How rapidly things have changed. At the start of the year, buyers keen on a diesel midsize sedan had five models to choose from. Today, the options are down to just two. With the larger market moving away from diesels, the business case to upgrade engines to BS6-spec simply wasn’t strong enough for Maruti, Volkswagen and Skoda, whose Ciaz, Vento and Rapid, respectively, are now petrol-only models.
Honda and Hyundai, however, see things differently. Diesel is still the fuel of choice in many pockets across India and there’s also enough of a buyer base to whom the economics of diesel still make sense, even if the price of the fuel is touching record highs. The two cars in focus here cater to these buyers.
The new, fifth-gen City is offered with Honda’s trusty 1.5-litre diesel engine, while the revamped Verna trades the old 1.6-litre unit for a new-gen 1.5. Exclusive to the Hyundai is a diesel-auto combo, but to keep things level, we’ve considered the 6-speed manual transmission versions of both sedans.
Going the distance
As diesels, these sedans had better be good on long journeys; they are, but they go about the business of covering vast distances in very different ways. The Honda comes across as the more laid back of the two. Its 1.5 i-DTEC engine has always been genteel in its build of power and that’s something you experience on the latest City too. It gets up to highways speeds effortlessly enough and makes for a pleasant cruiser. That it’s the quieter of the two sedans at 80kph (if only marginally so) also speaks volumes of Honda’s focus on enhancing refinement – something the last-gen City diesel didn’t score highly on. It’s just that the engine does little to excite you. Sure, responses are fair, even in gears five and six, but you always get the impression it’s a bit one-dimensional. There’s no urgency from the 100hp, 200Nm engine at any point in the rev range.
The Verna, in contrast, offers a whole lot more for the keen driver. With 115hp and 250Nm, the Hyundai has the clear numbers advantage, but it’s the way that power is delivered that makes all the difference. The engine has that mid-range punch dieselheads love, and the relatively quick-revving nature makes it fun to extend the 1.5-litre unit too – the Verna revs to 4,900rpm, while the City’s engine tops out at a far more conservative 4,200rpm. Out on the highway, you’ll appreciate the Verna’s performance edge. The Hyundai is quicker from 80-100kph in fifth (5.1sec vs 5.93sec in the City) and also quicker from 80-100kph in sixth (6.62sec vs 8.03sec). If only for academic interest, you should know the Verna is also the quicker car from 0-100kph, with a time of 10.59sec to the City’s 12.41sec.
All this while edging past the City in highway fuel economy. The Verna delivered 20kpl while the City managed 19.1kpl on a relaxed highway cruise. You’ll go further in the Hyundai too, thanks to a 45-litre fuel tank; the City makes do with 40 litres. An important point to note is that both cars feature Lean NOx traps for emission control, and hence don’t require AdBlue top-ups like cars with SCR (selective catalytic reduction) systems would.
On winding roads too, it’s the Verna you’d want to be behind the wheel of. Diesel Vernas have historically been better set up than their petrol counterparts, and the latest one feels particularly well sorted. There’s good enough weight at the steering, turn in is smooth and you can work out a good rhythm with the car. On the same roads, the City feels benign rather than engaging. The steering is agreeable and there’s more grip than the 185-section tyres might lead you to believe, but sporty the City diesel is not.
