2016 Mazda 1.5S AT vs Suzuki Ciaz GL AT vs Honda City 1.5 E AT

[sientobente]

We are in the market for a subcompact sedan for less than 800k. My wife and I already created a shortlist. We are not interested in the Vios 1.3AT since my parents already have one. Considerations are:
Fuel Economy
Spacious
Fun to drive
Reliable

What's your vote and why?

[WallyWest]

Someone will inevitably suggest a Vios. Lol.

Tapatalked

[JohnM]

The Mazda 2 checks all your boxes except for the back seat space

[claytonyu]

We are in the market for a subcompact sedan for less than 800k. My wife and I already created a shortlist. We are not interested in the Vios 1.3AT since my parents already have one. Considerations are:
Fuel Economy
Spacious
Fun to drive
Reliable

What's your vote and why?

I would choose a mazda over any suzuki

[niky]

The Mazda2 is the most fun, but the Honda City ticks all the boxes. The only question mark is the CVT transmission. It's supposedly more durable than the old dry clutch CVT, but only time will tell.

[Egan101]

The City matches most of your considerations but it's not that fun to drive.

[niky]

The City matches most of your considerations but it's not that fun to drive.

The electric steering has no feel, but it's relatively sharp and handling is pretty nimble. Not as exciting a steer as the Fiesta or Mazda2, but pretty good, depending on the wheel-tire combo.

With the E variant, the bigger tires and smaller wheels will hurt handling, but you can always change the tires out for something nicer.

[Egan101]

The electric steering has no feel, but it's relatively sharp and handling is pretty nimble. Not as exciting a steer as the Fiesta or Mazda2, but pretty good, depending on the wheel-tire combo.

With the E variant, the bigger tires and smaller wheels will hurt handling, but you can always change the tires out for something nicer.

Very true, Niky! The EPS on the Honda smaller cars lacks feel. We have the previous generation City and Jazz (VTEC, GE chassis), both cars never seem to excite me with its steering response. They are good city cars though, fuel efficient and easy to drive, not to mention spacious for a small car.

Both cars though are not as agile and quick as my Fiesta Ecoboost.

[Walter]

Practical, fun to drive and on a budget criteria is a very hard to find vehicle, you can only have 2 of those criteria at best.

[sientobente]

Dropped by Mazda C5, the 1.5S AT which is their lowest sedan variant for the M2 is really bare. In place of the LCD in the middle, it was replaced by an ugly integrated radio. I was already expecting that leg space will be sparse on the M2, but even the shoulder space feels less than my Swift. Yojin3 is an excellent proposition though even if Mazda does not offer any discounts on this model. Hopefully, their neighbor Suzuki C5 gets the Ciaz on display so I can check it out.

[crosswind]

The City meets all of your requirements except, do not expect SiR like handling and power =). The city is a decent car that gives it's owners good mileage and less maintenance 10k kms per change oil. The city's space is comparable to the compact car segments space in the rear seat. The Mazda 2 is the most fun to drive among your choices and the worst is that it is bare(stripped of its features) as you stated and the rear legroom is tight but the yojin3 will help you save money for 3 years. The Ciaz mean awhile is has a slightly bigger legroom in than the City since I saw the display, If I were you wait for a few more months so you could know the problems of the Ciaz in case you decide to get one. If you could stretch your budget I will suggest the Toyota Corolla Altis 1.6G .
Happy Hunting!

[sir_jayson]

How about the Hyundai Accent CRDi? It's spacious, a bit fun to drive and fuel efficient. Downside is bare inside and high maintenance cost. If you can extend a bit, you can have the new Elantra or the Altis.

[Walter]

I was already expecting that leg space will be sparse on the M2, but even the shoulder space feels less than my Swift.

How's the interior quality of the Mazda 2 compared with the Suzuki Swift? Is the Swift roomier at the back?

