The Hyundai Verna and Honda City have been arch-rivals in the midsize sedan segment for a long time. Both are available with a petrol-CVT powertrain with similar specifications and prices. But in terms of fuel efficiency, how do the naturally aspirated petrol-CVT versions of the Verna and City compare? We put both sedans through our real-world efficiency tests to find out.
Hyundai Verna vs Honda City: Specifications, price
Both sedans get a similar engine and have a similar price range
Both the Hyundai Verna and Honda City are powered by 1.5-litre four-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol engines that produce similar outputs, and both are available with a CVT automatic transmission. However, the two sedans differ in terms of fuel tank capacity and weight. The Verna gets a 5-litre larger fuel tank but is also 56kg heavier than the City. It also has the higher claimed fuel efficiency.
When it comes to pricing, the Verna has an advantage across the petrol-CVT range. Its starting price is Rs 13,000 lower than that of the City, while its top-end variant is Rs 23,000 more affordable.
Hyundai Verna vs Honda City: Real-world fuel efficiency
What community is saying on the Verna?
The Verna CVT was more fuel-efficient in our tests than the City CVT
Both sedans were tested in their most efficient driving modes, with the Verna in Eco and the City in ECON. In our tests, the Verna returned 0.3kpl more than the City in city driving conditions and 1.41kpl more on the highway. Its higher highway efficiency can partly be attributed to the engine settling at a relaxed 1,900rpm at 100kph, while its automatic stop-start system helped conserve fuel in traffic. The City, on the other hand, does not get an automatic stop-start system, and its CVT tended to raise engine speed with even small throttle inputs. This made the City feel more responsive but also had an impact on its mileage.
The Verna’s average fuel efficiency was 0.85kpl higher than the City’s. Combined with its larger fuel tank, this gives the Verna a range of around 636.75km on a full tank, which is 104.75km more than the City’s estimated range of 532km.
Autocar India’s fuel efficiency testing
Before our real-world fuel efficiency tests, we fill our test cars’ tanks to the brim and maintain tyre pressures based on the manufacturer’s recommendation. These cars are driven in fixed city and highway loops in and around Navi Mumbai, and we maintain certain average speeds. Throughout the tests, there is only one person in each car, running the aircon at 22deg C in full-auto mode, and other electricals, such as the audio system, ventilated seats, indicators and wipers, are used when required, just like a regular user would. Periodic driver swaps further neutralise variations in driver patterns. At the end of each cycle, we calculate efficiency by filling the tanks to full again.
Uday Singh
Suraj Viswanathan
