Thread Starter
#1
Budget: Rs.12 lakhs on road
New or Used: New
Location: Chandigarh
Top Five Priorities: Safety, Comfort, Low Maintenance, Drivability
Monthly Running: 3000kms/Month
Type of Fuel: Diesel
For What Purpose: Regular Use
Seating Capacity: 90% only just 1 or 2 people on board.
Type of Segment: Sedan
Looking for a new car for my uncle who currently drives a 2011 Tata Manza ABS diesel which has just clocked 1,00,000kms a few days back. So planning to replace this one with a newer model. He has already shortlisted 2 cars after test driving them and wants me to take the final call for him.
Shortlisted cars -
1.Hyundai Verna.
2.Honda City
No Vento's/Rapid's as his running is a lot and these car's maintenance is surely on the higher side. Renault Scala/Nissan Sunny rejected for there looks and poor interior designs.
So finally took out some time to look at the two cars today. Had taken prior appointments for extensive test drives and fortunately both the Honda & Hyundai dealer obliged.
Took an extensive test drive of the new Honda City diesel first. The car looks pretty decent in person specially the variants V & VX with the company fitted alloys and Chrome door handles. Interiors are two generation ahead than the previous model. Really liked the touch interface for the Auto Climate control. The Head unit in V & VX variant is pretty neat as well with features of reverse camera etc. And space wise it seems to be the segment leader among the likes of Verna, Vento & Rapid.
Now coming to the drive - The moment I started the ignition there were notable engine noise and vibrations in the cabin at idle, gradually they declined in about 15seconds but still prevalent. Slotted the first gear and the car moved, not as briskly as I would have liked though. Engine noise at RPM's of 2.5k was quite evident inside the cabin. On the outside, the Honda iDtech engine sounded as loud as my Polo 1.2 TDI, but somehow on the inside I feel Polo's cabin is a tad better insulated.(Just my personal perception) Gear shifts were neat but a little notchy going from 2nd to 3rd. I really liked the driving position in the Honda City. Pushed the car to 100kmph quickly and slotted 6th gear and it was cruising at 2k RPM without any fuss. Though I would have really liked a little more power on tap in this segment but not complaining as such. Steering feedback was surely better than Hyundai Verna which I drove immediately 10mins later.
Here are the impressions of Verna 1.6 SX(O) CRDI I drove immediately later to compare with the Honda's I-Dtech.
Push the start button and you won't come to know if the engine has come to life. Yes this good are the NVH levels and minimal vibrations in the Verna. Kudos to engineers at Hyundai for achieving this almost zero levels of NVH inside the cabin. Slotted first gear and immediately you could feel the extra power on tap, gear shifts were smoother than Honda and easily hit the speeds of three digit. The one thing which left me wanting was the feedback from the steering, but it surely was better than my fluidic Verna 1.6VTVT SX 2011 model. The SE told me that the suspension has been stiffened a little by Hyundai for the newer models but it still lacks the absolute driving characteristics an enthusiast would have liked.
Feature wise more or less both cars are on par with maybe Honda marginally ahead but the SX(O) with extra 4 Airbags made more sense than having a sunroof in City VX variant. Cruise control in City is surely a plus but I've my doubts over its usability in India. Backseat comfort is surely better in the City with generous sized windows as well. The upward swooping window-line in Verna makes it a little claustrophobic at the rear. But rear space is of no or little importance to him.
My uncle drives about 100kms daily on the highway as his Hospital is about 40-45kms one-way from his house. He is one of those very sedate drivers who generally don't even go beyond 70kmph even with a 6 lane empty road ahead.
After driving the two today, I am a little bent towards the Verna SX(O) just for the extra 4 Airbags and the new set of headlamp assembly with projector and DRL's. Steering feedback is a bit of a letdown but everything else seems pretty decent and since my uncle doesn't drive at insane speeds which I have pushed my petrol Verna every now and then, I am sure he should not encounter those nervy moments which I have felt quite a few times at triple digit speeds in my Verna.
This car is not to be driven by me, so would appreciate fellow TAI members suggestions before I give him my final verdict. Thanks.
P.S. - Price comparison
Honda City VX diesel - 10.92 Lakhs ex-showroom Chandigarh. (No discounts)
Hyundai Verna SX(O) CRDI - 10.78 Lacks ex-showroom Chandigarh.(Additional 30k discount as well.)
