The City was first introduced in 1996 and just like the Vios, was specifically developed for Asian markets. The current City is the fourth generation model and just like its predecessor, the City’s underpinnings are based on the popular Jazz compact hatchback.

The Vios too is also based on a hatchback model – the Yaris in this case. And then there’s the new Mazda2 Sedan. As its name suggests, the Mazda2 Sedan is based on Mazda’s small hatchback model. Like the Vios and the City the Mazda2 Sedan is also built in Thailand for the emerging markets in Asia.

Ideally, we would have wanted to pit the Vios against both the City and Mazda but the Toyota model was recently put through a facelift and will only be available at local showrooms in the coming weeks, hence it’ll be only a two-way battle here between the well established City and the new kid on the block Mazda.

I have to say that I’m a big fan of the Mazda2 hatchback’s styling – it looks sporty, well proportioned and rather purposeful for a Japanese supermini. Its athletic nature does make the relatively tall Honda Jazz look relatively ponderous and a tad slab sided.

The Sedan is similar to the hatchback up to the front doors and both models share the same wheelbase but the Sedan is a significant 349mm longer thanks to the longer rear overhang. Sedans derived from hatchback models typically have a boot extension grafted on to its rear and the Mazda2 is no different. The proportions look fine when viewed from the front three quarter or the side but when seen straight from the rear or the rear three quarter, the Mazda’s backside look dumpy and overtly high, at this point, it starts to remind me of the Toyota Echo saloon. The prominent rising feature line along the flanks culminates on top of the low slung tail lamps on the hatch, but on the saloon, the line continues on to end on the relatively tall boot line, hence the heavy rear. On the upside, Mazda’s designers have done well to incorporate a C-pillar treatment that mimics the 3 saloon’s.

I have never thought that the previous generation City was ever a good looker. To me, it was just Jazz with a slightly restyled nose and an afterthought boot grafted on at the rear – there was no styling finesse at all and the proportions just looked weird.

I wouldn’t say the same about this current City though. It isn’t easy to get the proportions right for any compact saloon as the booted Mazda2 shows, but Honda’s designers have nailed it with their compact saloon.

The City certainly looks dynamic and handsome; especially up front where the FCX Clarity’s inspired nose treatment gives it a sporty stance. In addition, the way the C-pillar meets the boot line gives the City an elegant profile and feel, something Mazda’s designers failed to achieve with the 2 Sedan. Side by side, the City just looks better proportioned and better sorted than the 2 Sedan.

Sitting under the City’s hood is a 1497cc four-cylinder engine that is largely similar to the one in the top spec Jazz. With the help of Honda’s famed i-VTEC technology, the engine makes a really healthy 120bhp with maximum torque rated at 145Nm. In comparison, the Mazda’s MZR 1498cc unit musters 103bhp and 135Nm, numbers that are lower than the City’s. The 2’s engine is a tweaked version of the previous 2 and is also used by the hatchback.

The Honda i-VTEC four-cylinder engine is a real gutsy unit, delivering the compact saloon reasonable go. It feels flexible enough at low engine speeds despite producing its peak torque at a relatively high 4800rpm. The City will take 10.8 seconds to reach 100km/h from rest, with top speed quoted at 185km/h. The motor is quiet enough when pottering along but give it some stick and it’ll start to protest with a loud din – definitely not as smooth and sweet revving as Honda’s iconic VTEC units.

In the real world, the Mazda’s engine also has a nice spread of torque at low to mid engine speeds, making it flexible at moderate town speeds. Refinement is also a key feature at low cruising speeds. Stretch its legs though and the four-pot will get increasingly flustered with a slightly coarse engine note. Outright performance isn’t as good as the City – 0-100km/h takes 12.7 seconds, almost two seconds slower than the City’s pace while top speed is rated at 170km/h, which is also down on the City’s.

The Mazda’s cause isn’t helped by the fact that its automatic gearbox has one less forward gear than the City’s. The four-speed auto shifts quickly enough and is efficient in its operation but the lack of a fifth gear means its ratios are not as closely stacked as the City’s to exploit performance. Moreover, the Mazda gearbox doesn’t offer any paddle shifters like the City does. Kudos to Honda for equipping its entry level model with a five-speed automatic gearbox – it is still a relative rarity in this class.

The Mazda2 hatchback’s piece de resistance has to be the way it handles corners and the slightly more portly Sedan is no different. The steering is pin sharp, quick and a talkative tool, giving the driver real confidence to hustle the car. Body control is excellent as well. Mazda has once again successfully instilled some ‘zoom zoom’ into its product.

Just like the Mazda, the City is suspended by relatively simple strut and torsion beam suspension that deliver a comfortable and pliant ride at all speeds.
The City’s handling is competent as well but it isn’t as sharp or as fun to hustle around in like the Mazda. There is a fair degree of body roll for sure but everything feels stable and well controlled. The steering is nicely weighted but could do with a little more feel and the Mazda’s pin sharp accuracy and quick responses.

Although the City is based on the Jazz, the interior is mostly unique to it. The only visible shared parts with the Jazz are some of the switches and knobs. Up front, the drover’s seat offers height adjustment but the seat is set just too high. Even with the seat adjusted to its lowest setting, a driver of average height will find the driving position far too high – you feel like you’re sitting on the car rather than in it.

Thankfully, you don’t get the same problem with the driving position in the Mazda. The front seats are a tad flat and lack support but it is positioned well enough even for the tallest of drivers.

At the rear of the City, the flat floor design means three passengers can be accommodated rather comfortably. The seat backs can even be adjusted for recline on the LX version here. The Mazda is slightly less accommodating in the rear due to its shorter wheelbase but it is hardly a cramped and claustrophobic environment.

A really thoughtful feature in the City has to be the neat umbrella storage area under the rear seat. With a volume of 506 litres, the City’s boot should be able to swallow almost anything in the Ikea catalogue. Moreover, the rear seat backs can split/fold 60/40 for an even larger load area. The Mazda’s seats too, will fold 60/40 if required but the boot itself is accommodating enough and well shaped even though it is not as voluminous as the City’s – it’s still a great deal bigger than the hatchback’s nevertheless.

In terms of cabin ambience, the City has the edge thanks to better materials, softer surfaces and better quality switchgear. The Thai built Mazda feels as every bit as well built as the Japanese made hatch version but just like the latter, the cabin is let down by a lack of perceived quality thanks to the shiny and hard surfaces and switchgear that feel like they lack substance. The City is also sportier inside thanks to the darker materials and sportier looking seat fabric. The Mazda2 Sedan offers a more conservative and grown up overall ambience than its hatch cousin thanks to the beige seat fabric.

The features laden LX version of the City comes with a factory fitted stereo head unit that is iPod compatible and an interface that is similar to Apple’s finest music player. The single slot CD player can also read MP3 and WMA files. 16-inch alloys are another desirable standard feature

In top spec LX spec as tested here, the City is a significant $7k more than the Mazda. A base model City comes in at $3k cheaper than the LX but is less well equipped. The Honda City really makes for a very good entry-level saloon if not for its high price. The newer car here, the Mazda2 Sedan is not only more affordable but also more fun to drive – it puts on a good fight against the City despite being the new kid on the block and proved to be a great alternative if you can live with its rear end styling. The City though, is too strong for the Mazda in the aspects that really matter for a small, no frills saloon.