CarWale comparison: Maruti Suzuki Ciaz vs Honda City vs Hyundai Verna

Exterior

   

The City is based on the company’s new ‘Exciting H Design’ philosophy expected to make its way to all upcoming Honda cars. The sixth generation model is just as long as the old car, but the new design makes it look like the car has grown quite a bit. The frontal styling is sleek with a single slat chrome grille and double barrel headlamps complimented by a stylish front bumper. Overall it has a front that looks well put together. 

The rear design looks a little odd if you expect it to be as sleek as the front. Its rear is a little more raised and is somehow masked by the horizontal elements on the tail. The tail lights are in a new two-part design and easily the most striking feature at the rear. The chrome strip running above the number plate adds a finishing touch to the rear. 

The side profile of the car houses creases that are new to the City, but help mask the size of the car. The alloy-wheels, the chrome door handles on the top-spec model lend it a premium feel. Overall, Honda has struck a right balance between modern lines and hasn’t overdone it.

  

Maruti presented the Ciaz concept at the 2014 Auto Expo, it was impressive and we had a faint sketch of how the production model might look. The styling is very safe and conservative, but they could have made it look a bit more appealing, not that it looks pale in comparison to the competition. The frontal styling carries a lot of cues from the concept car. The styling is not so catchy that it can lure buyers from the Verna or the City, but it looks like a well rounded conservative package. The front gets a big sweptback headlight unit with projector and the big four-slat chrome grille with a Suzuki logo sitting at the centre does remind one of the concept car. 

The side profile sports a shoulder line that extends upto the tail-lights complimented by a thick line running through the bottom of the doors. The rear styling is again reminiscent of the concept car, but a few elements seem to be inspired by the Honda City, read tail-lights and upper lip of the boot. The design of the two-part tail-light looks similar to the City, but is different thanks to the white plastics for the indicators. The rear bumper has a unique styling element - a black housing that accommodates parking sensors and reflectors and doesn’t look overdone. The multi-spoke alloy-wheels look elegant and add a touch of elegance to the design. With the Ciaz, Maruti has worked hard to give the car an upmarket look and have fared decently at it. 

       

The Verna, based on the company’s Fluidic design theme did create quite a sensation when it was launched in 2011. Hyundai has updated the Verna with some mechanical and negligible cosmetic changes for the MY 2014. What is nice is that despite being a three year old design, the Verna still holds a candle to the competition when it comes to styling. The frontal styling with the big sweeping projector headlights and a LED strip, the simple horizontal slat with chrome grille and the unique fog lamps look nice. 

The rear looks same as the old car and gets a single piece tail-light unlike the competition, as both the Ciaz and the City get a two-part design. The rear styling is a complete follow up of the front and it doesn’t look weird from any angle.

The side profile has a thick shoulder line that flows all the way to the tail-lights just like the Ciaz, but the line seems to emerge from the front bumper. The diamond-cut alloy- wheels look decent, but overall the Ciaz has the best-looking wheels in the segment. 

Interior

   

The City did lack the upmarket feel inside, and was a letdown for most buyers. With the new City, Honda seems to have addressed this glitch a fair bit. Step inside the cabin and one will notice the centre console angled towards the driver, a nice touch. The integrated audio system doesn’t have a touchscreen or navigation option. But, you can tick all the boxes in the feature list - iPod connectivity, Aux-in, USB, Bluetooth streaming with telephony etc.

The climate control system gets a capacitive touch screen unit, which is like operating your touchscreen smartphone. The top-spec VX variant the City gets keyless entry and start function, sunroof and cruise control. While, keyless start is a norm, the sunroof and cruise control are a segment first. The steering wheel is new and gets buttons to control the audio system, telephony functions and cruise control. The rear seat space has gone up by quite a notch, with the increased wheelbase of 2600mm. The spacious rear seat also has best-in-class shoulder room and legroom with AC vents to keep the occupants cool in summer. The City also has the best claim when it comes to the boot space at 510 litre.

 

The Ciaz, gets a simple and clutter-free design inside, the integrated audio system is a touch screen unit – a segment first. The steering gets controls for the audio system and telephony controls on the left unlike the competition that has buttons spread on either sides. The faux-wood and aluminiuminserts, the light colour of the upholstery and plastics lend a bright and airy feel to the interior. 

The Ciaz gets a simple layout for the dashboard and Maruti has played it safe here like in the styling department. The car gets keyless entry and start, Aux-in, USB, Bluetooth streaming with telephony, automatic retract for the ORVMs, reversing camera and navigation system. It also gets a sunshade for the rear windscreen, which will be appreciated by occupants at the rear. 

