Delhi

•4d

Hello Autocar team! I recently booked a Honda City ZX+ CVT. After test-driving both the Honda City and the Volkswagen Virtus, I found the City more comfortable and premium, but I noticed engine noise under hard acceleration and tyre and road noise at highway speeds. Based on your long-term testing experience, which car is better for 8-10 years of ownership in terms of suspension durability, highway comfort, cabin insulation and reliability? Is the City genuinely better, or is the Virtus technically superior in some areas? Please give us an unbiased opinion.

•40m

You are spot on in your observation about the high engine noise during hard acceleration on the Honda City CVT. That is a function of its CVT gearbox and the notorious 'rubberband effect' in which the revs rise sharply without a correspondingly quick increase in road speed. The CVT gearbox does have its advantages, with a smoother drive experience in city and low-speed conditions, but it's not the exciting choice.

The Volkswagen Virtus is the superior driving car, thanks to its turbocharged engines and torque converter automatic and dual-clutch automatic gearboxes, depending on the engine you opt for. The Virtus is due for an update in the weeks to come, which will see the move to an 8-speed torque converter automatic transmission for the 1.0 TSI engine. We've experienced the same engine and gearbox combination on the Skoda Slavia and found it to have uplifted the overall drive experience. In terms of cabin insulation, ride comfort, and even highway stability, the Virtus does feel superior to the Honda City. Fuel economy, however, is entirely dependent on your driving style. Drive with enthusiasm, and you'll see fuel economy dip quickly, which is something true for all turbo-petrol engines.

While both the Honda City and Volkswagen Virtus are sound products, the City does have the more proven track record for reliability. That being said, there are no fundamental areas of concern on the Virtus. The upcoming update will also address the mediocre cooling, which has been a bugbear for the product since launch.

To us, the Volkswagen Virtus is the car that will put a bigger smile on your face.

Explore cars mentioned

Honda

City

from ₹14.02 Lakh

Volkswagen

Virtus

from ₹12.43 Lakh

Skoda

Slavia

from ₹11.15 Lakh

•3m•

Hi @sushanthkumar

, There are a few important factors I'd suggest considering before making your decision: 1. CVT gearbox performance 2. Road noise and cabin insulation 3. Seat comfort and ergonomics Gearbox: If you are considering the Honda City CVT, you will notice some CVT rubber-band effect and engine response lag, particularly during hard acceleration, compared to the more engaging automatic gearbox experience in the Volkswagen Virtus. However, the City has an advantage when it comes to long-term reliability and ownership peace of mind. Road noise: The Honda City's cabin insulation could be improved. Aftermarket sound damping and switching the factory-fitted tyres to something like Continental UC6 could potentially make a noticeable difference to road noise and overall cabin comfort. Interior and seating comfort: The Honda City undeniably has a more premium-feeling interior in my opinion. Its seating position, cushioning and overall seat comfort are noticeably better than the Virtus, especially if you spend long hours behind the wheel. My take on the two cars: The Virtus is primarily a driver's car. If your priorities are performance, handling, driving dynamics and power delivery, the Virtus is the one to choose. On the other hand, if you prioritise plush seating, a comfortable cabin, a premium interior and long-term reliability, the Honda City makes more sense. Long Term Reliability: Honda City – 9/10 VW Virtus – 7.5/10 Seating comfort: Honda City – 9/10 VW Virtus – 7.5/10 Driving pleasure: Honda City – 7/10 VW Virtus – 9/10 Friendly Note: Also ICE era may gradually give way to EVs over the next 5–10 years. So, this could be a good opportunity to experience and enjoy traditional petrol engines while they're still widely available, before alternative fuels like E85 potentially become more mainstream. After all, it's not just about getting from A to B. it's also about enjoying the driving experience! Consider 1.5 litre DSG Virtus if you want more power, as there will be discounts on Virtus as facelift is around the corner.

