The all-new 2020 Honda City has been launched in India. With a quieter and more powerful engine, bigger dimensions and latest tech on offer, the latest City’s generation update has provided us with all the reasons to get excited. However, it must be noted that it has a cut-throat competition along its way. So how well does the new City car fare against the other mid-size Sedans? Let's find it out-
Dimensions
| New Honda City | Hyundai Verna | Maruti Ciaz | Skoda Rapid | Volkswagen Vento | Toyota Yaris |
Length (mm) | 4549 | 4440 | 4490 | 4413 | 4390 | 4425 |
Width (mm) | 1748 | 1729 | 1730 | 1699 | 1699 | 1730 |
Height (mm) | 1489 | 1475 | 1485 | 1466 | 1467 | 1495 |
Wheelbase (mm) | 2600 | 2600 | 2650 | 2552 | 2553 | 2550 |
Boot Space (litre) | 506 | 480 | 510 | 460 | 494 | 476 |
Kerb Weight (kg) | 1191 – 1217 | 1170 | 1055-1065 | 1112-1138 | 1138 | 1135 |
- Honda claims that with the latest generation update, City is now bigger than ever. This very claim is backed well even by the table, as it even manages to trump the other competitors in the segment. The City is not only the longest but also widest in the segment.
- As far as boot space is concerned, the City stands second only to Ciaz but only by the smallest of margins.
- Honda also claims that the underpinnings have gone through an overhaul and with the generation update, City sits on a platform that is lighter and rigid.
Engine Options
Diesel
| Honda City | Hyundai Verna | Maruti Ciaz | Skoda Rapid | VW Vento | Toyota Yaris |
Engine Displacement | 1.5L | 1.5L | – | – | – | – |
Gearbox | 6-speed MT | 6-speed MT / AT | – | – | – | – |
Power (PS) | 100 | 115 | – | – | – | – |
Torque (Nm) | 200 | 250 | – | – | – | – |
Fuel Efficiency
| 24.1 kmpl | 25 kmpl (MT), 21.3 kmpl (AT) | – | – | – | – |
- After the BS6 norms were made mandatory, many of the car manufacturers had discontinued their diesel engines, which is the reason why the table looks completely blank.
- Gladly for the 2020 Honda City, it has only a single competitor, the Hyundai Verna as far as the option of a diesel engine is concerned.
- On paper, Verna seems to take the lead with better performance outputs and even marginally better fuel efficiency. It also offers an automatic transmission option.
Petrol Manual
| Honda City | Hyundai Verna | Maruti Ciaz | Skoda Rapid | VW Vento | Toyota Yaris |
Engine Displacement | 1.5L | 1.5L | 1.5L | 1.0L Turbo (TSI) | 1.0L Turbo (TSI) | 1.5L |
Gearbox | 6-speed | 6-speed | 5-speed | 6-speed | 6-speed | 6-speed |
Power (PS) | 121 | 115 | 105 | 110 | 110 | 107 |
Torque (Nm) | 145 | 144 | 138 | 175 | 175 | 140 |
Fuel Efficiency
| 17.8 kmpl | 17.7 kmpl | 20.65 kmpl | 18.97 kmpl | 18.19 kmpl | 17.18 kmpl |
- This particular engine-gearbox configuration happens to be the only common configuration shared by all the competitors discussed in the specification comparison article.
- The updated 1.5L petrol engine that is offered with the new City is not only more powerful than its predecessor but also manages to significantly trump all its rivals.
- The updated DOHC (Dual Overhead Cam) configuration offered with the City means that is quieter and as the power output figures suggest, more powerful.
- As far as the torque is concerned, the fifth-gen city is in second place after the VW group's sisters.
- On the fuel efficiency front, Maruti Suzuki Ciaz leads the chart thanks to its mild-hybrid system.
Petrol Automatic
| Honda City | Hyundai Verna | Maruti Ciaz | Skoda Rapid | VW Vento | Toyota Yaris |
Engine Displacement | 1.5L | 1.5L / 1.0L turbo | 1.5L | – | 1.0L turbo (TSI) | 1.5L |
Gearbox | 7-speed CVT | 6-speed CVT (1.5L) / 7-Speed DCT (1.0L) | 4-speed AT | – | 6-speed AT | 7-speed CVT |
Power (PS) | 121 | 115 / 120 | 105 | – | 110 | 107 |
Torque (Nm) | 145 | 144 / 172 | 138 | – | 175 | 140 |
Fuel Efficiency
| 18.4 kmpl | 18.45 kmpl (1.5L) / 19.2 kmpl (1.0L) | 20.04 kmpl | – | 17.69 kmpl | 18.1 kmpl |
- Like its compact SUV sibling- Venue, Hyundai Verna is also offered with the choice of a 1.0L turbocharged petrol engine. It is the only car in the segment which comes with two petrol engine choices.
- Apart from Hyundai Verna, the VW Vento also comes with a turbo petrol engine. However, here Verna's turbo is the most powerful and Vento is more torquey.
- The City and Yaris is available with 7-speed CVT gearbox. Both cars offer paddle shifters for some added thrill.
- The automatic models come paired with the same engine as the manual variants which means that the City manages to trump all its rivals as far as power output is concerned.
- Maruti Ciaz again takes the lead with better fuel efficiency.
Prices
Model | Price Range |
Honda City | Rs 10.89-14.64 Lakhs |
Hyundai Verna | Rs 9.30-15.09 Lakhs |
Maruti Suzuki Ciaz | Rs 8.31-11.09 Lakhs |
Skoda Rapid | Rs 7.49-11.79 Lakhs |
Volkswagen Vento | Rs 8.86-13.29 Lakhs |
Toyota Yaris | Rs 8.86-14.3 Lakhs |
This particular parameter, as very clearly evident from the table certainly does not tilt in favour of the City. The entry-level introductory City variant is priced at a premium of almost Rs 1.6 Lakhs over the second most expensive car on the list (Verna). Though the top City trim manages to undercut Verna’s top model as far as pricing is concerned, it still is priced on the higher side when compared with all its rivals.
Conclusion
I have been an ardent City fanboy from the times it used to be the only mid-size sedan offering. I firmly believe that most of the readers will definitely resonate with the same fact. The Honda City for sure has aged beautifully with time, with each generation offering something to look forward to and the story is no different this time. Though the City has transformed brilliantly well over its predecessor, pricing seems to be on the higher side, especially when compared with the other competitors of the segment.
The price difference sounds too large to be justified but with bigger dimensions, a more powerful engine and segment-first feature like lane watch camera, and even important safety features like agile handling assist (ASA), vehicle stability assist (VSA) and hill start assists (HSA) on offer, Honda seems to have packed the car well enough to advocate the price difference and with the popularity that City has had, it is expected to continue doing well.