     

The Verna is feature-loaded like every Hyundai and was the first car to set the standards high when it was launched in 2011. However, the 2014 MY upgrade doesn’t add anything extra to the features list. The Verna gets keyless entry and start, an integrated audio system with iPod connectivity, Aux-in, USB, Bluetooth streaming with telephony, but no navigation. It doesn’t get an option of sunroof and neither does it get cruise control. The interiors are well laid out and the dashboard layout is simple yet functional. The dials lookpremium, the upholstery and ergonomics are pretty decent. 

It is a low slung car and unlike the tall City and for that matter even the Ciaz, ingress and egress is not so comfortable. The rear seat space is not really great as compared to the Honda City, but the seats are decently supportive. 

The Verna pretty much loses to the City when it comes to equipmentand features. But, it does redeem itself in the safety part, it gets six airbags that’s two more than the Ciaz and City’s put together.

Engine and Performance

              

The City comes in a choice of one four-cylinder petrol and one diesel engine. The petrol variant is powered by a 1.5-litre engine producing 117bhp and 145Nm mated to a five-speed manual and a CVT gearbox. This engine also finds its application in the new Mobilio MPV. The oil burner is Honda’s Earth Dreams 1.5-litre engine churning out 98bhp and 200Nm of torque mated to a six-speed manual gearbox.

                             

The Verna, comes with the most engine options in the class, it gets an option of four engines – 1.4-litre petrol/diesel and 1.6-litre petrol/diesel engines. The 1.4-litre petrol engine produces 105bhp and 138Nm of torqueandthe 1.6-litre petrol engine makes 119bhp and 158Nm of torque. These engines come mated to a five-speed manual gearbox as standard, also a four-speed automatic transmission which is available only with the bigger engine. 

The diesel power comes in two capacities – a 1.4-litre and 1.6-litre. The 1.4-litre engine produces 88.8bhp and 214Nm of torque and the1.6-litre diesel with a Variable Geometry turbocharger (VGT) churns out 126bhp and 260Nm of torque. The Verna also boasts of the best-in-class power output for petrol and diesel engines. While the petrol engines get a five-speed manual gearbox, the diesels get a six-speed gearbox. Both these engines come paired with a six-speed manual as standard and the 1.6-litre engine also gets a four-speed auto option.

   

One look at the specification list of the Ciaz and one would be left wanting for more. Maruti Suzuki continues using the 1.3-litre MultiJet diesel engine for the diesel variant. The petrol, gets a 1.4-litre K-Series engine that does duty in the Ertiga MPV. The diesel engine with a VGT churns out 88bhp and 200Nm of torque. The petrol engine makes 92bhp and 130Nm of torque. Both engines are paired with a five-speed manual gearbox.  And these specifications make the Ciaz, the least powerful car in the class, petrol and diesel.

Price and comparison

The Honda City is priced from Rs 7.2 lakh for the base petrol variant and goes up to Rs 11.06 lakh for the top-spec diesel variant with bells and whistles. The Hyundai Verna starts from Rs 7.39 lakh for the GL, base petrol variant and costs about Rs 11.73 lakh for the top-end diesel with AT. The Ciaz is yet to be launched and we expect it to start from Rs 7 lakh and top out at Rs 10 lakh. 

Maruti has announced that it will be available in eight variants – four petrol and four diesel namely Vxi, Vxi+, Zxi, Zxi+, Vdi, Vdi+, ZDI and ZDI+. The Honda City is available in 12 variants – E, S, SV, V, VX, with these nomenclatures beingavailable in petrol and diesel and the City AT is available in only SV and VX. The most confusing variant list is of the Hyundai Verna with a choice of four engines and 13 variants – GL, CX, EX, SX, SX Opt. There are six petrol variants which includes an autobox and seven diesel variants including an AT variant. 

        

The City is priced lower than the Verna for the base and the top-spec manual diesels are priced on par. The top-spec Verna gets an automatic gearbox pushing the price high. However, the City offers more value with its equipment list and the overall rounded package. The Verna is getting a little long in the tooth, but the MY14 upgrade has sorted its dynamics a little and adds a few lustrous LEDs to the exterior. The City, in comparison, is a new product and packs in all the features required to keep the C-segment buyer happy, plus the Honda badge. Maruti has struggled in this segment, but the Ciaz looks promising with its simple yet bold styling and the highest fuel efficiency figures according to ARAI tests. Yes, it snatches the crown of India’s most fuel-efficient car from the Honda City. Honda City 26kmpl vs Maruti Ciaz’s 26.2kmpl. Well, so does the Ciaz pack enough in its bag to land a knock-out punch to the Honda City or will it end up replacing the Verna to be the second best? It is too early to predict. The Ciaz will definitely benefit from the Maruti badge and the nation’s largest service network, but a lot depends on how they price it. 

Well, these aren’t the only options in the C-segment and people looking for options can also consider – the Nissan Sunny, Renault Scala, Volkswagen Vento and the 2014 Skoda Rapid.