The subcompact sedan category has long been dominated by two nameplates: the Honda City and Toyota Vios. Both are excellent cars and are proudly made in the Philippines. Although the Toyota Vios is winning in terms of sales, the Honda City is just right below it. Both cars have a lot to offer placing them next to each other at the top. To find out which car is better, we’ll be comparing the latest top-end variants of the two: the 2021 Honda City RS VS the 2021 Toyota Vios GR-S. The prices of both cars are so close to each other and both represent the best their brand has to offer in the subcompact sedan segment.

On the outside, they carry different designs but are both sporty and appealing. The City is sleek and sharp while the Vios is bold and aggressive. The top-of-the-line variants of the Honda City and Toyota Vios are equipped with LED headlights, taillights, and daytime running lights. They also have 16-inch alloy wheels, sport kits, and a rear spoiler. The Honda City is a bit wider and longer but the difference is hardly noticeable at all.

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Inside, both cars can comfortably seat up to five occupants. The interior of both cars is well-equipped. Both have leather and suede seats, leather interior trims, a smart-entry system, a push-start button, an automatic air conditioning system, a rear camera, and a touchscreen infotainment system compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Although the Honda City comes with a sports pedal and a rear A/C vent, the Toyota Vios has an Optitron meter gauge and a multi-information display.

Performance-wise, both cars have a 1.5L engine and a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). The Toyota Vios has the latest 2NR-FE which is a 4-Cylinder Dual VVT-i DOHC engine capable of producing up to 106 hp and 140 Nm of torque. On the other hand, the Honda City has the latest L15ZB1 which is a 4-Cylinder i-VTEC DOHC engine capable of 119 Hp and 145 Nm torque. Both cars have similar MacPherson strut-type suspensions at the front but the Honda City is equipped with a multi-link suspension at the rear while the Vios is equipped with a torsion beam. For stopping power, the Toyota Vios is equipped with disc brakes all around while the Honda City has disc brakes at the front and drum brakes at the rear.

As for safety, both cars have an anti-lock braking system (ABS) with electronic brake-force distribution (EBD), hill-start assist, traction control system (TCS), and speed-sensing door locks. They also have an engine immobilizer and car alarm. The Vios, however, comes equipped with a knee airbag, unlike the Honda City.

At the end of the day, both are outstanding cars in the subcompact sedan segment. In fact, both cars are a tie in many categories. However, the 2021 Toyota Vios GR-S is a few steps ahead of the 2021 Honda City RS. The Vios has an extra airbag and a better braking system that are just hard to overlook because everything that translates to safety on the road is a noteworthy feature. Also, the Vios is slightly more attainable at P1,020,000, while the Honda City has a price tag of P1,058,000. Therefore, we are choosing the 2021 Toyota Vios GR-S VS the 2021 Honda City as the winner in this comparison.