Interiors

Like its exterior, the City’s interiors are brilliantly designed too. The ‘arrow shot’ theme continues inside with the dashboard arching towards the central console. The big comfy seats in the front are the most comfortable of the quartet and the City scores high on rear seat space thanks to maximum room and generous under-thigh support. The Civic- derived steering wheel feels good to hold and comes with audio controls. Cubby holes and storage spaces are aplenty but Honda has left out the twin glovebox feature from the earlier City. Shockingly there isn’t a CD player but the sound system goes high tech, designed to run off a memory stick or an iPod. One can opt for a dealer option CD/MP3/DVD player which fits on the ceiling, but be prepared to shell out Rs. 16,000 extra for it.

On the downside, the City does not have the same quality and feel of the earlier City and there is no climate control and the recirculation mode slider looks quite rudimentary in a Rs. 9 lakh car.

The Verna too has iffy plastics, especially the hard-looking central console and the small storage box that has a tacky feel to it. The overall design is not exactly exciting and the smooth dashboard not very functional either. It has loads of seating space but seating is not quite the class best thanks to a low ‘hip-point’ and a lack of ‘under-thigh’ support. The Xi version tested by AutoCar (Jan. ’09) was short on equipment but the top-of-the-line XXi comes with alloy wheels, climate control, fog lamps and a CD/MP3 player, which makes it among the better equipped of this lot.
The Fiesta has solidly built interiors and a nice rally car-like driving position. The tall gear level and sporty steering wheel again gives out its sportiness. The feel of the interiors is more functional than luxurious and the design is not so up market as either the SX4 or the City. Though seating positions are ideal, the overall sense of space is simply not in the same league as the others in this class. In fact, it is substantially lower priced too, however it feels the best built of the four cars.

When one steps into the SX4 after the other cars, one gets the feeling of sitting on one floor higher, thanks to the high seats. Rear seat comfort is not as good as the City’s due to limited legroom and limited space for the third passenger. The steering wheel, switches and gear lever are carried over from the Swift. While the SX4 is generously equipped, the materials used don’t have a quality feel, including the factory-fitted leather trim.

Engine, Gearbox & Performance

Honda wants to see the City back on the performance saloon pedestal and is pulling no punches with its power plant. This 1497cc i-VTEC engine (which shares the same block as the motor in the previous City) is maybe the smallest in this group but it’s the highest on tech. it has a full-fledged VTEC system that controls intake valve lift and lots of exotic materials to lower friction. Its engine by far is the most powerful and smoothest of the lot and has a sweetness that one can only find with a Honda. The City is also the quickest, churning out 116bhp at a very high 6600rpm. Peak torque comes in at a high-ish 4600rpm; the action however is concentrated in the final 2000rpm of the rev band where one can feel a distinctive kick till the 7000rpm limit. It beats its nearest rival, the SX4 to the 100kph mark by nearly two seconds. The City was also quick in AutoCar’s (Jan. ’09) in-gear acceleration tests, despite the tall gearing, which speaks volumes about this engine’s flexibility.

In the real world, AutoCar testers (Jan. ’09) enjoyed the Fiesta’s motor the most. It is not as quick as the City but the Fiesta’s punchy and linear power delivery makes it a delight to drive. Adding to the fun factor is a smooth engine that enjoys visits to the redline and a delightful gearbox with a short snappy throw.

The SX4’s engine develops similar power to the Fiesta, has twin cams and four valves per cylinder as well. But apart from a strong mid-range where a thick slug of torque makes overtaking effortless, the lack of low-end grunt and a reluctance to rev eagerly limits this engine’s appeal. The SX4’s engine feels best on a part-throttle and is essentially best for sedate motoring.

The Verna’s motor despite being equipped with variable valve timing engine is the least impressive here. In-gear acceleration is pretty average, this despite the car having the second biggest power output. Te culprit here is the widely spaced out gear ratios and specifically the big gap between second and third gears. It’s quite a refined motor though if you don’t ask too much of it and rewards those who like to potter around at a leisurely pace.

Ride & Handling

The Fiesta stands out as the most entertaining car to drive. Its brilliant steering, well-balanced chassis and terrific grip give it a dynamic edge. This is the least under-steering of all the cars and the handling is delightfully neutral. But there is a distinct hard edge to the Ford; it thumps through potholes and road noise tends to filter through too. But the Fiesta’s overall poise is so flat and consistent that you won’t have much cause to complain.

The Honda has the best compromise says AutoCar (Jan. ’09). The suspension has a suppleness that was never present in the earlier City. This means that over most surfaces and at most speeds, one won’t find any reason to complain, the long wheelbase effortlessly soaking up the road with ease. The City’s sorted ride hasn’t come at the cost of handling either. Improving the City’s steering was one of Honda’s main asks and the key reason why its electric steering’s motor was upgraded from 40 to 60 amps to dial in more feedback. There’s good front-end grip, but one has to watch out for the slightly soft rear which tends to get unsettled by mid-corner bumps.

Again, the Verna proves itself as the unenthusiastic driver’s choice, which is not always a bad thing. It throws up the limitations of an overly soft setup the minute one attacks a corner; and there’s a fair degree of body roll. Mid-corner bumps affect the car’s composure and the Verna generally does not being hustled through corners. It’s best at low speeds, absorbing bumps without letting too much reach the occupants.

The SX4’s setup on the other hand is too stiff to be comfortable at low and medium speeds. It gets skittish over mildly rutted roads and every small bump puts one offline. It’s not all that bad though. The SX4 has the best ground clearance, so one can confidently sail over bad patches. For everyday driving, the SX4 proved to be the most practical, not giving a second glance to speedbrakers or potholes over which the City would be forced to crawl over. In traffic as well, the SX4’s height is a huge advantage and gives one a psychological edge in the cut and thrust of urban driving.

Fuel Efficiency

The new City, despite being the most powerful, is distinctly more fuel efficient than its rivals. A fact which speaks volumes of the i-VTEC engine. Playing no small role either is the 1,ookg kerb weight, the lightest in this group. There’s not much to choose between the others which return near-identical figures in the city cycle. The Verna loses out on the highway where a figure of 13.8kpl puts it at the back of the pack.

Summary

AutoCar (Jan. ’09) summarizes the test as follows. ‘We have to say that it’s the Fiesta S which stole our hearts with its brilliant driving experience. We kept asking ourselves why this car isn’t doing as well as it should. We found the answer when we moved to the rear seat which is where a lot of owners will reside. The Fiesta now feels half-a-size too small and lacks the luxury touch to give it the all-round talent owners now demand.

The Verna is a good all-rounder. It does everything well but is not exceptional in any one area. And that is its problem. The driving experience though pleasant is quite underwhelming and the Verna’s lackluster nature pulls down the excellent valur proposition that it otherwise is.

If it’s value you are looking for, then it’s the SX4 that is the car to beat. It’s got the best equipment levels and comes with Maruti’s low cost of ownership promise. It is pretty good to drive too and the huge ground clearance gives it a unique advantage. But despite all this, it’s still no match for the all-new City. Despite being shamefully under-equipped and the most expensive too, the City trounces the competition in other areas. The brilliant styling, the flexible engine, economy, comfort and sheer technology make it a clear winner.