| Specification and Performance | ||
| Honda City Diesel ZX MT | Hyundai Verna 1.5 CRDi SX(O) MT | |
| Engine | 4-cyl, 1498cc, turbo-diesel | 4-cyl, 1493cc, turbo-diesel |
| Power | 100hp at 3600rpm | 115hp at 4000rpm |
| Torque | 200Nm at 1750rpm | 250Nm at 1500-2750rpm |
| Gearbox | 6-speed manual | 6-speed manual |
| Fuel Economy (kpl) | ||
| City/ Highway | 16.2/19.1 kpl | 15.2/20 kpl |
| Performance | ||
| 0-20kph | 1.12sec | 1.12sec |
| 0-40kph | 2.85sec | 2.51sec |
| 0-60kph | 5.21sec | 4.42sec |
| 0-80kph | 8.44sec | 7.2sec |
| 0-100kph | 12.41sec | 10.59sec |
| 0-120kph | 17.38sec | 15.43sec |
| 0-140kph | 25.11sec | 22.28sec |
| 0-160kph | 40.06sec | 32.04sec |
| Performance in Gear | ||
| 20-80 (in third) | 12.66sec | 11.71sec |
| 40-100 (in fourth) | 15.04sec | 14.08sec |
| Noise Levels (dB) | ||
| Idle | 43.8dB | 44.1dB |
| Full revs | 69.3dB (at 4400rpm) | 73.3dB (at 4900rpm) |
| 50kph (in fourth gear) | 63.1dB | 64.1dB |
| 80kph (in sixth gear) | 68.2dB | 69.2dB |
Back to back
The City claws back a whole lot of points when we put the spotlight on the rear seat experience. Legroom at the back, for one, is up there with some larger sedans. The class-leading cabin width is also something you’ll note, particularly so in these times of social distancing. Even when you need to travel five-up, it’s the City that offers more space and comfort for the middle passenger. Commendably, the middle seat also gets a dedicated headrest and a three-point seatbelt.
Then there’s the seat itself. Superbly cushioned, it’s one you’d happily sink into over a long journey. Smaller details like the phone holders built into the front-seat backrests and rear AC vents that direct air at your face rather than your knees also aid the experience. However, while the upward slope of the floor under the front seats serves as a natural footrest, taller occupants might find this hampering their seating position.
While cabin space is a City highlight, it’s a Verna weakness. In fact, there are compact sedans roomier than the Hyundai. And this despite the Verna and City’s wheelbases measuring an identical 2,600mm. Rear legroom in the Verna is just about adequate, headroom is tight for six-footers and seating three abreast isn’t particularly comfy. The upward sloping window line also hampers the feeling of space to an extent. There is enough space under the front seats to tuck your feet comfortably into and the seat is supportive as well, but all in all, the rear section of the Verna’s cabin is not where you’d want to spend long hours.
There isn’t much between the two sedans in terms of high-speed ride quality. Both stay composed at triple-digit speeds, though it’s the Verna that drives flatter. An unusual quirk in the City is a hollow noise that seemingly emanates from the trunk area.
On out-of-town trips, you’ll be content with how much luggage you can fit into both sedans’ boots. The City has a 506-litre boot, while the Verna isn’t too far behind, with 480 litres of luggage space.
| Dimensions | ||
| Honda City Diesel ZX MT | Hyundai Verna 1.5 CRDi SX(O) MT | |
| Length | 4549mm | 4440mm |
| Width | 1748mm | 1729mm |
| Height | 1489mm | 1475mm |
| Wheelbase | 2600mm | 2600mm |
| Tyre size | 185/55 R16 | 195/55 R16 |
Torque of the town
What are the two sedans like in the everyday grind of city life? Again, both are likeable but for different reasons. Tractability is what the City impresses for most, in, well, the city. There’s ready power from 1,500rpm on, and this means you can get by at low speeds in a higher gear. Just as well, because the City’s clutch can be tricky to modulate, thanks to a high bite point. The City engine’s flexibility reflects in quick responses, say from 20-40kph in third gear or 40-60kph in fourth gear. Power delivery is linear and user friendly but also a bit plain vanilla.
Where the City gives its best under 2,000rpm, the Verna is in its element post 2,000rpm. While not as effortless as the City, the Verna too picks up speed smartly from low revs. It’s from 1,800rpm onwards that there’s a step up in power in the Verna, which is accompanied by a small push in the back, should you keep the accelerator pressed. This feeling of boost adds so much to the driving experience and also helps the Verna deliver overall faster timings through the 20-80kph and 40-100kph, third- and fourth-gear slogs. A more progressive clutch and smoother gearbox are other Verna elements drivers will appreciate.
City or Verna, you certainly won’t have an issue with fuel economy. On lightly trafficked city roads, the Honda delivered 16.2kpl while the Hyundai returned 15.2kpl. Of the other things, it’s the Verna’s steering that requires slightly less effort to twirl, while both cars are evenly matched on low-speed ride quality, dismissing potholes with a good degree of comfort.
