NEWFANGLED CITY SLICKERS

The new Honda City arrives to face some stiff competition from family sedans across a wide price spectrum, but a key competitor is the equally new Hyundai Verna. We pit the two 1,497-cc petrol manual rivals against each other

- Jim Gorde

The prestige factor of owning a sedan is still strong in the minds of many. some prefer a boot to go with the added length. aero plays a factor for a tiny few, too. there isn’t really a shortage of choice, for sure, with offerings from all origins; from the turbocharged Škoda Rapid and Volkswagen Vento to the naturally aspirated Maruti Suzuki ciaz and Toyota Yaris. two new ones that came to the party are the new Hyundai Verna and the fifth-generation honda city.

The Bs6 norms have seen many a manufacturer take the chance to launch updated models. while the petrols simply need recalibration, direct-injection engines now need a particulate filter whereas diesel needs a lot more. thankfully, the new breed of 1.5-liter petrol engines we have here are naturally aspirated and port-injected ones and don’t need too much equipment to control their emissions.

Exterior and Style

Hyundai have worked on their Korean accent and introduced sharper styling with modern touches in the Verna. the shape is more four-door coupé than the elongated profile of its competitor here. it’s a sleek execution but comes off more rounded than anything else. Verna’s grille is inspired by the Korean brand’s new design philosophy and is wider with more unique elements in its structure. it’s the more aggressive-looking car of the two.

The city, on the other hand, made me immediately think of the clarity. with its thick chrome line, it’s futuristic, yes, but the body also seems overly bulbous. Yet, styling is entirely subjective, so it varies from eye to eye and I’ll leave it at that.