the Bezza simply cannot match.

Ultimately, the RM49,920 price difference is all about vehicle segment hierarchy. The Bezza gives you the most hassle-free, low-risk motoring experience for the lowest possible financial outlay.

The City channels its higher cost into space, safety, performance, and overall vehicle sophistication—demanding a higher price for an entirely superior class of car.