Honda City 1.5 RS vs Proton S70 Flagship: Weighing non-national brand premium against raw turbocharged value

Priced at RM99,900 for the Honda City 1.5 RS and RM84,800 for the Proton S70 Flagship (after rebates), there is an RM15,100 difference between the two. Park them side by side, and you will immediately realise they feel like cars from two distinct segments.

The City remains one of the most formidable benchmarks among non-national sedans in Malaysia. In RS trim, it gets 16-inch black alloy wheels, smoked tail lamps, and a distinctive full-width light strip, backed by standard Honda SENSING across the range and an impressive 72.2% three-year value retention rate.

The S70 Flagship, on the other hand, is Proton's play of offering C-segment proportions at a B-segment price point. Its 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo punches out 181 PS and 290 Nm, completing the 0-100 km/h sprint in 7.5 seconds, while packing a 12.3-inch wireless infotainment display, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, a 360-degree camera, and a comprehensive Level 2 ADAS suite.

For that RM15,100 premium, the City delivers roughly half the output of the S70, but rewards you with Honda’s solid brand reputation, an established aftersales network, and a more resilient residual value curve in the used car market.

Spec Comparison

S70 Flagship pricing reflects a RM5,000 rebate, applicable to the first 2,000 buyers registered before 31 March 2026.

S70 scheduled maintenance cost is based on Proton’s official 5-year/100,000 km schedule for turbo models. City maintenance cost is based on Honda Malaysia’s official 5-year/100,000 km schedule.

The City 1.5 RS comes standard with Honda SENSING and a 360-degree camera, and its infotainment supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

City warranty coverage has been upgraded to 8 years unlimited mileage from 1 September 2026 onwards.

Performance

Under the bonnet of the S70 Flagship sits a 1.5-litre i-GT four-cylinder turbo engine derived from Geely's BHE15 family, pushing out 181 PS and 290 Nm—numbers that simply punch above this price bracket.

The 7-speed wet dual-clutch transmission shifts briskly and decisively; when accelerating from 80 to 110 km/h to overtake on the Federal Highway, the engine pulls effortlessly with barely any need to drop a gear.

Its 7.5-second century sprint is quicker than many vehicles in the RM150,000 bracket.

The City RS relies on a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated i-VTEC unit delivering 121 PS and 145 Nm via a CVT, taking 10.4 seconds to reach 100 km/h.

This engine is tuned primarily for silky smoothness and fuel efficiency; off-the-line response in urban driving is light and effortless, with the CVT delivering linear acceleration.

However, when it comes to high-speed overtakes, the 121 PS output demands more patience. Floor the throttle, and the engine revs climb ahead of the vehicle speed before momentum builds progressively.

The performance gap between these two is physics.

With an extra 60 PS and 145 Nm in its corner, the S70 holds an advantage that no transmission calibration or kerb weight disparity can bridge. If you relish that instant shove when stepping on the throttle, the S70 delivers substantially more than the City.

That said, the City's CVT has its own distinct edge in bumper-to-bumper city traffic. In stop-and-go crawls, its power delivery is more seamless and predictable, free from the occasional hesitation seen in dual-clutch setups.

If your daily commute involves battling the morning rush on the Federal Highway, the City’s drivetrain temperament is easier to live with.

Cabin Space

The S70 Flagship measures 4,602 mm long, 1,809 mm wide, with a 2,627 mm wheelbase. The City RS comes in at 4,594 mm long, 1,748 mm wide, with a 2,600 mm wheelbase.

While length is apart by just 8 mm and wheelbase by 27 mm, the crucial difference is the 61 mm in width. When ferrying three adults in the rear bench, 61 mm determines whether everyone’s shoulders sit comfortably.

The S70’s rear shoulder room feels decidedly C-segment, sparing the centre passenger from being squeezed against the front backrests.

At the rear, the S70 yields 500 litres of boot volume, while the petrol City offers 519 litres. The City actually has a 19-litre advantage here, though the difference is barely noticeable in everyday usage.

