Hyundai Verna vs Honda City Comparison: Battle of Automation Introduction | car india (2023)

The Honda City and Hyundai Verna are the oldest and oldest nameplates in the mid-size sedan segment, and by the way, they are also the best-selling mid-size sedans. Now in 2023, their rivalry intensifies as they fight for a bigger piece of the sales pie in their new avatars. Honda has refreshed the look of the City with a slight makeover and some new features, though it still offers a 1.5 petrol engine with manual or automatic transmissions and a 1.5 hybrid powertrain.

Hyundai introduced an all-new generation Verna, so it's expected to be bigger, better equipped and more modern than the car it replaces; and is offered with a 1.5 petrol engine or a powerful 1.5 turbo petrol engine, with manual and automatic gearboxes. We pitted the gas-automatic iteration of the Verna against its older rival, the Honda City, to find out if it had what it takes to dethrone the latter and dominate the segment.

Hyundai Verna x Honda City: Exterior

Like it or not, the Verna's radical styling draws attention with its bold, eye-catching front and rear LED lights. A sloping roof line with a fastback-like silhouette and sharp cutouts in the body certainly add character to it. It has grown, it is now wider than the Honda City and also has a longer wheelbase.

The Honda City is longer and taller than the Verna, and its streamlined shape is likely to be more versatile. Although the styling changes are minor, aggressively shaped bumpers and a spoiler lip were obtained after the facelift, giving it a sportier feel.

Hyundai Verna vs Honda City: interior and features

The interior of the Verna exudes a technical atmosphere thanks to the arrangement of two screens, one on the dashboard and the other on the infotainment system. The ivory finish looks attractive, and even the addition of mood lighting, as well as a touch-sensitive air conditioning console that turns into a quick infotainment menu at the push of a button, makes the Verna feel good. to keep up with the times.

The front seats will pamper you with ventilation and heating; and the driver's seat is partly electrically operated, making it a good place to stay. The space behind it is huge and equals the City in terms of height overhead and width. Verna's backseat experience can no longer be described as "tight" as it was in previous generations; in fact, it is far from it. The seat itself provides excellent support and is quite comfortable to sit on. The cabin is well thought out with plenty of storage and cargo space, and it's impressive that the trunk is a bit larger and has a wider opening than the Honda.

In comparison, the Honda's cabin design looks rather mundane, mainly due to the outdated 8-inch touchscreen. Unlike the Verna, there is no dashboard display, but semi-digital analog themed dials. It looks relatively dated, sure, but the workmanship is excellent. It also gets a traditional climate control console with knobs and buttons, but they are of high quality and work with a very satisfying "click".

The cabin's huge conservatory makes it brighter and more spacious, as well as increasing the sense of space. There are also seats that are so well contoured and padded that they are more comfortable to sit on, but the seat ventilation function is sorely lacking. The rear seat remains the benchmark, and with its gently sloping floor, generous footroom for the center passenger and three non-adjustable (but tall) head restraints, it remains an unrivaled comfort player. Not everything is perfect; the rear center armrest feels flimsy, there are no rear USB charging ports like the Verna (Honda offers 12v outlets instead), and the trunk is a bit smaller.

Both cars feature camera-based Autonomous Driving Assistance Systems (ADAS) that improve road safety with features such as emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane assist/lane departure alert, range and blind spot monitor. several. Verna was better at identifying lane markings for lane assist, while City performed unevenly. The City also includes adaptive cruise control and an important vehicle exit warning, both of which are only available with the turbocharged version of the Verna, which receives the more expensive radar-based ADAS.

Hyundai Verna vs Honda City: engine, gearbox

These cars are powered by 1.5-liter petrol engines that work with continuously variable transmissions (CVTs). However, the difference between the way they work is night and day. In this competition, the Verna's engine feels quieter and more refined. It's a smooth drivetrain that rewards free-riding; however, he quickly steps out of his comfort zone if you ask him for more. Touch responses are sluggish, and as the throttle is pressed further, the transmission begins to exhibit its "typical CVT character" where vehicle speed and engine speed appear out of sync, resulting in engine hum. As with the City, paddle shifters are available for improved engine braking, which is especially useful on inclines. It also gets riding modes to improve throttle response and adds (artificial) weight to the steering in Sport mode to make the ride faster. However, given the nature of this engine/powertrain combination, it's best to switch to Eco mode, take the weight off the steering wheel and enjoy the relaxing nature.

With 121 hp/145 Nm, the City is not only more powerful, but with a curb weight of 1,153 kg, it is also 55 kg lighter than the Verna. This performance advantage is enhanced by the more agile and responsive nature of the Honda engine. For even more acceleration, the transmission also has a Sport mode, but even in the factory setting, the performance is strong and pleasant, and this high-revving Honda just pulls harder the faster the engine revs. The engine gets quite noisy as the revs increase and it is not as quiet as the Verna.

In our tests, the City accelerates to 62 mph from a standstill 2 seconds faster than the Verna, and the gap widens. Rolling accelerations of 20-80 km/h and 40-100 km/h give similar results.

In the latest iteration, the dynamics of Hyundai Verna have been significantly improved compared to previous generations, and driving manners are no longer an obstacle even for car enthusiasts. However, the Honda City is more fun to drive with more direct steering and better suspension tuning. Its ride quality is also much more compliant and absorbing than the Verna, which is acceptable in itself. Verna, on the other hand, looks a bit tighter and busier than City.

Hyundai Verna vs Honda City: verdict

In its current shape, the Hyundai Verna looks more modern and practical than ever before. Typically for a Hyundai, it comes with a list of features and while petrol pump prices of 14.24 lakh-16.20 lakh make it slightly more expensive than the City (13.62 lakh-15.97 lakh), the Verna offers a better value value for money.

The Honda City, on the other hand, feels more worldly and professional in its approach compared to the extroverted Verna, and its equipment list isn't as extensive either. But the gas-powered City is a bestseller on offer for a reason. The engine performance is livelier, the suspension is more comfortable and the seats are softer, so the Honda has the basics right. And while the new Hyundai Verna comes very close in terms of versatility, the Honda City remains the ultimate car to drive and be driven.