<p></p><b>SAFETY</b><br><p><i></i><b></b></p><p><b></b>1)<b>&nbsp;</b>Ciaz has dual front airbags, ABS+EBD, ISOFIX, as a part of standard equipment. The made-in-India Ciaz scored 4/5 stars in Asean NCAP. That said, build doesn’t feel as sturdy as Europeans.</p><p>2) City standard safety features mimic aforementioned list of Ciaz's. Overall build and feel is more Japanese than European. Rivals have reduced the gap here.</p><p>3) 5th generation Verna feels better built than both rivals here, and has similar basic safety kit. Height adjustable seat belts are available only in Verna, missed out in contemporaries of this battle.</p><p>4) City and Verna have option of 6 airbags on top trims. However, we do expect them to be available on at least one trim below top one. Ciaz doesn’t offer 6 airbags on any of its variants. For that matter, none of the Maruti Suzuki cars have 6 airbags, even as an option.</p><p>5) Braking is at par all three cars exhibit stability even under hard braking, but it’s Honda’s brakes that stand out. well-tuned and confidence inspiring. Rear discs not available in either of the cars listed here! Last generation Verna had it.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p><b>PERFORMANCE</b></p><p>1)<b>&nbsp;</b>Ciaz engines are least powerful among the three, but the car is also the lightest here. The 1.4 litre 4-cylinder petrol engine puts out 91 BHP and 130 Nm torque, while 1.3 litre 4-cylinder turbocharged diesel unit is rated at 89 BHP and 200 Nm torque. Both the engines are coupled with 5-speed manual transmission with option of pairing petrol engine with 4-speed torque converter automatic transmission.</p><p><b></b>2) City is equipped with segment best 1.5 litre 4-cylinder petrol engine rated at 117 BHP and 145 Nm torque. The diesel version gets 1.5 litre 4-cylinder turbocharged motor putting out 99 BHP and 200 Nm torque. Petrol motor can be had with 5-speed manual transmission or CVT while diesel is coupled with 6-speed manual transmission. Paddle shifters and Sports mode are part of CVT, exclusive in this segment, not just this battle.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>3) Verna gets a pair of 1.6 litre 4 cylinder engines. The one consuming petrol gets 121 BHP and 151 Nm torque. The diesel engine is turbocharged developing 126 BHP and 260 Nm torque. Both the engines can be paired with either 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>4) Ciaz petrol is energetic in city, but open roads bring out the lower output. It's not slow, but unenthusiastic. Diesel is better when roads open up, but it has some lag while operating in dense traffic. Maruti has tuned the car well though. Both the engines are up to their tasks which makes it a capable cruiser, but not road burner. The 4-speed AT is slow and dated.</p><p>5) City's petrol motor is terrific, top end is very addictive. The engine's refined, powerful and efficient but has poor low-end torque. The diesel motor is fuel efficient has just about adequate power but it’s noisy by all standards. All available transmissions are smooth and fuel efficient. Petrol engine is best in the segment.</p><p>6) Verna has segment best diesel motor. Refined for a diesel, punchy and lag is considerably reduced. Absolutely fantastic on highways. Petrol has linear build of power with added dose of refinement. Smooth gearboxes, 6-speeds torque-converters help while cruising but they're slightly less fuel efficient.</p><p>7) Handling is best in City, but there is some roll and steering is light. Ciaz is clearly tuned for comfort. Verna has best balance overall, its handling is much improved over its predecessor.</p><p><b>COMFORT</b></p><div><div>1) Ciaz has maximum space, but rear seat base could have been larger for better under-thigh support. Front seats are at par. Rear seats lack adjustable headrests. Legroom in abundance at front and rear.</div><div><br></div><div>2) City is rear seat champion, and top end gets adjustable rear headrests too. Front seats are also comfortable, while overall comfort levels being the segment best. Slightly inclined floor also increases comfort. Drive or driven in, City covers both grounds well.</div><div><br></div><div>3) Verna has marked improvement over its predecessor. Front and rear seats offer good support, while front ventilated seats are immensely practical and soothing feature not offered in this segment by anyone else. Rear seats have cocooned in feeling while avoiding claustrophobic feeling. That said, it has narrow area to ingress and egress at the rear.</div><div><br></div><div>4) Ride quality at urban speeds is best in Ciaz, clearly comfort oriented set up. City and Verna are slightly firm compared to Ciaz. As speeds climb, Verna remains stable closely followed by City. Ciaz best driven a notch down. Verna has significantly improved ride, leads it to best balance between ride and handling.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>5) Feature list run long in all the three cars with Verna getting the crown, we love the ventilated front seats. This segment has come quite afar in a decade with increased overall comfort.