[sientobente]

The City meets all of your requirements except, do not expect SiR like handling and power =). The city is a decent car that gives it's owners good mileage and less maintenance 10k kms per change oil. The city's space is comparable to the compact car segments space in the rear seat. The Mazda 2 is the most fun to drive among your choices and the worst is that it is bare(stripped of its features) as you stated and the rear legroom is tight but the yojin3 will help you save money for 3 years. The Ciaz mean awhile is has a slightly bigger legroom in than the City since I saw the display, If I were you wait for a few more months so you could know the problems of the Ciaz in case you decide to get one. If you could stretch your budget I will suggest the Toyota Corolla Altis 1.6G .
Happy Hunting!

Thanks for the reply chief. We actually like the Altis, too bad we already have one
Plus we are just keeping our options below 800k. I actually saw the Ciaz in person just last weekend. The interior is exactly the same as the Swift, but much larger leg space. Looks like everything is pointing towards the direction of the City.

[sientobente]

How's the interior quality of the Mazda 2 compared with the Suzuki Swift? Is the Swift roomier at the back?

To be honest I don't see anything special in the Mazda 2's interior build. Rear leg space is probably just millimeters larger than the Swift that you can't feel the difference. It seems like it retained the interior dimensions of the previous-gen Mazda 2, where I felt claustrophobic riding in at the back for an hour.

[niky]

To be honest I don't see anything special in the Mazda 2's interior build. Rear leg space is probably just millimeters larger than the Swift that you can't feel the difference. It seems like it retained the interior dimensions of the previous-gen Mazda 2, where I felt claustrophobic riding in at the back for an hour.

Panel fit and finish is actually better than the Jazz/City... which are better than the Vios/Yaris...

Granted, it's not luxury, but none of the current breed of compacts has great interior materials. Everything is plastic.

But yes, the rear seat is small. The cabin is actually shorter than the previous generation due to the new Skyactiv engines (the header takes up much more space)... though seat cushion resculpting at least means you don't lose any space.

[sientobente]

Panel fit and finish is actually better than the Jazz/City... which are better than the Vios/Yaris...

Granted, it's not luxury, but none of the current breed of compacts has great interior materials. Everything is plastic.

But yes, the rear seat is small. The cabin is actually shorter than the previous generation due to the new Skyactiv engines (the header takes up much more space)... though seat cushion resculpting at least means you don't lose any space.

Thanks Sir Niky and everyone for their feedback.

I just got my City in Ruby Red. Thank you Mar Roxas for my starbucks and brand new car!

[niky]

Thanks Sir Niky and everyone for their feedback.

I just got my City in Ruby Red. Thank you Mar Roxas for my starbucks and brand new car!

Congrats! Enjoy your new car!

[dreamur]

Thanks Sir Niky and everyone for their feedback.

I just got my City in Ruby Red. Thank you Mar Roxas for my starbucks and brand new car!

Lol! Siguro sa BPO ka nagwork bro?

Sent from my SM-N910C using Tapatalk

[sientobente]

Lol! Siguro sa BPO ka nagwork bro?

Sent from my SM-N910C using Tapatalk

Yup. I would have thanked him for my Uniqlo tight-fitting jeans, but those damn jeans won't fit my crotch.

Anyway, para hindi off-topic, the City was a safe choice for me. One of my top requirements when getting a car is leg space, since in my line of work, client-engagement is a major task and most of the time I chaffeur NBA-sized clients around the metro. The City is very spartan inside. It does not have steering wheel controls unlike the Mazda 2. But space is just vast. I am willing to sacrifice my own personal convenience vs my passengers since the City isn't my primary car anyway.

So far I am pretty pleased with my purchase, the engine is very responsive. I also like the color Ruby Red. It is very nostalgic since my car more than a decade ago was a Ruby Red Civic EK. And in my experience on Honda vs Toyota, my CRV's PMS cost cheaper than my Altis. So my expectation with the City is the same on maintenance.