Honda City Surges in Popularity, Yet Struggles to Overtake Toyota Vios

Vietnam’s B-segment sedan market recorded a total sales of 3,544 units in July, marking a 37% increase compared to the 2,579 units sold in the previous reporting period.

Despite the overall positive trend, only three Japanese B-segment sedans experienced positive sales growth in July. Notably, Honda City’s sales nearly quadrupled compared to the final month of Q2.

Honda City Surges, Toyota Vios Leads

According to the Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (VAMA), Honda City sold 1,181 units in July, a significant surge from the 319 units sold in the previous month. This marks the strongest growth since the beginning of the year.

However, Honda City still trails behind the segment leader, Toyota Vios. VAMA reports that Toyota Vios sold 1,213 units in Vietnam during July, maintaining its top position and being the only B-segment sedan to rank among the top 10 best-selling cars.

Among the remaining models, only the Mitsubishi Attrage showed improved sales compared to the previous month, with 184 units sold to Vietnamese customers.

Hyundai Accent continues to face challenges in Vietnam, with sales declining for the second consecutive month. In July, the South Korean B-segment sedan sold 504 units, securing the third position behind Toyota Vios and Honda City.

Mazda2 sold 440 units, while Kia Soluto’s sales dipped slightly to 22 units.

Korean Cars Losing Steam

The affordable sedan segment was once a fiercely contested battleground between Korean and Japanese automakers in Vietnam.

Historically, Hyundai Accent often competed closely with its Japanese rivals, Toyota Vios and Honda City, in terms of sales.

The Korean contender even claimed the top spot in the B-segment sedan sales in 2023, with 17,452 units sold. This impressive performance made Hyundai Accent the second best-selling car in Vietnam, just behind the Mitsubishi Xpander.

Hyundai Accent struggles in the B-segment sedan market. Photo: TC Motor.

Even when it lost to Toyota Vios last year, Hyundai Accent managed to keep the sales gap relatively narrow. After 12 months in 2024, Toyota Vios sold 14,210 units, while Hyundai Accent’s cumulative sales reached 13,538 units.

However, Hyundai Accent, and Korean cars in general, are currently facing significant challenges in the B-segment sedan market. As of July, Hyundai Accent holds only the third position in cumulative sales, and Kia Soluto is likely to be the slowest-selling model in the segment.

Hyundai Accent is not a poorly performing car in Vietnam. This B-segment sedan has occasionally led the segment in sales, but its inconsistency has prevented it from becoming the top-selling model.

The period from February to April exemplifies Hyundai Accent’s erratic performance in the Vietnamese market. The Korean sedan hit its lowest sales in February, rebounded to a peak in the following month, only to experience another sharp decline.

The fluctuating sales over the past seven months have cost Hyundai Accent its status as the top-selling model for the Korean brand in Vietnam. Currently, the Hyundai Tucson leads with 4,340 units sold since the beginning of the year.

Returning to the affordable sedan segment, Hyundai Accent has virtually conceded the race to Toyota Vios, despite the year being only seven months old. Toyota Vios leads with 6,478 units sold year-to-date, while Hyundai Accent follows with 4,297 units, ranking third in the segment.

Electrification: A New Pressure for Korean Sedans?

Toyota Thailand has confirmed the launch of the Toyota Vios HEV in Thailand on August 21st. In the B-segment sedan category, Thai customers already have hybrid options available for the Honda City.

It is highly likely that these two Japanese sedans will also introduce hybrid versions in Vietnam, mirroring the developments in Thailand.

Honda City in Thailand already offers a hybrid version, and Toyota Vios will follow suit. Photo: Paultan.

If Toyota Vios and Honda City introduce hybrid versions, the pressure on Korean models in this segment will intensify.

Beyond the potential appeal of hybrid technology, the introduction of additional variants for Toyota Vios and Honda City could boost their sales. Meanwhile, Hyundai Accent, with only four gasoline variants, may limit choices for Vietnamese customers.

Hyundai’s electrification strategy in Vietnam remains unclear. When launching the new-generation Santa Fe in September 2024, the Korean automaker removed the hybrid option.

Hyundai’s passenger car lineup in Vietnam currently lacks any hybrid models, making it challenging to expect a hybrid version of the Hyundai Accent to compete with Honda City and Toyota Vios in both sales and electrification.

The race for the top-selling B-segment sedan in Vietnam this year appears to be nearly decided. Despite efforts from Honda City and Hyundai Accent, the “former champion” Toyota Vios is likely to reclaim its title as Vietnam’s best-selling affordable sedan.

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