Mid Size Sedans | Price, Spec, Features, Safety Comparison

The Mid Size Sedans offer a great combination of space, comfort, features and exceptional value. This creates a huge competition among mid-size sedan segment. If we look on to Maruti Suzuki’s Ciaz, it is currently one of the most popular mid-size sedans segment. Honda has updated the City, and Hyundai launched an all-new Verna. This one after another launch battle of mid-size sedan increases the competition in the automobile market. Toyota has the brought the Yaris with one petrol motor,  Feature loaded interior and exterior and new unique features. Let us see how the Yaris compares with the competition. 

Engine : 

Toyota Yaris

Toyota has launched most awaited Yaris in Mid-Size sedan segment with lots of unique features this year. By launching Yaris, Toyota hopes to fill the gap in its line-up between the Etios and Corolla. Toyota has brought the Yaris to the game with only one engine – a 1.5L petrol unit. This 4cylinder unit with Dual VVT-i is good for 105hp and 140nm, a 6-speed manual and a 7 step CVT is available. Yaris’s power figures are very similar to the Ciaz but are significantly lower than the Honda City and Hyundai Verna. Arai rates the Manual Yaris at 17.1 kmpl and the CVT variant at 17.8 kmpl. The engine offers excellent refinement levels and is a relaxed performer. 

Maruti Ciaz

Let us start with the biggest change on the New Ciaz 2018 – The Engine – There is a new K15B Petrol motor powering the Ciaz. This is a 1500cc motor that pushes out 104hp and 138nm, while the older 1.4 Petrol engine was only good for 92hp and 130nm. A five-speed manual and a … wait for it … 4-speed torque converter automatic is handling the transmission department. The Diesel version of the Ciaz carries over the engine and transmission from the previous car, a new 1.5L diesel engine from Suzuki is under development. ARAI has certified the K15B equipped Ciaz for 21.56kmpl for the manual and 20.28kmpl for the Automatic variant. Maruti has also offered its Mild Hybrid Technology on the new K15B motor. Maruti has upgraded this system with Idle Start/Stop, Torque Assist using an electric motor and Brake energy regeneration system. Ciaz is the only car with a Mild Hybrid System. 

Honda City 

Honda City is also available with a 1500cc petrol motor but pushes out a healthy 120hp and 145nm. The Diesel City is powered by a 1500cc motor and is good for 100hp with 200nm. Honda offers a CVT transmission along with a 5 Speed manual in its Petrol powered City variants; the diesel only gets a 6-speed manual. Honda’s petrol motor is very refined and has a very free revving nature making The City the enthusiast’s pick amongst the lot. The diesel version is the opposite, clattery and has a very linear power delivery. The petrol variants are rated at 17.4kmpl for the manual and 18kmpl for the CVT versions by ARAI. The diesel city is rated at 25.7kmpl by ARAI

Hyundai Verna

Hyundai offers Verna with multiple engine options both for petrol and diesel version. The Petrol version of the Verna can be had with a 1.4L 100hp and a 1.6L 123hp, while the diesel Verna can be had in 1.6L 128hp avatar. A choice of Manual and Automatic transmissions are available in both petrol and diesel variants, the torque converter 6-speed automatics though are limited only to 1.6L engines. ARAI rates the 1.4L petrol Verna at 19.1kmpl, the 1.6L petrol manual at 17.7kmpl while the petrol automatic is rated at 15.92kmpl. The CRDi Verna with classing leading power figures are rated at 24.75kmpl for manual and 21.02kmpl for automatic. Verna diesel engine is a superior product from Hyundai, with class-leading refinement and NVH levels. The engine is a great mid-range and can pull effortlessly to three digit speeds. 

Features 

Toyota Yaris

Toyota brought the Yaris into the Indian Market with a lot of First-in-Class features. Roof mounted rear aircon vents with ambient lighting, the glass used in the windshield of the Yaris is Acoustic and Vibration Controlled leading to a quieter cabin. The 4.2-inch infotainment system offers gesture controls, there is a Tire pressure monitoring system available too. Projector headlamps and DRLs with LED rear lights are present, The Driver seat is electronically adjustable. Yaris is the only Car in this segment that comes with front and rear parking sensors. It also gets paddle shifters and cruise control features. Roof mount air-vents with ambient illumination are unique features among its competitors. 

Maruti Ciaz 

The 2018 Ciaz gets a lot of new features compared the outgoing car. On the exterior there are front LED projectors, led fog lights and DRLs, the rear lights also get LED treatment. 16inch wheels finished in dual tone give the Ciaz a nice full look. Ciaz also gets the full-colour multi-information display from the Baleno. Cruise Control, Hill hold and Electronic Stability Program are almost the same as Yaris. ABS+EBD is standard across all variants. In a surprising move, a Sunroof has been omitted from the features list of the Ciaz, considering the fact that Honda City and Hyundai Verna both have them and the buyers do fancy a sunroof as an option. Hyundai Verna takes the game forward with Ventilated Seats too. 

Honda City

Honda brings The City to market with a lot of features. The top-spec variant of the City gets Full LED front and rear lights, leather seats, 7inch touchscreen-based infotainment system. This system sadly does not support Apple Carplay and Android Auto. The CVT automatic variant of the City also gets paddle shifters similar to Yaris. ABS+EBD is offered in all variants, the steering wheel on the City be adjusted for Rake and reach. The Honda offers the City with a Sunroof in the VX and ZX variants. Sunroofs are quickly becoming a favourite among New Car buyers which has led to many manufacturers offering them. The climate control system on the Honda City functions through a unique touchscreen interface, which is actually a bit distracting to use. 

Hyundai Verna

Hyundai has loaded the Verna to its gills with features. Starting from the exterior, Projector headlights and Fog lamps with DRLs, The rear lights are LED. The plastics used on the dashboard are of very high quality and the interior is bright and airy thanks to the Sunroof. The 7inch touchscreen unit on the Hyundai is very superior to the competition with minimum lag and high-quality audio output. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay is supported. Ventilated seats are also available on the Hyundai, a first in the class feature. Ventilated Seats are a godsend when using the car in our country’s hot summers. A hands-free boot release is unique to the Hyundai. 

Safety Tech

The New Ciaz offers only 2 airbags throughout its variants while with the introduction of the knee airbag, Yaris is offering 7 airbags and Honda City and Hyundai Verna offer 6 airbags. Definitely, Yaris get a big edge from all of its competitors in terms of safety. A Speed Alert System has been added to the New Ciaz, This system beeps when the vehicle crosses 80kmph and the beeps become continuous when the vehicle speed crosses 120kmph. ESP is also provided in the automatic variants of the 2018 Ciaz. The Yaris comes equipped with all wheel disc brakes and the tyre pressure monitoring system. Hill Start Assist is common in the automatics of all four. Yaris was awarded 5Stars in the ASEAN NCAP crash tests. 

Dimensions 

At 4490mm length and 1730mm width, Maruti Ciaz is the longest and widest in this segment. Larger wheelbase also means that the cabin space and legroom at the rear is far superior to others. Comfort level in Honda City is similar too. Toyota Yaris has the smallest wheelbase in this segment and is only offered with 15inch wheels. 

Price

Maruti has priced the Ciaz undercutting the competition, The base model of the Ciaz is available at Rs. 8.19 lakhs only Hyundai Verna 1.4L petrol is slightly cheaper. But Ciaz Petrol has a bigger engine. Top model of the Ciaz is considerably cheaper than the Competition but it does have lesser features too. Toyota Yaris is the most expensive of the lot in the base and top trims.