Spec Comparo: Volkswagen Virtus Vs Skoda Slavia Vs Honda City

With the Volkswagen Virtus finally being launched the sedan segment in the country is heating up in competition. The Virtu competes against its cousin, the Skoda Slavia which too was launched earlier this year. While there isn't that much feature-wise that distinguishes the Virtus from the Slavia, one car that it will face serious competition from is the country's favourite, the Honda City. The City has been around for a long time and was even launched with a hybrid powertrain. Let's check out what these 3 sedans bring to the table in the Indian market.

Volkswagen Virtus Vs Skoda Slavia Vs Honda City: Dimension And Design

The Virtus and Slavia come in here as the larger sedans with the Honda City being just a little smaller than the two. The VW and the Skoda both feature LED auto headlamps and taillamps, 16-inch wheels and a lot more. The Volkswagen Virtus does look like the sportier one of the two while the Skoda Slavia is aimed at the subtle and premium buyer.

The exterior highlights of the Honda City include 9-array full-LED headlights with integrated daytime running lights and turn signals, fog lamps, a left lane-watch camera, LED rear lights and 16-inch alloy wheels.

Volkswagen Virtus Vs Skoda Slavia Vs Honda City: Engine

The Volkswagen Virtus and Skoda Slavia are available with a choice between two engines. The 1.0-litre TSI petrol engine makes 115PS with 178 Nm and is available with a choice between a six-speed manual gearbox and six-speed automatic transmission. The 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine, on the other hand, has 150PS with 250 Nm of torque. This powerplant comes with a seven-speed DSG automatic unit but is also available with a manual on the Skoda.

The Honda City gets two powertrains: a 1.5-litre, inline, four-cylinder, naturally aspirated petrol engine producing 120PS and 145Nm and a 1.5-litre, four-cylinder diesel motor delivering 99PS and 200Nm. The former comes mated to either a six-speed manual or a CVT automatic transmission, while the latter is paired with only a six-speed manual unit only.

The Honda City is also available as a hybrid that uses a 1.5-litre Atkinson cycle four-cylinder petrol that put out 98PS and 127 Nm. This pairs with a 109PS and 253 Nm electric motor fed by a 0.7 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. The system makes a combined 126PS and 253 Nm and returns 26.5 kmpl.

Volkswagen Virtus Vs Skoda Slavia Vs Honda City: Interiors

The Volkswagen and Skoda again have similar specifications on the inside but with very different designs. Onboard there is a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment and a 7-inch digital cluster. Both cars also feature wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. In terms of features, the cars come with a wireless phone charger, ventilated front seats, automatic climate control, rear air-con vents and an electric sunroof. The Virtus and Slavia come with a class-leading 521-litre of boot space as well.

The Honda City comes with a dual-tone interior and leather upholstery for the seats. In addition, Honda offers a semi-digital instrument cluster with a seven-inch circular display, an eight-inch infotainment touchscreen, and Google and Alexa voice assistants. Besides this, the City is equipped with ADAS features like lane keep assist, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, high beam assist, and collision mitigation braking.

Volkswagen Virtus Vs Skoda Slavia Vs Honda City: Price

The Volkswagen Virtus starts from Rs 11.21 lakh to Rs 17.91 lakh, while the Skoda Slavia is priced at Rs Rs 10.99 lakh to Rs 18.39 lakh. The Honda City range starts at Rs 11.56 lakh and goes up to Rs 19.59 lakh for the hybrid powertrain.