Honda City CVT and Hyundai Verna CVT put to the test in performance comparison

Both the Honda City and the Hyundai Verna feature a 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder, naturally aspirated petrol engine paired with a continuous variable transmission, though the Honda uses a 7-step unit while the Hyundai uses an 8-step unit. The Honda City makes 121hp and 145Nm of torque, and at 1,168kg, it is 55kg lighter than the Verna. The Hyundai Verna produces 115hp and 144Nm of torque with a kerb weight of 1,224kg.

Performance Tests

Due to its lighter weight and higher output, the Honda City takes an early lead at launch and stays ahead up to 60kph, clocking 0 to 20kph in 1.47 seconds, 0 to 40kph in 3.35 seconds, and 0 to 60kph in 5.51 seconds. The Hyundai Verna takes over from there, reaching 100kph in 11.57 seconds compared to the City's 11.84 seconds, and pulling 1.84 seconds ahead by the time both cars hit 120kph. In rolling acceleration tests using kickdown, the Verna completes the 20 to 80kph run in 6.49 seconds and the 40 to 100kph run in 8.18 seconds, edging out the City's respective times of 6.69 seconds and 8.27 seconds, though real-world differences remain hard to notice.

Price Range

The Hyundai Verna CVT range is more affordable than the Honda City CVT range, with ex-showroom prices spanning from Rs. 14.46 lakh to 17.21 lakh for the Verna and Rs. 14.61 lakh to 17.46 lakh for the City. The Verna's starting price is Rs. 15,000 lower than the City, and its top trim is Rs. 25,000 cheaper.

Context

Testing cars in controlled environments with standardized fuel loads and tyre pressures helps media outlets compare vehicles fairly. Mid-size sedan buyers often weigh petrol-CVT variants for daily comfort over manual gearboxes.