The cockpit
You now know how the City and Verna drive and also know what they’re like to be driven in, but what of the general look and feel of things inside the cabin? This is an easy win for the Honda. Sumptuous front seats, a chunky steering, the leather-lined dash and door pads, and light colours lend the City’s airy cabin an upmarket ambience. Sure, the dashboard doesn’t break new ground for design, but it’s smart in look and has a low cowl that equals great frontal visibility. Thankfully, Honda has also heeded feedback, reverting to rotary knobs for the air-con controls with this City. The dials turn with a satisfying click and also feature surrounds that glow red or blue when you raise or lower the temperature. Another cool bit on the City is the digital display screen alongside the analogue speedometer. You can toggle between a tachometer, trip details and even a G-meter.
Interestingly enough, a new part-digital instrument readout is also one of the talking points on the updated Verna. The arrangement is new-age BMW-like, but that’s not necessarily a good thing. The bar-like LEDs for the tachometer and speedometer aren’t easy to read on the move, and instead, your eyes will lock on to the digital speed and RPM readouts. The Verna’s dashboard and centre console have been mildly redone to incorporate the larger touchscreen, but in other aspects, the Hyundai feels the same as before. Quality is good, despite the absence of soft-touch materials, and in general, it’s a user-friendly environment.
We’ve considered the top-spec versions of both models and they each offer loads of goodies. The two are at par with one another in terms of safety and convenience features (see table), but there are ertain differences. For instance, the Verna uniquely gets ventilated front seats (a boon on hot days), wireless charging (the bay can’t hold the largest of phones) and a hands-free boot release. One-touch operation for all four windows and a lane watch camera (it shows a feed of the left-side blind spot on the centre screen) are features exclusive to the City.
8.0-inch touchscreens with connected tech are the norm, but it’s the Verna’s system that’s easier to use. The City’s touchscreen looks dim and the low-res rear-view camera is another bugbear.
| Equipment | ||
| Honda City Diesel ZX MT | Hyundai Verna 1.5 CRDi SX(O) MT | |
| Airbags | 6 | 6 |
| ESC | Available | Available |
| Leatherette seats | Available | Available |
| One-touch windows | All | Driver’s only |
| Auto headlights/wipers | Available/ NA | Available/ NA |
| Ventilated seats | NA | Front |
| Wireless phone charging | NA | Available |
| Touchscreen | 8.0-inch | 8.0-inch |
| Connected-car tech | Available | Available |
| Camera | Rear/Blind view | Rear |
| Rear AC vents | Available | Available |
| Hands-free boot release | NA | Available |
Diesel duel
Before we present our verdict, a word on the way these cars look. The City is larger and looks it too, but the weedy tyres do take away from the stance. Styling is evolutionary, though the superbly detailed LED headlights and chrome-heavy face do help identify this as the latest City. The Verna sports the more extroverted look. The swoopy shape is unchanged from before, but the large new grille gives the Hyundai proper flash value.
So, which one should it be? If it’s the more entertaining car you’re interested in, it’s easily the Verna for you. A punchy engine, nice dynamics and loads of features will keep keen drivers satisfied for long. A lower Rs 13.95 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) price tag only helps the Hyundai’s case.
Thing is, the Verna loses out badly in a very crucial area. Its limited rear seat space works against it as a family car, and more so when talking of the diesel version that will likely be used often for travel by road. And that’s where the City diesel comes across as a more level-headed choice. It’s not one for enthusiasts but it’s pleasant enough to drive and, thanks to its roomier, more premium cabin and comfier rear seat, makes for the more complete car. You will have to shell out Rs 70,000 more over a Verna, but think of it as the price to pay for more real estate.
Space or pace? With your clan or without? That’s what will decide it for you.
| Verdict | ||
| Honda City Diesel ZX MT | Hyundai Verna 1.5 CRDi SX(O) MT | |
| Price (ex-showroom, Delhi) | Rs 14.65 lakh | Rs 13.95 lakh |
| Rating | 8/10 | 8/10 |
| Verdict | Upmarket and roomy, it’s the more suitable pick for family buyers. | Characterful Verna diesel is the choice for keen drivers. |
Also see:
2020 Honda City vs Hyundai Verna diesel comparison video
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