2023 Verna vs 5th-gen City vs Virtus: Which sedan would you buy?

The new Verna is funky & all-rounded in nature, the Honda City remains a car you just can't go wrong with and the Virtus / Slavia are a whole lot of fun.

BHPian Omkar recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hyundai Verna

What you'll like:

• An all-rounder sedan that ticks all the right boxes
• Well-positioned overall package. Priced competitively against rivals
• User-friendly interiors with good cabin space
• 158 BHP, 1.5L turbo-petrol engine is the most powerful in the segment. Gets a quick DCT too
• Comfortable, neutral suspension setup riding on 205/55 R16 tyres
• Long list of features includes LED auto headlamps, ventilated seats, electric driver’s seat, sunroof, wireless charging, smart trunk, rear sunshade & more
• Safety equipment includes level 2 ADAS tech, 6 airbags, ESC, 3-point seatbelts for all, rear disc brakes, front & rear parking sensors etc.
• Hyundai's wide service network & up to 7-years extended warranty

What you won't:

• Futuristic styling will polarise opinions. Many BHPians think the design is too edgy & unusual
• Better quality plastics should’ve been used in a car that costs 20+ lakh on-road
• No diesel engine on offer. The outgoing Verna was the last diesel sedan in the segment
• Turbo-petrols are very sensitive to driving style. FE will drop drastically when you drive hard
• Dual-clutch ATs have a history of poor reliability in India. Note: Verna with 1.5L NA CVT is available
• Back seat is more suitable for 2 healthy adults and a child. Not 3 healthy adults
• Not as much fun-to-drive as the VW Virtus & Skoda Slavia
• Missing features like a 360-degree camera, wireless Android Auto & Apple CarPlay, auto wipers and foldable rear seat (a must in sedans IMHO)

Review Link

Honda City

Review Link

Volkswagen Virtus

What you'll like:

• A ‘complete’ car that just might bring some love back to sedans
• Classy exterior & interior styling, along with solid build quality
• Cabin has good legroom on offer, supportive seats, perfect ergonomics & enough storage
• 521-litre boot is quite spacious
• 148 BHP engine makes the Virtus among the most fun-to-drive sedans in the segment
• Sporty 1.0L & 1.5L turbo-petrols are mated to smooth transmissions
• Sorted suspension offers a balanced ride & handling package
• Safety features include 6 airbags, ESC, 3-point seatbelts for all, electronic differential lock, brake disc wiping, multi-collision brake and more
• Features like active cylinder tech, ventilated seats, sunroof, wireless Android Auto and CarPlay, auto headlamps & wipers etc.
• 6-year extended warranty & 4-year all-inclusive service packages available

What you won't:

• No 1.5L diesel is a major disadvantage in a world where petrol costs over 100 bucks/litre
• DQ200 DSG transmission has a history of poor reliability & breakdowns in India
• No MT option available with the 1.5L petrol. The Slavia offers this combination
• Backseat better for 2 healthy adults and a child, rather than 3 adults
• Lovely 1.5L TSI is only available on the top variant. Should have been there in the mid-trim too like the Slavia
• Interior quality doesn’t feel up to old school VW standards. Body-coloured interior highlights are polarising too
• Missing some features such as a subwoofer, driving modes (sport), 360-degree camera & electric driver's seat adjustment
• Turbo-petrols are very sensitive to driving style. FE will drop drastically when you drive hard
• VW’s after-sales service can be a hit or miss. The brand’s long-term reliability can be patchy as well
• Slavia's 'clever' touches are missing = no spot on top of the dashboard to place a deity, no smartphone holders on the front seatbacks, no ticket clip on the windshield, no elastic band in the door pad to keep items in place, or even something as simple as the small reflective tapes on the doors

Review Link

Skoda Slavia

Review Link

Maruti Ciaz

What you'll like:

• Clean and conventional styling that will please the masses
• Value-for-money pricing that undercuts almost all rivals
• Spacious cabin with lots of practical features. The rear legroom is particularly impressive
• 1.5L petrol motor is smooth and refined
• Soft, compliant ride quality. A suspension that's tuned for comfort
• Big 510 litre boot will swallow your airport & holiday luggage
• Maruti’s excellent after-sales service, wide dealer network & fuss-free ownership experience
• Equipment such as the automatic LED projector headlamps, DRLs, 7" touchscreen ICE, rear sunshade, cruise control, telematics system etc.

What you won't:

• 1.5L petrol is rather mediocre. City & Verna petrol engines are much superior
• 4-speed Automatic gearbox feels old & outdated
• Uninvolving to drive. Enthusiasts look elsewhere
• Average under-thigh support of the low rear seat. Also, limited rear headroom for 6 footers
• Light build & ordinary interior quality. The game has moved on with newer competitors
• Missing features by today's standards like a sunroof, driver assistance system, sunroof, side and curtain airbags, 360-degree camera, etc.

Review Link

Here's what GTO had to say on the matter:

Other than the antique Ciaz, all C2-segment sedans are very strong offerings. The new Verna is funky & all-rounded in nature, the Honda City remains a car you just can't go wrong with and the Virtus / Slavia are a whole lot of fun.

My tastes are now inclined toward European cars, hence I will pick a VW Virtus or Skoda Slavia. For that awesome 1.5L DSG, driving pleasure & 5-star safety.

Here's what BHPian Aditya had to say on the matter:

Skoda Slavia 1.5L turbo + MT. It's got looks, space, pace and safety. I don't want anything to do with DSGs. So the VW Virtus is out of the reckoning.

I don't like the Honda City's high-speed driving dynamics and I am not sure of the Hyundai Verna's looks. The Ciaz is too old to be considered.

Here's what BHPian Shreyans_Jain had to say on the matter:

The decade + old and obsolete Ciaz does not belong on this list. We’ve had 3 generations of City and Maruti has been pushing its same sedan.

Between the City, Verna and Virtus/Slavia, the least attractive option remains the City. It’s a spacious and reliable car, but in this company, that’s about it. Build, engines, suspensions, ride and handling are all wanting. The hybrid model fixes a lot of the shortcomings but it is obnoxiously overpriced. At 25 odd lakhs, cars like Hector, XUV700 and Harrier also make a strong case for themselves. They have made ADAS standard, but I see it more as a gimmick, not something very useful or deal-making.

Tough call between Verna and Virtus/Slavia. All three are very competent all-rounders, guess it boils down to personal preferences. My pick will be Virtus, simply on account of the clean, timeless styling. The car is just gorgeous. Also happens to be the safest mass-market car you can buy in India.

Here's what BHPian SNA411 had to say on the matter:

Voted Ciaz, because of its immense VFM proposition.

The base Sigma variant itself has everything that you need, at a price point of 10.21 Lakhs on-road.

AC, Power Steering, 4 power windows, factory-fitted music system with Bluetooth, remote lock-unlock, rear centre armrest etc.

Good reliability, a good service centre network, and great fuel economy are added advantages.

Just spend 30k on alloys, and you're set.

Although if I had to buy a car for 11L on-road, my money would probably go to either a Brezza or a Bolero Neo.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.