2023 Honda City vs Maruti Ciaz vs Skoda Slavia vs Volkswagen Virtus vs Upcoming Hyundai Verna: Dimensions, Specs And Features Compared

Honda has updated its bread-and-butter City with a facelift, BS6.2-compliant engines and some important features. On the outset, the City’s updates seem minor, but they go a long way to make the sedan as well equipped as some of its rivals. 

The City goes up against the Maruti Ciaz, Skoda Slavia, Volkswagen Virtus and upcoming Hyundai Verna. Here’s a look at how the Honda sedan compares with its existing and soon-to-be-launched competitors. 

How big is the new City? 

• 2023 Honda City is the longest among its rivals; its top-spec variant is a tad longer owing to a faux diffuser placed below the rear bumper. 

• New Verna is the widest car in this comparison and also has the longest wheelbase. 

• City’s wheelbase and boot capacity are the smallest here, but it still offers a substantial 506-litre storage volume. 

• Slavia-Virtus twins are the tallest and a testament to how much compact sedans have grown in size in 2023. 

• Ciaz is the smallest car here, but its 510-litre boot space is a tad larger than the City’s. 

Also read: 2023 Hyundai Verna New Generation Dimensions vs VW Virtus, Skoda Slavia, Maruti Ciaz, Honda City

Features and safety equipment 

*Expected features based on official sources and teasers 

• With its 2023 updates, the Honda City is among the best-equipped sedans in its segment. 

VW Virtus interior

• It gets a smaller touchscreen than the VW-Skoda and Hyundai sedans, but the City now gets wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. 

• The 2023 Verna is expected to be neck-and-neck with the City and could get more features such as ventilated front seats.

• The ageing Ciaz lags well behind the segment with its limited equipment list. 

*Expected features based on official sources and teasers 

**Tyre pressure monitoring system 

• The 2023 Honda City now gets driver-assistance tech in the petrol model as well, which includes features such as adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist and forward collision prevention. 

• All sedans in the segment get up to six airbags, except the Ciaz which only has two airbags. 

• The City lacks a 360-degree camera, which the Verna is expected to get. 

Also read: Facelifted Honda City And City Hybrid Variants Explained: Which Variant Packs What Features?

Engine specs 

Apart from the City and Ciaz, the other sedans each get two engine options. Here’s a comparison of the top-spec engines: 

• Honda City is the only sedan in its segment to offer a strong-hybrid powertrain. 

• The Verna, Slavia and Virtus get 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engines in the range-topping variants with class-leading performance figures. 

• The range-topping City e-HEV strong-hybrid, despite its 126PS output, is the least powerful of the lot, but its e-motor torque output is similar to the turbo-petrol units.  

• The City has an e-CVT gearbox, while rivals’ turbo-petrol engines come with dual-clutch automatic (DCT) transmission.

Here’s a comparison of the base-spec engines: 

*Expected specs based on official sources and teasers

• The City’s 1.5-litre NA petrol engine makes more power than all the other base-spec engines.

• The 1-litre TSI turbo-petrol engines in the VW-Skoda sedans make more torque.

• The Ciaz is the least powerful car here and only gets a four-speed automatic option.

• All sedans except the Ciaz get a six-speed manual gearbox as standard. 

Verdict 

The facelifted Honda City was already a sought-after sedan in its segment; but after the facelift, it now gets some key features that push it further upmarket. Sedans in the segment are getting better with the times, and the 2023 Verna is expected to set a high benchmark. Nevertheless, the City should hold its own with its time-tested powertrains, driver-assistance tech and other new features.