More posts on similar cars

•4d

Hello Autocar India! We’re a family of three looking to replace our 2012 Maruti Suzuki Alto K10 VXi. It will be our second car, since we already own a Honda City bought in December 2025. The second car will be used for emergencies and for places with narrow roads or tight parking spots. We’ve shortlisted the Maruti Suzuki Swift LXi and the Hyundai Grand i10 Nios Era. The second car will be used mostly in the city, while occasional highway trips will be done in the Honda. Since we’ve clocked only about 2,900 km on the City so far, it’s hard to estimate how much the second car will be driven. Is it worth stepping up to the Swift VXi AMT or the Grand i10 Nios Magna MT? I also have a couple of doubts: 1. The Z12E engine was launched only in 2024, so it isn’t as tried and tested as Hyundai’s 1.2 Kappa. What are your thoughts on its long-term reliability? 2. Since the Z12E is a three-cylinder engine, how will its refinement hold up over time? Thank you in advance!

•3h

The Maruti Suzuki Swift VXI AMT would be the right car for your requirements. The Swift is the newer car and feels better outside and inside. It also feels better suited to city use. The Z12E engine is tuned for low-end power and works well enough with the AMT gearbox. While the Z12E is a relatively new engine, you shouldn't have any trouble with long-term reliability. Suzuki's engines are renowned to be reliable and go on for years and years, provided you stick to regular maintenance schedules. The Z12E engine is also refined for a three-cylinder unit. It runs quiet and you can only feel a buzz at idle if you really pay attention. The engine will thrum when you rev it hard but that will be a rarity in your use case.Go ahead with the Maruti Suzuki Swift VXI AMT. It'll be a good second car to your Honda City.

Maruti Suzuki Swift

Honda City

•3d

Hey guys! We’ve been using a 2019 Kia Seltos 1.4 DCT and are now planning to change our car. I’m leaning towards a sedan, particularly the VW Virtus, mainly for its performance, driving comfort, and overall build quality. I’ve also driven the VW Vento 1.0 TSI before, so I’m familiar with the driving experience. However, the Virtus doesn’t quite feel like a significant upgrade from our current car, especially considering that the interiors feel a bit dated compared to what’s available today. I’ve also been looking at the Toyota Camry, which I think is a beautiful car and offers a more premium experience, but it’s a little too expensive for our budget. We drive around 15,000 km a year, with a mix of city driving and highway trips. I’m looking for a car that offers an engaging driving experience, good performance, comfortable long-distance cruising, and a premium feel. A sedan would be my first preference, but I’m open to an SUV if it makes more sense. What would you guys recommend? Are there any cars worth considering that would feel like a genuine upgrade from the Kia Seltos ?

•3h

Unfortunately, there are only few sedans to choose from. Aside from the Volkswagen Virtus that you're familiar with, there's the Skoda Slavia, Hyundai Verna, and Honda City. While all models are good in their own right, none of them would feel like a significant upgrade over your 2019 Kia Seltos 1.4 DCT. The Toyota Camry is a great product but would be too much of a stretch. With sedans out of the question, we'd shift our focus to SUVs. And the first model that comes to mind is the new Kia Sorento. It's significantly larger than the Seltos, offers the flexibility of a third row of seats and feels genuinely premium on the inside. Your kind of use makes the Sorento Hybrid worth a look. It's got more than adequate power, and you'll also get great fuel economy over your mix of city and highway drives. If your priority is more towards the highway experience, we's guide you towards the Sorento diesel. The diesel is strong and punchy and works really well with the dual-clutch gearbox. It makes for a refined highway cruiser that you'd happily spend long hours in. Of the other models, you could also consider the Mahindra XUV7XO petrol. Again, it's got the flexibility of three rows of seating, feels plush and packs in loads of features. The 200hp petrol engine is also very impressive. However, if you've been happy with the Kia experience, the Sorento would be our pick for you.

I am planning to buy an automatic transmission sedan. I have filtered down to VW Virtus and Skoda Slavia but I am confused between the two since both vehicles are pretty similar to each other. My budget is around Rs. 20 lakh. Also, VW Virtus Topline AT and Slavia Prestige AT variant are in this similar range. Which one to go ahead with and for what reasons? I currently own a Dzire and this will be my first german car.