</div><div><br><p><b></b><b>EXTERIOR</b></p><p><b></b>1)<b>&nbsp;</b>Ciaz has simple lines, has massive length in its favor. Won't turn as many heads and at the same time aesthetics radiate an aura of class not earlier seen in Maruti badge. If it about "lambi Gaadi", this is the one to park in &nbsp;your garage. Rear bumper overdone. It’s the only car here to not get a sunroof.</p><p>2) City facelift has granted it a few more years. LED headlights are eye catching yet effective at night, fantastic execution here. Alloys look good too. From the rear, both City and Ciaz has some shared design cues. It doesn't show its age and looks contemporary, credit to Honda for that.</p><p>3) Verna has mini-Elantra front looks, well defined premium looking rear end and proportionate dimensions make it appear fresher than other two. C-pillar integration is sporty, may we add!&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>4) When it comes to shoes, Hyundai has the best execution, City too ties for the looks of alloys. Ciaz feel ordinary in comparison. Fit and finish best in Hyundai.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>5) Honda's LED package (headlights+foglights+taillights+Daytime Running Lights+spoiler) stand out in this comparo. Projector set up standard in Ciaz. Verna gets projector bi-beam headlights and foglights. City wins this round but only marginally.</p><b>INTERIOR</b></div><div><br></div><div>1) Ciaz shares lot of its cabin bits with other Maruti's, at the end of the day, the overall cabin is still better than what we expect from Maruti. However, it's overshadowed by rivals. Fit and finish is good but the cabin lacks flair.</div><div><br></div><div>2) City with its asymmetrical dash catches the eye and even the instrument cluster looks better executed of all the three cars here. Overall quality cannot be found fault with. A common design with models placed lower than City doesn't help its cause though. The carpet, strangely, is beige meaning it’s a dirt magnet.</div><div><br></div><div>3) Verna has a more simplistic approach towards interior design and execution. Practicality takes precedence this time for Hyundai. Lower dash increases front visibility, a huge plus! Quality good too as what we have come to expect from Hyundai.</div><div><br></div><div>4) Space is maximum in Ciaz making the cabin feel airy, closely followed by City and Verna.</div><div><br></div><div>5) Verna takes the crown here with practical application of design, while making one feel good with quality, money well spent feeling cannot be defeated by rivals here. Touchscreen infotainment with navigation available in all three cars.</div><div><b><br></b></div><div><b>PRACTICALITY</b></div><div><br></div><div>1)<b>&nbsp;</b>Verna ground clearance stands at 165 mm, so is City's. Ciaz ground clearance is 170 mm. In case of Verna, diesel AT is not available in top trim and hence also misses out on equipment like 6 airbags, ventilated seats and PEPS (Passive Entry Push Button Start). Honda City petrol top trim isn't available in manual transmission missing out on few goodies and 6-airbags!&nbsp;&nbsp;<br></div><div><p>2) Ciaz appears to be the most practical buy. High efficiency, Maruti’s low cost of ownership, a huge cabin, large trunk at 510 liters, all point towards a practical buy. However, it's a decision appealing to head more than heart. Doesn't feel special but does everything asked to do without putting a hole in your wallet.</p><p>3) City has its own charm and facelift takes it a step further. It also boasts of a large trunk at 510 liters, the best rear seat and best petrol engine. A noisy diesel takes away few points, but there is hardly anything to find fault with. Fact that it has got good dynamics and brakes widen its berth of accomplishments.</p><p>4) Ironically, none of these cars get telescopic (length) steering wheel adjustment, rear discs (previous gen Verna had it), ESP (Electronic Stability Program) and HHC (Hill-Hold Control)!&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>5) Somehow, Verna tops out our comparison. Smaller touches like ventilated seats, a balanced ride and handling package, fit and finish, build, smooth, refined and punchy engine + tranny combination, all point towards a proposition that just manages to win by tiniest of whiskers here. It makes the consumer feel good, and that matters the most.</p><p><b></b><b>CARHUNT RECOMMENDS</b></p><p>

1) Verna: Excellent diesel, massively improved dynamics, room at rear can be improved. Well finished and priced, feature rich. Trumps rivals!&nbsp;</p><p>2) City: Still looks fresh, rear seat champ and segment best petrol motor. Diesel one is noisy but efficient. Slightly stiff price but has its own charisma.</p><p>

3)<b>&nbsp;</b>Ciaz: Easy on pocket, does what is asked, most spacious. Lacks enthusiasm, deserves more grunt. Appeals to head, not heart.&nbsp;</p><p><b></b><b>PRICE RANGE&nbsp;</b>(all prices are ex-showroom, Delhi)<b>

</b><b></b></p><ul><li><p>Hyundai Verna: Rs. 7.99-12.61 lakh</p></li><li><p>Honda City: Rs. 8.58-13.62 lakh </p></li><li><p>Maruti Ciaz: Rs. 7.77-11.55 lakh</p></li></ul></div></div>