Top Tip: Hyundai Elantra 1.6 and Kia Cerato 1.6 over similar priced Japanese rivals

Imagine..for the same price as the Vios, you get a stylish aerodynamic small family sedan like the Elantra

If you are looking to purchase a sedan just under RM90,000 and are looking at some Japanese marques you may be looking at the Toyota Vios, Honda City and the Mazda 2. The Vios G sells at RM87,000+, the City V at RM86,700+ and the Mazda 2 at RM88,000+. These three are B segment sized cars and are all powered by 1.5liter engines. You get a compact sized car with average performance from any of these. If you buy either the Vios or the City this means that you are conforming to the norms of society and would just blend into the crowd. Buying the Mazda is better as there would be less of you around.

Why would you want to buy a smaller car like this Vios, built to a B segment price than a larger C segment car priced similarly?

Short test drive: 2015 Mazda 2 1.5 Hatchback - Definitely not your conventional supermini

Mazda launched the fourth generation Mazda 2 here in Malaysia recently. Two variants, one a hatchback, the other a sedan. Both get the same specs inside and out. The only difference is a boot and the other a hatch. Both cost RM88,000 or thereabouts and are seriously well equipped for the price. What this new Mazda 2 brings to the table are a lot of good things for supermini buyers out there.

If you compare with the older Mazda 2, the new one isn't based on the Ford Fiesta. It isn't all cute and cuddly anymore and is not all spare and very no-frills looking like the previous generation. What you get is basically a miniaturized Mazda 3 (or if you want to go all the way, the Mazda 6) in terms of external looks.