Honda City vs Skoda Slavia vs Hyundai Verna: Comparing Their Base Variants for the Performance Enthusiast

What are some of the best performance cars in India? What makes them high-performance car models? Today, we take a look at the Honda City, Skoda Slavia and Hyundai Verna, and find out why they appeal to performance enthusiasts.

In this article, we will share

• What a performance enthusiast should look for in a car
• Honda City vs Skoda Slavia vs Hyundai Verna – A comprehensive analysis of their base variants, performance and features
• How to pick the right car for you

So, which of these fast cars is suitable for you? Read on.

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What a Performance Enthusiast looks for in a car

Here’s what to look for in a car as a performance enthusiast:

• Acceleration and Speed – How quickly a car accelerates, what is its top speed
• Power – How it pulls weight, how is its high speed stability, does it feel strained while going up the hills, or with AC on
• Agility – How it behaves while turning at speeds
• Driving Experience/Handling – Is the gearbox smooth and responsive, how is its steering/braking performance

A performance enthusiast craves cars that offer exhilarating acceleration, agile handling, and unwavering high-speed stability. The heart of such cars, the engine, should respond promptly, delivering power linearly. 

Key attributes like the number of cylinders, torque, and the absence of turbo lag accentuate the overall driving experience. Furthermore, the car’s clutch and transmission mechanics, especially advanced automatic types, are vital for seamless power delivery. 

Lastly, minimal body roll ensures cornering precision, rounding off the perfect machine for a performance devotee.

Why Honda City, Skoda Slavia, and Hyundai Verna are Popular

Honda City, Skoda Slavia, and Hyundai Verna are known for their superior engine capabilities combined with exemplary handling. 

The Honda City, a staple in the Indian market, is revered for its consistent engine performance and reliability. 

Skoda Slavia, on the other hand, brings European engineering, ensuring agile handling and brisk acceleration. 

Hyundai Verna balances the act, offering a blend of Korean tech advancements and performance. 

All three models boast advanced transmission systems, promising effortless drives even at high speeds, making them top contenders for any performance enthusiast.

Honda City, Skoda Slavia, and Hyundai Verna Base Variants

For Honda City, we have:

Variant	Price (INR) as on 31 August 2023
SV	₹11,49,000

For Skoda Slavia, we have: 

Variant	Price (INR) as on 31 August 2023
1.0 TSI Active	₹11,39,000

For Hyundai Verna, we have:

Variant	Price (INR) as on 31 August 2023
EX	₹10,90,000

Honda City SV

The Honda City SV is powered by a 1498 cc petrol engine that churns out 119.35 BHP. Its 4-cylinder configuration promises a smooth ride. With an acceleration of 5.6 seconds from 0-60 km/h and a top speed of 170 km/h, it offers a decent thrill for enthusiasts. 

The front-wheel drive (FWD) configuration coupled with agile handling ensures enhanced driving dynamics. If you’re a family-focused buyer, you can read our comparison of the City with Verna.

Skoda Slavia 1.0 TSI Active

This variant from Skoda is powered by a 999 cc petrol engine, producing 113.98 BHP. Despite being a 3-cylinder engine, it impresses with its acceleration, matching the Honda City SV at 5.6 seconds for 0-60 km/h. Its top speed stands at 141.35 km/h. 

Agile handling and FWD configuration further refine the performance. We have also compared the Slavia with Verna for style-conscious buyers.

Hyundai Verna EX

Hyundai’s offering comes with a 1497 cc petrol engine that pushes out 113.18 BHP. The 4-cylinder engine setup promises a blend of power and stability. The acceleration from 0-60 km/h is slower at 7.85 seconds, but its top speed of 210 km/h makes up for it. 

Combined with a linear power delivery and FWD, it offers a balanced performance. If you are a tech-savvy gadget lover, you can read how the Verna compares with Skoda Slavia.

Our Pick for the Best variant among Honda City, Skoda Slavia, and Hyundai Verna for Performance Enthusiasts

The Skoda Slavia 1.0 TSI Active emerges as the top pick for a performance enthusiast. Despite being the most affordable, its engine offers a competitive 113.98 BHP from just a 999 cc displacement. The acceleration is swift at 5.6 seconds for 0-60 km/h. 

The car’s agile handling, further enhanced by the FWD configuration, promises an engaging driving experience. Moreover, it offers minimal turbo lag, ensuring seamless power delivery and consistent engine responsiveness. 

The car’s stability at high speeds is commendable, and the 6-gear transmission system facilitates smooth transitions, optimizing power usage. 

The presence of steel wheels might not be the ideal choice for some, but overall, for its price, the Skoda Slavia 1.0 TSI Active provides substantial value and performance.

The 3 Base Variants Ranked

1. Skoda Slavia 1.0 TSI Active
2. Honda City SV
3. Hyundai Verna EX

Attributes	Skoda Slavia	Honda City SV	Hyundai Verna EX
# of cylinders	3	4	4
Acceleration (0-60 km/h)	5.6	5.6	7.85
Agility	Agile	Agile	Moderate
Engine – displacement (cc)	999	1498	1497
Engine – power (BHP)	113.98	119.35	113.18
Engine responsiveness	Moderate	Moderate	Moderate
High-Speed Stability	Stable	Stable	Stable
Power delivery	Linear	Linear	Linear
Top Speed (km/h)	141.35	170	210
Transmission – # of gears	6	6	6

How to Pick the Right Car for You

• Skoda Slavia 1.0 TSI Active: Its blend of price, engine performance, and handling makes it the top choice for performance enthusiasts.
• Honda City SV: Close behind, the City SV offers a slightly more powerful engine, but at a marginally higher price, making it the second best.
• Hyundai Verna EX: Although it has the highest top speed, the slower acceleration pegs it back. However, its competitive pricing and engine output make it our third choice.

To summarize, for the performance enthusiast, the Skoda Slavia stands out due to its affordability without compromising on core performance attributes. Honda City SV follows with a slightly better engine, while the Hyundai Verna EX with its unmatched top speed grabs the third spot.

If you’re interested in reading more such face-to-face comparisons of popular car variants, head over to our Buying Advice section.

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