Dimensions – Maruti Ciaz is longest and widest in class at 4,490 mm and 1,730 mm respectively. Next stands Honda City with significantly higher length than remaining sedans, Volkswagen Vento, Skoda Rapid and Hyundai Verna; while width and height of all given sedans are similar. Ground clearance of Maruti Ciaz is highest at 170 mm, while German cars in competition have 168 mm and Honda City has 165 mm. Turning radius of Ciaz sedan is higher and similar to zee Germans, whereas Honda City and Hyundai Verna make smaller circles of 5.3 m radius.
Petrol Engine – Maruti Ciaz is powered by 1.4 litre K14M engine also doing duty in Maruti Ertiga MPV, producing 92.45 PS max. power @ 6000 rpm and 130 Nm peak torque @ 4000 rpm. Honda City is propelled by 1.5 litre i-VTEC engine delivering 119 PS @ 6600 rpm and 145 Nm @ 4600 rpm. Hyundai Verna is pushed by two engines, 1.4 litre VTVT motor churning out 107 PS @ 6300 rpm and 135.30 Nm @ 5000 rpm, and 1.6 litre VTVT engine throwing 123 PS @ 6300 rpm and 155 Nm @ 4200 rpm.
Volkswagen Vento is driven by 1.6 litre MPI motor generating 105 PS @ 5250 rpm and 153 Nm @ 3800 rpm and 1.2 litre TSI unit producing 105 PS @ 5000 rpm and 175 Nm @ 1500 – 4100 rpm. Skoda Rapid is run by Volkswagen’s 1.6 litre MPI engine with same output.
Diesel Engine – Maruti Ciaz diesel is driven by 1.3 litre DDiS 200 mill (also seen in Ertiga), producing 90 PS @ 4000 and 200 @ 1750 rpm. Honda City is pushed by 1.5 litre i-DTEC engine giving out 100 PS @ 3600 rpm and 200 Nm @ 1750 rpm. Hyundai Verna again has two engines, for diesel variants; 1.4 litre CRDi unit generating 90 PS @ 4000 rpm and 220 Nm @ 1750 – 2750 rpm, and 1.6 litre CRDi oil burner throwing 128 PS @ 4000 rpm and 260 Nm @ 1900 – 2750 rpm.
Volkswagen Vento is driven by new 1.5 litre TDI engine premiered in 2014 Polo, sending 105 PS @ 4400 rpm and 250 Nm @ 1500 – 2500 rpm. Skoda Rapid also uses same engine without any change.
Transmission (Petrol) – gets 5 speed manual and 4 speed automatic units (performing in Maruti Dzire) coupled with petrol motor. Honda City comes with 5 speed manual gearbox and Continuously Varying Transmission (CVT automatic) mated to 1.5 litre i-VTEC engine. Hyundai Verna gets 5 speed manual kit mated to 1.4 litre VTVT, while 1.6 VTVT version is given 5 speed manual and 4 speed automatic choices.
Volkswagen Vento equips 5 speed manual paired with 1.6 MPI engine and 7 speed DSG (auto) kit mated to 1.2 TSI motor. Skoda Rapid features 5 MT or 6 speed Tiptronic (auto) transmissions receiving power from 1.6 litre MPI unit.
Transmission (Diesel) – Maruti Ciaz sedan gets only 5 speed manual gearbox attached to diesel motor. Honda City and Hyundai Verna diesel receive 6 speed manual boxes only with 1.5 i-DTEC engine in former, and 1.4 CRDi & 1.6 CRDi mills in latter. Volkswagen Vento, for the first time gets 7 speed DSG (automatic) setup mated to diesel engine (new 1.5 TDI), apart from 5 speed manual transmission. Skoda Rapid also comes with same transmission options as Vento.
Price – Maruti Ciaz is most affordable in segment, with starting price of Rs. 6.99 lakhs (petrol) and Rs. 8.04 lakhs (diesel). Skoda Rapid emerges next least expensive petrol sedan, priced at Rs. 7.22 lakhs while Honda City is next most affordable diesel car at Rs. 8.37 lakhs.