Fuel tank capacity stands at 40 litres for the City and 50 litres for the S70 — the Proton's extra 10 litres translates to fewer petrol station stops on interstate highway journeys.

Both cars comfortably cater to daily family requirements. The S70's trump cards are rear shoulder width and knee room, whereas the City strikes back with absolute boot capacity and tighter urban manoeuvrability.

Safety Features

On the kit list, the City RS features a 10-inch infotainment screen supporting wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with a 360-degree camera, Blind Spot Monitoring, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, and the Honda LaneWatch camera system as standard.

The full Honda SENSING active safety suite covers Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keep Assist, Autonomous Emergency Braking, and Lead Car Departure Notification; the maturity and seamless intervention of this setup remain benchmark standards in our local market.

The S70 Flagship is also well equipped. You get a 12.3-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, a 360-degree camera, a wireless charging pad, six airbags, and a full Level 2 ADAS suite incorporating Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keep Assist, Lane Departure Warning, and Autonomous Emergency Braking.

Its central screen is larger, and the cockpit feels more digitalised.

Both cars are on par in terms of active safety feature coverage, with the key difference being operational refinement.

Honda’s Lane Keep Assist delivers smoother, more natural steering inputs through bends, and its Adaptive Cruise Control accelerates and brakes with greater composure. The S70's ADAS package is packed with features, though the software calibration could benefit from further seasoning.

Maintenance Costs

On the fuel consumption front, the S70 Flagship claims an official combined figure of 5.7 L/100 km, compared to 5.6 L/100 km for the City RS. That 0.1 L/100 km difference is negligible.

Assuming an annual mileage of 20,000 km with RON95 at RM2.05 per litre, the City will cost around RM2,296 annually versus RM2,337 for the S70—a marginal RM41 variance, which comes to under RM250 across five years.

When it comes to servicing, the 5-year scheduled maintenance for the S70 Turbo totals approximately RM4,525.92, compared to roughly RM4,295.62 for the petrol City. The City saves you around RM230, which is virtually on par.

Moreover, the S70's 1.5-litre i-GT engine utilises a timing chain rather than a timing belt, eliminating periodic belt replacement costs over long-term ownership.

Warranty coverage is where the City takes the upper hand. The S70 comes with a 5-year unlimited mileage warranty plus six free labour service sessions.

The City previously matched this with 5 years of coverage, but Honda Malaysia has upgraded new registrations from 1 September 2026 to an 8-year unlimited mileage warranty, whilst retaining five free labour services.

That 8-year peace of mind is an assurance the S70 currently cannot match.

In terms of depreciation, the City boasts a 3-year resale value of roughly 72.2%, closely followed by the S70 at around 71.6%—a hairline gap of just 0.6 percentage points.

However, the City commands a vastly larger secondary market volume, making it significantly easier to find a buyer when it's time to sell.

A 2022 City V commands roughly RM61,800 on the used market, whereas used S70 units from the same era remain too scarce to establish a definitive price baseline.

How to Choose

If your budget is strictly capped below RM85,000, you prioritise outright engine performance and rear cabin space, and your daily driving involves town commuting alongside occasional outstation trips, the S70 Flagship at RM84,800 (post-rebate) offers unmatched value: 181 PS, 290 Nm, a 7.5-second sprint, a 12.3-inch screen, and full Level 2 ADAS.

Sticking to the same budget within the City line-up only gets you into the entry 1.5 E variant, which is down by 60 PS, carries a 2-inch smaller screen, and sits a notch lower in overall equipment.

If you have the financial headroom and place a premium on aftersales network reliability, proven Honda SENSING active safety, and rock-solid residual values, the City RS at RM99,900 is a very good purchase.

If your daily route is dominated by congested city crawls, its CVT smoothness combined with the reassurance of an 8-year factory warranty will easily justify the extra RM15,100 spent.

At its core, this RM15,100 price gap boils down to personal priorities. The S70 throws its weight behind performance, physical footprint, and tech, delivering a near-C-segment driving experience at a B-segment price tag.

The City channels its value into brand equity, system refinement, and long-term ownership security, commanding a higher price in exchange for lower risk and stronger resale values.