Honda City

The Honda City has remained the Japanese carmaker's bread and butter and the leader in C-segment sedans for over a decade, and for a good reason. Besides the performance, refinement and build quality, the City is also known for its modern lines and aerodynamic design. In its latest avatar, it retains the chunky chrome slab that was added in 2013. Flanking the shiny bit is a pair of LED headlights with daytime running lights that add to the aesthetic appeal. Around the back, the latest facelift replaces the conventional tail lamp clusters in favour of efficient LED units. The side profile still maintains that arrow-head form and the line flows smoothly from the bonnet to the boot.

The City carries over those straight lines to the interior and adds a 7-inch touchscreen to the centre of the dashboard, which is mostly dominated by a black shade with silver accents. The door pads and seat covers get beige covers, which along with the sunroof, adds to the airy feel inside the cabin. The touch-based controls for the infotainment system and climate control give it a clean, flat look but make it difficult to use it without taking your eyes off the road.

The Honda City is available with a pair of 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder engines. The petrol engine makes 119PS and 145Nm and is available with a 5-speed manual and a CVT automatic. The diesel makes 100PS and 200Nm and is only available with a 6-speed manual transmission. The sedan measures 4440mm long, and it has a 2600mm wheelbase, which liberates a good amount of legroom for front and rear seat occupants. At 510 litres, the boot too is large enough to fill a weekend's worth of luggage for four.

The City starts off at Rs 8.46 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) for the S variant with a petrol engine and manual transmission. There are four variants with the petrol engine and four with the diesel engine and three trims for the petrol engine with the CVT automatic.

Two airbags, ABS, tilt-adjustable steering and a music system are standard, while the SV variant adds climate control, cruise control, rear AC vents, front and rear armrests and power-folding mirrors for a premium of about Rs 1.0 lakh. Add another Rs 1.2 lakh for the most affordable diesel variant that also benefits from the 6-speed gearbox. The V trim adds the touchscreen infotainment system, steering-mounted controls, 15-inch alloy wheels and keyless entry with push-button start for a premium of about Rs 45,000 over the SV petrol variant. Add another Rs 1.5 lakh if you want the CVT transmission or the oil burner, both of which cost close to Rs 11.5 lakh. For about Rs 1.6 lakh over the V trim with the petrol engine and manual transmission, the VX variant adds LED headlights, LED fog lamps, frameless auto-dimming inside rearview mirror, telescopic steering, 16-inch alloy wheels and leather upholstery. If you've locked your sights on the diesel engine or the CVT, then you can jump to the VX for just Rs 1.28 lakh. The top trim gets four extra airbags, auto headlamps, auto wipers, LED cabin lights and LED tail lamps and is priced at Rs 13.38 lakh and Rs 13.44 lakh for the petrol powertrain with CVT and diesel mill, respectively.

Maruti Suzuki Ciaz: Luxurious styling and strategic positioning with a mild hybrid powertrain allowed Maruti Suzuki to price its diesel trim at a modest premium over the petrol variants in many states. A competitive pricing, a refined and frugal diesel motor and a familiar brand name have allowed the Ciaz to play ping pong with the City for the top slot. With the benefits now washed away, the City will only have to tackle the well-priced petrol variants of the Ciaz until the facelift lands at Nexa showrooms.

The pricing of the Ciaz ranges from Rs 7.66 lakh to Rs 9.28 lakh for the petrol variants with a manual transmission. The 4-speed torque converter is a dated technology and packs a number of gears that would be appropriate for a car from the 90s. You have to shell out about Rs 1.2 lakh more to add a dose of vintage appeal to the Ciaz. The diesel variants start at Rs 9.43 lakh and go up to Rs 11.44 lakh for the Alpha trim. In stark contrast, the puny, 1.3-litre engine uses clever technology to help it deliver improved real-world performance and an out-of-the-world fuel efficiency figure for a car of its size without feeling nosy.

Hyundai Verna: While the GST ripped the Ciaz off its tax advantage, the Verna's bigger displacement powertrains just got massive relief. The Koreans have also replaced the ageing silhouette of the sedan with the modern, European lines of the next generation Verna. A host of new features such as a sunroof, cruise control, six airbags, touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, LED tail lamps, ventilated front seats and hands free boot lid not only bring it at par with the City but give it a stronger list of features that the buyers will appreciate every single day. Pricing is also competitive, and the engines deliver class-leading performance figures.

The Verna petrol range with manual transmission starts at Rs 8.0 lakh and goes up to Rs 11.09 lakh. The diesel options with the manual transmission range from Rs 9.2 lakh to Rs 12.4 lakh. The 6-speed automatic adds about Rs 1.15 lakh to the equation for the petrol engine and Rs 1.4 lakh or Rs 1.5 lakh with the diesel engine depending on the variant.

Skoda Rapid: The Skoda Rapid not only looks European but also feels European; and that's because it is European. The new face alone gives it an elegant vibe as it draws inspiration from pricier cars instead of looking like a hatchback (Fabia). The Rapid's tank-like build quality and mature driving dynamics are its strengths, while a thin service network and high maintenance costs keep potential customers at bay. Its pricing ranges from Rs 8.2 lakh to Rs 13.06 lakh.

Volkswagen Vento: The Volkswagen Vento shares the platform, powertrain, strengths and weaknesses with the Skoda Rapid. The Vento, however, desperately needs a generation change or at least a facelift. It has a heavy build quality and a great balance between ride and handling. These are features you'll appreciate only after you've lived with the car for some time. What you won't like is the sparse service network, high maintenance costs in case of a breakdown and low resale value. The Vento is priced between Rs 8.05 and Rs 13.64 lakh before insurance and registration fees.

The Honda City offers a healthy dose of style, space and features, which have helped it maintain pole position among rivals for a long time. But the competition has finally caught up and there are three opponents in the ring now. You can't go wrong with either as all three better each other in certain areas. The petrol engine is punchy and refined as ever, while the diesel, although a tad noisy at idle, continues to offer excellent driveability in the city and on the highway.