New or Used: New
Location: Chandigarh
Top Five Priorities: Safety, Comfort, Low Maintenance, Drivability
Monthly Running: 3000kms/Month
Type of Fuel: Diesel
For What Purpose: Regular Use
Seating Capacity: 90% only just 1 or 2 people on board.
Type of Segment: Sedan
Looking for a new car for my uncle who currently drives a 2011 Tata Manza ABS diesel which has just clocked 1,00,000kms a few days back. So planning to replace this one with a newer model. He has already shortlisted 2 cars after test driving them and wants me to take the final call for him.
Shortlisted cars -
1.Hyundai Verna.
2.Honda City
No Vento's/Rapid's as his running is a lot and these car's maintenance is surely on the higher side. Renault Scala/Nissan Sunny rejected for there looks and poor interior designs.
So finally took out some time to look at the two cars today. Had taken prior appointments for extensive test drives and fortunately both the Honda & Hyundai dealer obliged.
Took an extensive test drive of the new Honda City diesel first. The car looks pretty decent in person specially the variants V & VX with the company fitted alloys and Chrome door handles. Interiors are two generation ahead than the previous model. Really liked the touch interface for the Auto Climate control. The Head unit in V & VX variant is pretty neat as well with features of reverse camera etc. And space wise it seems to be the segment leader among the likes of Verna, Vento & Rapid.
Now coming to the drive - The moment I started the ignition there were notable engine noise and vibrations in the cabin at idle, gradually they declined in about 15seconds but still prevalent. Slotted the first gear and the car moved, not as briskly as I would have liked though. Engine noise at RPM's of 2.5k was quite evident inside the cabin. On the outside, the Honda iDtech engine sounded as loud as my Polo 1.2 TDI, but somehow on the inside I feel Polo's cabin is a tad better insulated.(Just my personal perception) Gear shifts were neat but a little notchy going from 2nd to 3rd. I really liked the driving position in the Honda City. Pushed the car to 100kmph quickly and slotted 6th gear and it was cruising at 2k RPM without any fuss. Though I would have really liked a little more power on tap in this segment but not complaining as such. Steering feedback was surely better than Hyundai Verna which I drove immediately 10mins later.
Here are the impressions of Verna 1.6 SX(O) CRDI I drove immediately later to compare with the Honda's I-Dtech.
Push the start button and you won't come to know if the engine has come to life. Yes this good are the NVH levels and minimal vibrations in the Verna. Kudos to engineers at Hyundai for achieving this almost zero levels of NVH inside the cabin. Slotted first gear and immediately you could feel the extra power on tap, gear shifts were smoother than Honda and easily hit the speeds of three digit. The one thing which left me wanting was the feedback from the steering, but it surely was better than my fluidic Verna 1.6VTVT SX 2011 model. The SE told me that the suspension has been stiffened a little by Hyundai for the newer models but it still lacks the absolute driving characteristics an enthusiast would have liked.
Feature wise more or less both cars are on par with maybe Honda marginally ahead but the SX(O) with extra 4 Airbags made more sense than having a sunroof in City VX variant. Cruise control in City is surely a plus but I've my doubts over its usability in India. Backseat comfort is surely better in the City with generous sized windows as well. The upward swooping window-line in Verna makes it a little claustrophobic at the rear. But rear space is of no or little importance to him.
My uncle drives about 100kms daily on the highway as his Hospital is about 40-45kms one-way from his house. He is one of those very sedate drivers who generally don't even go beyond 70kmph even with a 6 lane empty road ahead.
After driving the two today, I am a little bent towards the Verna SX(O) just for the extra 4 Airbags and the new set of headlamp assembly with projector and DRL's. Steering feedback is a bit of a letdown but everything else seems pretty decent and since my uncle doesn't drive at insane speeds which I have pushed my petrol Verna every now and then, I am sure he should not encounter those nervy moments which I have felt quite a few times at triple digit speeds in my Verna.
This car is not to be driven by me, so would appreciate fellow TAI members suggestions before I give him my final verdict. Thanks.
P.S. - Price comparison
Honda City VX diesel - 10.92 Lakhs ex-showroom Chandigarh. (No discounts)
Hyundai Verna SX(O) CRDI - 10.78 Lacks ex-showroom Chandigarh.(Additional 30k discount as well.)