While Honda has launched the City Hatchback in Malaysia back in early December, it is only today that the company has revealed the pricing for the model’s RS e:HEV variant. It is the fourth and the most costly variant within the family but the RS e:HEV carries a different engine as opposed to the standard 1.5L i-VTEC engine on the City Hatchback S, E, and V variants.
Similar to its sedan counterpart, the City Hatchback RS e:HEV is equipped with a 1.5L Sports Intelligent Multi-Mode Drive (i-MMD) powertrain which is essentially a combination of a 1.5L Atkinson-cycle i-VTEC engine and an electric motor. According to Honda, the hybrid system is able to produce maximum power and torque of 109PS and 253Nm, respectively.
The City Hatchback RS e:HEV would run in the EV Drive mode during low-speed cruising which means that it is likely the main mode for most drivers out there. Under this mode, the electric propulsion motor would be activated to drive the car.
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When you start to accelerate further, the car may activate the Hybrid Drive mode whereby the petrol engine would then supplement the battery to help increase the output of the propulsion motor. At higher speed, the Engine Drive mode would then let the i-VTEC petrol engine take over the mantle completely.
In addition to the hybrid engine system, the City Hatchback RS e:HEV also features the Honda SENSING driver-assistance suite and LaneWatch Camera. It is also the only variant in the family that supports Honda CONNECT telematics services.
Price-wise, the City Hatchback RS e:HEV can be obtained for RM107,783 on-the-road without insurance and is already inclusive of the sales tax exemption although do note that this benefit will end on 30 June. It is covered by a 5-year unlimited mileage warranty and up to 5 times of free labour service within 100,000km or five years while the lithium-ion battery in the car’s hybrid system has its own 8-year unlimited mileage warranty.
