Head to Head

Automakers have taken to giving their vehicles sporty makeovers, usually using in-house or outsourced motorsports or performance car specialists, as special edition or flagship models

Toyota has been rolling out GR-S edition of some of its model. Honda has its RS or or Rally Sport variants.

In the subcompact sedan segment, Toyota has the Vios GR-S which goes head to head in the segment with the Honda City 1.5 RS CVT.

Dimensions

The Honda City 1.5 RS CVT is 4553 millimeters long, 1748mm wide and 1467mm tall, with a 2600mm-long wheelbase and 134 millimeters minimum ground clearance.

With the Gazoo Racing design aerokit, the 2022 Toyota Vios GR-S is 4467mm long, 1730mm wide and 1475 tall.

Exterior Features

Honda equipped the Honda City 1.5 RS with Rally Sport designed front and rear bumpers, high gloss black grille with RS emblem, trunk spoiler, shark fin antenna, and 16-inch RS Design aluminum alloy wheels.

The City 1.5 RS also comes with full LED headlights with auto off timer, LED fog light with sporty garnish, LED High Mount Stop Lamp, body color door handles, intermittent front wipers with washer, and side mirrors with integrated turn signals that fold and adjust electronically.

Distinguishing the Vios GR-S from its brethren are the front bumper, side and rear bumper skirt, rear spoiler, piano black mesh type grille, piano black outer mirrors with the integrated side turn lamps and outside grip type door handles.

It also comes with 3-tier LED headlamps, rear LED combination lamps with Line Guide, LED front fog lamps, Fin-type antenna, and 16-inch Alloy wheels with the 195/50 R16 tires.

Interior Comfort & Convenience

The Honda City 1.5 RS comes equipped with the One-Push Smart Entry & Remote Engine Start System.

The cabin features black and red trim and seats upholstered in leather and suede. The front seats slide and recline, with height seat adjuster for the driver.

Also wrapped in leather are the shift knob and the three-spoke steering wheel which tilts, telescopes, and features switches and buttons for cruise control, audio and hands-free telephone system with voice recognition, and paddle shifters.

It also comes with center armrests in front and rear, power windows, two cupholders, four bottle holders, two 12-volt accessory sockets, automatic airconditioning system with rotary knobs, digital display and rear ventilation.

The Toyota Vios GR-S also comes with wireless door locks with smart entry system as well a push button start.

The interior features suede and synthetic leather with stitching for the seats and real leather, again with stitching, for the steering wheel and the shift lever and knob.

Highlighting the dash is the Optitron meter gauge on the instrument panel with the 4.2 TFT Multi-Information Display.

Adding to comfort and convenience are speed-sensing power door locks, power windows, and power retractable outer windows, as well as automatic air-conditioning.

Infotainment

The infotainment system on the Honda City 1.5 RS features an 8-inch Touchscreen unit with Apple Carplay and Android Auto, Weblink, Bluetooth, two USB ports, and eight speakers.

The Vios GR-S infotainment system comes with 6.75-inch Display, AM/FM radio, auxiliary and USB ports, Bluetooth, Apple Carplay and Android Audio, SDL, Voice Command, and six speakers.

Powertrain

The Honda City 1.5 RS is powered by a 1498cc, in-line 4 cylinder gasoline engine with double overhead cam, programmed fuel injection and i-VTEC that generates 121 PS at 6,600 revolutions per minute and 145 Newton-meters of torque at 4,300 rpm.

The engine drives the front wheels via a continuously variable transmission.

The suspension system features front MacPherson struts and torsion beams in the rear. The brake system uses front ventilated discs and rear drums.

The 2022 Vios 1.5 GR-S is powered by the 2NR-FE 1496cc in-line 4 DOHC gasoline engine with Dual VVT-i and 16 valves that generates 107 PS and 140 Newton-meters of torque.

The engine is mated to 10-continuously variable transmission with sequential control that sends power and torque to the front wheels.

It features Eco and Sport mode.

The Vios suspension system features front McPherson Strut and rear Torsion Beam combo. The brake uses discs on all four wheels, ventilated in front and solid in the rear.

Safety & Driver Assist

Honda equipped the City 1.5 RS with safety and driver assist technologies that include dual front, side, and curtain airbags, 3-point seatbelts for five, Child Lock and ISOFIX Child Seat Anchor, Speed-sensing auto door lock, and security system with alarm and immobilizer.

Helping keep drivers safe are systems that include Vehicle Stability Assist with Agile Handling Assist, Hill Start Assist, Anti-Lock Brake System with Electronic Brake-Force Distribution, and Emergency Stop Signal.

A Multi-view Rear Camera greatly helps with parking.

Toyota has also equipped the Vios 1.5 GR-S with driver-assist and safety features including Anti-Lock Brake System with Electronic Brake-Force Distribution, Hill Start Assist, and Vehicle Stability Control.

Also added to the GR-S are SRT airbags for driver and front seat passenger, side airbags, as well as curtain shield and knee airbags.

It also comes standard with child lock, ISOFIX and Tether Anchors, as well as three-point seatbelts for five.

Back camera and clearance sonar make the Vios GR-S that much easier to park.

While their sporty makeover may be more of aesthetics than performance, the Honda City RS and the Toyota Vios GR-S still have a lot of the latest technologies and features for safety, driver assist and. comfort and convenience.