With the recently debuted Honda City e:HEV (Hybrid Electric Vehicle), the mid-size sedan segments grew even more in terms of versatility, which is good because there is an offering for every choice, but simultaneously it also makes it extremely difficult to choose one from all. So let us ease this up by comparing the all-new Honda City e:HEV with the other mid-size offerings to know which one can cater to your preferences the best!
Note: Since the Honda City e:HEV comes in a sole fully-loaded ZX automatic trim, we are going to be comparing each sedan’s top automatic offering against it.
Engine and Transmission Specifications
| Honda City Hybrid | Skoda Slavia & VW Virtus | Hyundai Verna | Maruti Suzuki Ciaz | Standard Honda City (5th Gen) | |
| Engine | 1.5L Atkinson Cycle i-VTEC Petrol with Dual Motors | 1.0 / 1.5L TSI Turbo Petrol | 1.0L Turbo- Petrol / 1.5L NA Petrol / 1.5L Diesel | 1.5L Smart Hybrid Petrol | 1.5L Petrol / Diesel |
| Transmission Type | e-CVT | 6-speed AT / 7-Speed DSG | 7-Speed DCT / CVT / 6-speed torque converter | 4-Speed AMT | CVT / 6-speed MT only |
| Max Power (PS) | 126 | 115 / 150 | 118 / 115 / 115 | 105 | 121 / 100 |
| Max Torque (Nm) | 253 | 178 / 250 | 172Nm / 144Nm / 250Nm | 138 Nm | 145 / 200 |
| Fuel Efficiency (kmpl) | 26.5 | 18.07 / 18.40 | 19.2 / 18.4 / 21.3 | 20.04 | 18.4 / 24.1 |
- Hyundai Verna is the only car in the segment to offer three engine options- a 1.5L naturally aspirated petrol, a 1.0L turbo petrol, and a 1.5L diesel engine.
- Apart from Hyundai, Honda is the only other manufacturer to offer a diesel engine in its lineup.
- The 1.5L TSI engine offered in the Skoda Slavia/VW Virtus is the most powerful and dominating engine option on the list and beats out the rest of the competition in terms of performance.
- The Honda City e:HEV with its hybrid powertrain of two electric motors paired with the 1.5L Atkinson cycle engine offers a class-leading mileage of 26.5 kmpl.
- Apart from the City which comes with a strong hybrid system, the Maruti Ciaz gets a mild-hybrid system that assists the car during acceleration and automatically stops when idle, helping in increasing fuel efficiency and enhances driving performance.
Also Read: Honda City’s New eHEV Powertrain Explained
Dimensions
| Honda City | Skoda Slavia / VW Virtus | Hyundai Verna | Maruti Suzuki Ciaz | |
| Length (mm) | 4549 | 4541 | 4440 | 4490 |
| Width (mm) | 1748 | 1752 | 1729 | 1730 |
| Height (mm) | 1489 | 1487 | 1475 | 1485 |
| Wheelbase (mm) | 2600 | 2651 | 2600 | 2650 |
| Ground clearance (mm) | 165 | 179 | 165 | 170 |
| Boot Space (litres) | 506 (std model) | 521 | 480 | 510 |
The Honda City is the longest and tallest vehicle in the segment while the Skoda Slavia/VW Virtus is the widest and has the longest wheelbase. Both the siblings also offer the highest ground clearance and biggest boot space among all.
Also Read: Skoda Slavia: Which Variant Offers The Most Value?
Features
| Honda City | Skoda Slavia / VW Virtus | Hyundai Verna | Maruti Suzuki Ciaz | |
| Connected Car Tech | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Infotainment Display Size | 8-inch | 10.1 inch | 8-inch | 7-inch |
| Voice Assistant | ✅(Both Alexa and Google) | ❌ | ✅(Bluelink) | ❌ |
| Lane Watch Camera | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| TPMS | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Android Auto/ Apple Carplay | ✅(Wired) | ✅(Wireless) | ✅(Wireless in lower variants) | ✅(Wired) |
| Automatic AC | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Rear AC Vents | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Wireless Charger | No | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Sunroof | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Ventilated Seats | No | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Paddle Shifters | ✅ | ✅ (1.5L) | ✅ (1.0L) | ❌ |
| ADAS | ✅ (e:HEV only) | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| No of Airbags | 6 | 6 | 6 | 2 |
| NCAP Crash Test Rating (under SaferCarForIndia Campaign) | 5 | – | – | – |
- The Honda City e:HEV is the most feature-packed offering in the segment, with advanced voice assistant and ADAS features.
- The Skoda Slavia and Hyundai Verna are neck and neck in terms of features, but the Slavia just feels more upmarket in comparison.
- The Maruti Suzuki might be the most affordable car in the segment, but it feels almost underwhelming now.
Also Read: Skoda Slavia Vs Rivals – Spec, Price, and Features Comparison
Price
| Honda City | Skoda Slavia / VW Virtus | Hyundai Verna | Maruti Suzuki Ciaz | |
| Price Range (Ex-showroom) | Standard: Rs 11.29 – 15.24 lakh e:HEV: Rs 17.5 – 19 lakh (expected) | Slavia: Rs 10.69 – 17.79 lakh Virtus: Rs 10.69 to 18 lakh (expected) | Rs 9.33 – 15.37 lakh | Rs 8.87 – 11.86 lakh |
Prices of Honda City e:HEV will be announced in May, whereas, for the Virtus, you will have to wait till June 9.
