Why are Malaysians so obsessed with Honda?
You must have read a story on social media where a girl set a condition that her future husband must have a Honda car to marry her.
There are even women who are willing to leave their boyfriends to be with someone else who owns a Honda. Is the obsession with Honda really that intense?
Approved by prospective mothers-in-law
We believe such things only happen in Malaysia. The Honda brand is so revered that it has become a benchmark and a determining factor for many things. Fresh graduates starting work dream of owning a Honda.
There are also those who are already married but are willing to tighten their belts as long as they can drive a Honda. Then, in the middle of the month, the Maggi noodles lifestyle begins, and sometimes in community groups, questions like, “Where can I find cheap tires for a Civic FE? Are these Linglong tires okay?”
It’s not about the tire brand; actually, it’s fine for regular use. But if you drive a Honda Civic designed for a sporty driving experience, you should provide suitable tires.
When you opt for very budget-friendly tires, it will hinder the actual performance of the Civic. It’s like asking Usain Bolt, the world’s sports champion, to run wearing cheap shoes. Do you think he would want that? A regular runner might outrun him.
Usain Bolt surely prefers branded shoes with specific technologies. Single guys need to drive a Honda to earn a living, and girls only have eyes for a Honda, ignoring other cars. It wouldn’t be surprising if potential mothers-in-law also set Honda as a requirement for their future son-in-law, right?
Why is this so?
This has been a mystery for a long time. Even among us automotive media practitioners in Malaysia, we wonder why Honda is so revered by some Malaysians.
Is Honda beautiful? Latest Honda models like the CR-V and HR-V are indeed beautiful, each design meeting consumer preferences. But other models like the Peugeot 2008 and Mazda CX-30 are also beautiful. It’s undeniable that the City Hatchback can look quite sporty when modified, becoming a craze among the younger generation.
When it comes to speed, it’s just average. The Civic with a 1.5 VTEC Turbo engine is attractive and has higher output compared to competitors like the Mazda3 and Toyota Corolla. However, speed is subjective and depends on several factors. The City and WR-V are not fast.
The City Hatchback e:HEV RS has the most powerful hybrid engine in its class, with 253 Nm of torque. But it’s not a sports car. If we talk about speed, then the Civic Type R is fast, competing with the Volkswagen Golf R and the Mercedes-AMG A35.
Is Honda spacious? We agree on this. Honda models like the City, HR-V, and CR-V can be considered among the most spacious in their segments, but is this the reason for Honda’s popularity among Malaysians? What do you think?
Reality
All this is actually interpreted based on sales figures, as Honda is often the best-selling non-national brand in Malaysia. In 2023 alone, Honda sold more than 80,000 vehicles in the country. However, it’s a different story in international markets.
In Japan, for example, Honda sells around 590,000 vehicles, ranking fourth compared to Toyota and Lexus, which sold over 1.67 million vehicles and took the first spot.
In Europe, Honda is in a lower position, perhaps something we didn’t have time to count. The first place goes to Volkswagen Group with more than 3 million units sold, but yes, this group comprises many brands.
However, the single brand with the highest sales is Ford (518,371), followed by Tesla (366,326) and Nissan (293,476). Yes, Nissan, which doesn’t shine in Malaysia, is quite popular in Europe. Honda sold approximately 60,606 vehicles there in 2023.
Looking at our neighboring countries, in Indonesia, for example, Honda ranks third after Toyota and Daihatsu. In Thailand, Honda also takes the third spot, but behind Toyota and Isuzu.
In conclusion, each market is unique with its own trends and preferences. If you want to remain a staunch fan of a brand, continue as long as you’re not causing any inconvenience.
Buy whatever car you want as long as your wallet allows. It’s interesting to see and compare whether the same situation applies elsewhere.
If you have other topics you usually discuss at coffee shops and would like us to delve into them, please state them in the comment section. Thank you for reading, see you next time!