•20h

Since you are upgrading from a Maruti Suzuki Dzire and this will be your first German car, both the Volkswagen Virtus Topline AT and Skoda Slavia Prestige AT are worth considering. They share their engines and platform, so the differences largely come down to styling, features and pricing. The updated Slavia gets improved air conditioning with a new variable geometry compressor, an eight speed torque converter automatic that is smoother and more efficient, larger infotainment and driver display screens, a 360 degree camera and a rear seat massage function, making it a more appealing package than before.However, the Virtus is also expected to receive a facelift soon, with similar styling and feature updates likely. We would suggest waiting before making a decision, especially as the updated Virtus could address some of the current model’s shortcomings.

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•1w

I am looking for a petrol automatic car under Rs 12 lakh with good features. My first choice is the Honda Amaze, but I am concerned about its ground clearance and engine performance. Around 70% of my driving will be in the city. Would the Amaze be a good choice?

•6d

With 70% city driving, the Honda Amaze is actually a very sensible choice. The CVT automatic is smooth and easy to drive in traffic. The engine is reliable, and the car’s compact dimensions make it easy to manoeuvre and park.The only real drawback is that the engine is not particularly torquey, so it can feel a bit flat on highways or when fully loaded. However, for predominantly city use, that is not a major concern. The ground clearance at 172 mm is adequate for most urban conditions, but a fully loaded car can cause the rear suspension to compress significantly, requiring caution over large speed breakers. If you like the Honda Amaze petrol automatic for what it offers, go for it.

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•4d

I am planning to buy either Kia Seltos HTX ivt or Tata Sierra EV empowered 75. Since there is concern on petrol availability/pricing and ethanol blending in the future, which option would be better for our monthly usage of around 500km within the city which will also include 2 trips outside the city every year. If I take Seltos, I am concerned about its resale value in 5 to 10 years and more for an EV as it is more expensive as compared to Deltos and its infrastructure problems. What do you suggest?

•3d

Go for the Kia Seltos HTX IVT. Your usage pattern of around 500km a month in the city with only two outstation trips a year does not justify the premium of the Tata Sierra EV Empowered 75. The Seltos IVT is a smooth, refined and reliable petrol automatic that will handle your city driving effortlessly, and Kia’s service network and ownership experience are strong. Concerns about petrol availability and ethanol blending are largely overblown - E20-compliant engines are designed to handle the fuel, and there is no official roadmap beyond E20 at this stage. The Sierra EV is a very impressive product with a premium cabin and strong range, but it is significantly more expensive and you will not recover that premium through fuel savings at your level of usage. The Seltos is the more sensible and cost-effective choice for your requirements.

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•4d

For my personal requirements, I have shortlisted two cars including Mahindra 3XO Edge automatic and Brezza VXI automatic. The only reason for which I have shortlisted Brezza is because of its simple engine. Otherwise, everyone in my family wants to go with 3XO for its space, unique looks and bigger width. I want to know about TCMPFi engine. Will it be reliable and at least better than Nexon's Revotron?

•4d

Go for the Mahindra XUV 3XO Edge automatic. The Brezza VXi automatic is a safe, simple and reliable choice, but the 3XO is the better fit for your requirements. It offers a wider cabin, more space and a more premium feel, which your family clearly values. The TCMPFi engine is a turbocharged petrol unit and is fundamentally a sound engine. It is not a new or unproven powertrain, and Mahindra has had time to refine it. It is also paired with a 6-speed torque converter automatic, which is a proven and reliable gearbox type. Compared to the Nexon’s Revotron engine, the 3XO’s powertrain is more refined and the gearbox is smoother and more conventional in its operation. The Brezza’s naturally aspirated petrol engine is simpler and will likely be marginally more reliable over a very long ownership period, but the 3XO’s engine is not something to worry about from a reliability perspective. Given your family’s preference for space and the more premium feel, the 3XO is the better choice.

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