Comparing The Sedans: New Hyundai Verna 1.5 CVT Vs Honda City Vs Volkswagen Virtus 1.0 Turbo
Have a detailed look at the comparison between the Sedans - New Hyundai Verna 1.5 CVT, Honda City, and Volkswagen Virtus 1.0 Turbo. Check the details below.
Some time back the sedan segment was written off and yet from last year we have seen no less than four new launches in the midsize sedan space. Hence, with reignited interest and increased sales, the sedan segment is back to its heydey so a comparison was in order. Hyundai recently launched the Verna armed with a line-up of petrol engines along with a long features list while Honda also recently overhauled its best seller- the City. Then there is the Volkswagen Virtus which has been a popular choice in this segment. So, which one is better for you? Let us find out.
Distinctive Looks
These three sedans have their own distinctive style and each has their own personality. The newest entrant seems to have divided opinions on the styling but it has made everyone sit up and take notice. The Verna is not subtle and is aggressive along with being futuristic. It does not have a sedan shape as its fastback-like shape is very appealing while the slim LED light bar is what takes up most of the attention. It is certainly edgy and stands out. 
The new Honda City with its sportier look also gains a more youthful stance and in this new colour, looks very nice indeed. There is a traditional sedan shape but the carbon-like pattern adds to the look of this top version as the rest of the range looks more sober.
The Virtus is classic German with its handsome yet retrained design while the crisp styling has its own fan following. It too has a proper sedan shape while it looks very long too with a premium look.
Comparing The Quality And Cabin Space
Each sedan needs to feel premium and they do in their own ways. The Virtus doors have a solid feel and the interior again has a German subtleness along with a clean, simple look. It is well-layered and not cluttered, however, just like the other two, there is a large touchscreen with touch controls. Honda City has a more conservative look but has an upright stance while it gets soft touch bits on the dash. The screen on the City is smaller but has been reconfigured, even though it is a bit basic still. That said, it has a very good rear camera display. The new Verna cabin is leagues ahead of the old one and now comes with a cool new look. It has a futuristic vibe just like the exterior with twin 10.25-inch screens with the touchscreen angled towards the driver. Soft touch bits are all over which adds a dash of premiumness. Further brownie points are given for the full-width vents and the lighting strip on the doors.
Moreover, the touch panel is switchable and that's cool too. In terms of space, the City has an easy entry and exit being tall plus once inside, it has a hugely spacious seat with three passengers being easily fitted plus legroom/headroom is excellent. The Virtus' rear seat is also pretty spacious while being comfortable for two passengers but more importantly, you get a good view out. The new Verna now matches up with its rivals here too and has a hugely spacious rear seat with the CVT version's light-coloured upholstery adding to the sense of space. While entry/exit is lower, there is a good amount of thigh support on the inside. If we talk about the boot space, all three are above the 500l and can accommodate way more than any compact SUV with the Verna having the highest capacity followed closely by the Virtus and City.
A Closer Look At The Features
You get a lot of features here including a large touchscreen, configurable dials, climate control, and a rear camera plus amenities like a sunroof, connected car tech, and steering paddles. The Verna and the Virtus have the slickest touchscreen set-up while the traditional dials with a digital twist on the City looks very nice.
The new City in fact comes with added features that now match up to others like wireless charging, wireless smartphone connectivity, an improved audio system, and ADAS safety features (even in the manual!).
The Virtus comes with ventilated seats and of course some of the mentioned amenities above while the Verna storms in with a typically high feature list here. There are both heated and cooled seats for the Verna and electric adjustment for the driver seat (height adjustment is manual though) plus ADAS like on the City. On these versions, all three cars offer a manual handbrake. If we talk about safety, then 6 airbags, ABS, EBD, ESC, TCS, and TPMS are also present.
Driving Experience
All three cars are petrol only with the Honda City offering a 1.5l petrol and a strong hybrid version while the Volkswagen Virtus even offers a turbo petrol at the start of the range with its 1.0l and 1.5l turbo units. Then Hyundai offers the Verna with a 1.5l turbo petrol and a 1.5l naturally aspirated unit like the City. For price reasons, we took the 1.5 City petrol and the Verna petrol along with the 1.0l Virtus- the versions most likely to be the value-for-money picks.
The City with its smooth 1.5l engine feels eager to rev and remains a fun car with the manual as you push its rev limit. Of course for standard use in traffic, the CVT or the manual feels easy to drive with the whole driving experience centered around being comfortable. There is some cabin noise but the suspension is quite absorbent along with being tuned to be a bit soft. With the manual you can have fun and stability is good but the focus here is on comfort while chauffeur-driven passengers will like the ride quality too.
The Verna with the standard 1.5l petrol is absolutely silent and the CVT automatic is also a delight. It is well-tuned for low-speed city use and incredibly smooth. While not having a punch of a turbo, the CVT adapts well and there are drive modes too. A big change is a much-improved ride and handling with a much more direct steering along with a much better ride matching the City. Yet it is pretty agile too.
The Virtus remains the Driver's car with its turbo 1.0l petrol having the punch along with the sharper power delivery. It feels very quick and the torque converter automatic comes into play as well. It is the aggressive driver machine here with a focus on handling with a firmer suspension but handles our roads also very well with excellent ground clearance. Special marks for the steering too.
Verdict
All three sedans fall into the Rs 11-16 lakh price bracket with these engines and all three are excellent choices in their own right. However, there are clear differences which we can draw out. The City is the practical one and offers very good space, practicality and comfort along with smooth petrol while now with added presence plus more features. On the other hand, the Virtus is the Driver's choice with this engine as it is edgy, fast, and handles very well while also impressing with its quality along with being a capable all arounder too. The new Verna is all about the pizzazz with its aggressive styling and long feature list while this engine is very smooth.
Hence for pure space and comfort, choose City while if you want that aggressive styling and features, the Verna is the choice with the Virtus being a driver's delight here. Whatever you choose though, these sedans offer a lot more to compete with SUVs at this price point.
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