Proton S70 vs Honda City Hatchback
The ranges only overlap at the top of the S70 and the bottom of the City Hatchback (two pairs within RM1,100) which makes this a real cross-shop between a national turbo and a Honda badge in hatchback form.
Published by bandingcar. Updated: 10 August 2026
Different segments, one price band
The S70 is a turbocharged C-segment sedan; the City Hatchback is Honda's B-segment five-door. In practice the Flagship X and Premium S70 variants line up against the City Hatchback S and E at prices within a rounding error, buyers cross-shop them when the national car's monthly payment looks competitive against a Honda hatch.
Below that band the S70 stands alone; above it the City Hatchback walks up through V, RS and e:HEV RS with no Proton counterpart at the same money.
The variants that actually compete
Two pairs meet the mutual-nearest-neighbour test. Everything else on either side is listed as unpaired, with the variant that outbid it named.
The closest match is the S70 Flagship against the City Hatchback S: RM1,100 apart.
| Proton S70 | Honda City Hatchback | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Flagship · RM84,800 | S · RM85,900 | RM1,100 |
| Flagship X · RM89,800 | E · RM90,900 | RM1,100 |
Variants with no counterpart
- S70 Executive at RM68,800. Its nearest rival is the S, RM17,100 away, but the S is nearer still to the Flagship (RM1,100), so that is the pairing shown above. It also sits below the bottom of the other range, so nothing there undercuts it.
- S70 Premium at RM74,800. Its nearest rival is the S, RM11,100 away, but the S is nearer still to the Flagship (RM1,100), so that is the pairing shown above. It also sits below the bottom of the other range, so nothing there undercuts it.
- City Hatchback V at RM95,900. Its nearest rival is the Flagship X, RM6,100 away, but the Flagship X is nearer still to the E (RM1,100), so that is the pairing shown above. It also sits above the top of the other range, so nothing there reaches it on price.
- City Hatchback RS at RM100,900. Its nearest rival is the Flagship X, RM11,100 away, but the Flagship X is nearer still to the E (RM1,100), so that is the pairing shown above. It also sits above the top of the other range, so nothing there reaches it on price.
- City Hatchback e:HEV RS at RM112,900. Its nearest rival is the Flagship X, RM23,100 away, but the Flagship X is nearer still to the E (RM1,100), so that is the pairing shown above. It also sits above the top of the other range, so nothing there reaches it on price.
What the money buys at each step
The asymmetry that matters: Honda Sensing, including automatic emergency braking and adaptive cruise, is standard on every City Hatchback variant. Proton publishes ADAS only from the Flagship upward on the S70, and the Premium variant that pairs with the hatchback S does not name automatic braking at all.
The S70 brings turbo power and a sedan boot; the City Hatchback brings a shorter body and 289 L of hatch space. That reads below as capability rows rather than as a single verdict.
Flagship RM84,800 against S RM85,900
5 capabilities separate them outright.
| Capability | S70 | City Hatchback |
|---|---|---|
| Blind spot monitoring | Yes | No |
| Rear cross traffic alert | Yes | No |
| Door opening warning | Yes | No |
| Rear collision warning | Yes | No |
| 360-degree camera | Yes | No |
| Automatic emergency braking | Yes | Yes |
| Adaptive cruise control | Yes | Yes |
| Lane departure warning | Yes | Yes |
| Auto high beam | Yes | Yes |
| Reverse camera | No | No |
| Front parking sensors | No | No |
Flagship X RM89,800 against E RM90,900
6 capabilities separate them outright.
| Capability | S70 | City Hatchback |
|---|---|---|
| Blind spot monitoring | Yes | No |
| Rear cross traffic alert | Yes | No |
| Door opening warning | Yes | No |
| Rear collision warning | Yes | No |
| 360-degree camera | Yes | No |
| Reverse camera | No | Yes |
| Automatic emergency braking | Yes | Yes |
| Adaptive cruise control | Yes | Yes |
| Lane departure warning | Yes | Yes |
| Auto high beam | Yes | Yes |
| Front parking sensors | No | No |
How to choose
If active safety from the first variant is non-negotiable, the City Hatchback decides this comparison before equipment lists are compared further, and the hatchback S is the variant without a reverse camera, which is worth knowing before assuming every Honda grade is equally equipped.
If the budget stretches to S70 Flagship X, Proton publishes a full ADAS suite and the comparison becomes a genuine equipment fight at near-identical prices against the City Hatchback E.
Frequently asked questions
- Is the Proton S70 cheaper than the City Hatchback?
- The S70 range starts much lower, but not against the same City Hatchback variants. Where the two ranges touch (Premium and Flagship X against hatchback S and E) the prices are within about RM1,100. Any headline answer that compares the cheapest S70 against the cheapest City Hatchback is comparing different segments as much as different brands.
- Which has more boot space?
- The S70 is a sedan with a larger luggage bay than the City Hatchback's 289 L with the rear seat up. If boot volume matters more than the hatchback's shorter length, the Proton's body style is the practical advantage, independent of price.
- Does the City Hatchback S have Honda Sensing?
- Yes. Honda Sensing, including automatic emergency braking and adaptive cruise control, is standard on every City Hatchback variant including the entry S. The S70 Premium variant that pairs with it on price does not name automatic braking on Proton's official specification.