If you're shopping for a used mid-size sedan in Delhi NCR, the Honda City and Hyundai Verna will almost certainly be on your list. The short answer: pick a used City if you want a relaxed sedan with a smooth CVT or the option of a very frugal strong hybrid. Pick a used Verna if you want a punchy turbo-petrol, a dual-clutch automatic or the 2023-onward model's five-star Global NCAP rating.
As always with used cars, the generation and year matter more than the badge. Here is how to choose.
Used City vs Verna: the quick verdict
- Best for comfort and a calm drive: Honda City, especially the fifth generation (2020 onwards) with the CVT.
- Best for fuel economy: Honda City e:HEV strong hybrid, claimed at well over 26 km/l.
- Best for performance: Verna 1.5 turbo-petrol (2023 onwards), with 160 hp.
- Best for crash-test credentials: Verna from 2023, rated five stars for adults and children by Global NCAP.
- Best boot: close. Honda lists 506 litres for the City and Hyundai 528 litres for the 2026 Verna.
- Watch out for: diesel versions under Delhi's 10-year rule, and pending recall work on both.
Model years at a glance
Honda City
- 2017 to 2023 (fourth generation): the facelifted fourth-gen City came with a 1.5 petrol (manual or CVT) and a 1.5 diesel, with dual front airbags standard and six on the top ZX, Autocar India reported. After the fifth generation arrived, Honda kept selling it in two petrol-manual trims until 2023.
- July 2020 (fifth generation): a 1.5 i-VTEC petrol with 121 PS and a 6-speed manual or 7-speed CVT, and a 1.5 i-DTEC diesel with 100 PS and a 6-speed manual, per Honda's launch release.
- May 2022: the City e:HEV strong hybrid arrived with 126 PS of system output and a claimed 26.5 km/l, according to Honda.
- March 2023 facelift: the diesel was dropped and Honda Sensing ADAS was added, Rushlane reported.
- April 2024: six airbags became standard on every City, per CarWale.
- Mid-2026 facelift: a new front end and more features but the same petrol and hybrid powertrains, with the hybrid limited to the top ZX+ trim, according to Autocar India.
Hyundai Verna
- 2017 to 2020 (fifth generation, pre-facelift): 1.6 petrol and 1.6 diesel engines, each with manual or automatic options, per Autocar India's launch report.
- March 2020 facelift: a 1.5 petrol (115 hp, manual or IVT), a 1.5 diesel (115 hp, manual or torque-converter automatic) and a 1.0 turbo-petrol (120 hp, 7-speed DCT only). Base versions had two airbags and higher trims six, Autocar India reported.
- March 2023 (sixth generation): an all-new Verna with a 1.5 petrol (115 hp, manual or IVT) and a 1.5 turbo-petrol (160 hp, manual or 7-speed DCT). There is no diesel, and six airbags are standard, per Autocar India.
- March 2026 update: Level 2 ADAS with 20 features and a seven-airbag option, with the same engines, according to Hyundai's press release.
Engines and fuel economy
Both cars share a similar core: a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol of about 115 to 121 PS with a manual or CVT. The differences are at the edges.
The City offers the e:HEV strong hybrid, the more fuel-efficient choice by a wide margin. The fifth-gen petrol claimed 17.8 km/l with the manual and 18.4 km/l with the CVT. The Verna offers the 160 hp turbo-petrol from 2023, which claims 20.0 km/l with the manual and 20.6 km/l with the DCT, against 18.6 km/l and 19.6 km/l for the regular petrol, per Autocar India. Real-world figures in Delhi traffic will be lower.
Not sure which gearbox suits you? Our guide to AMT vs CVT vs DCT used automatics explains the differences.
Diesel buyers, take note: diesel cars older than 10 years can't be driven in Delhi, so a 2018 Verna diesel or a 2021 City diesel has limited years left in the city. Read Delhi's age rules for used cars before you buy one.
Space and practicality
Honda's brochure lists the current City at up to 4,583 mm long with a 2,600 mm wheelbase and a 506-litre boot. Hyundai gives the 2026 Verna a 4,565 mm length, a 2,670 mm wheelbase and a 528-litre boot. Both are roomy family sedans; the Verna's longer wheelbase is the bigger number on paper, so sit in the back of both and judge for yourself.
One thing to note on the City hybrid: its battery takes up part of the boot, so check whether the luggage space works for you.
Safety: what the crash tests say
- Verna (2023 onwards): Global NCAP gave it five stars for adult and child occupants in October 2023, tested with six airbags and ESC as standard, although it rated the structure as unstable.
- City (fourth generation): Global NCAP gave the fourth-gen City four stars for adults and children in 2022 in its two-airbag base form, with an unstable bodyshell, Autocar India reported.
- City (fifth generation): we found no Global NCAP or Bharat NCAP test of the India-spec fifth-gen City.
- Airbags: the City has six as standard from April 2024 (earlier SV and V trims had fewer). The Verna has six as standard from the 2023 generation; older Vernas had two on base trims.
Recalls to check
- Honda City: Honda has recalled cars more than once for fuel pumps with defective impellers that could stop the engine. The October 2024 recall covered 32,872 Cities built between September 2017 and June 2018, with free replacements from 5 November 2024, Autocar India reported.
- Hyundai Verna: Hyundai recalled 7,698 Creta and Verna 1.5 petrol CVT cars built between 13 February and 6 June 2023 over the electronic oil pump controller, CarDekho reported.
Ask an authorised dealer to confirm the recall work against the VIN before you pay.
Common issues reported on used cars
- Fifth-gen City: owners have reported cabin rattles and a touchscreen that crashes or lags, according to Autocar India's used-buying advice. Drive over a rough patch and test the infotainment thoroughly.
- 2017–2020 Verna: Autocar India flags power-steering motor faults, early clutch wear on manuals and AC compressor problems. Check for an EPS warning light, a heavy steering feel and how quickly the cabin cools.
Our used car inspection checklist covers everything else to look at.
Warranty: newer cars may still be covered
Both brands give a three-year, unlimited-km standard warranty, which Honda states in its launch material and Hyundai lists for the Verna on its warranty page. A late-2023 or newer car may still have cover left. The City hybrid's battery carries its own 8-year or 1,60,000 km warranty. See our guide to used car warranty transfer to check what's left and whether it passes to you.
Which one should you buy?
- Comfort-first family sedan: a fifth-gen City petrol CVT.
- Lowest running costs: a City e:HEV, if the budget stretches.
- Enthusiast on a budget: a 2023-onward Verna turbo-petrol.
- Best safety rating within budget: a 2023-onward Verna.
- Lowest purchase price: a fourth-gen City or a 2020–2022 Verna petrol, after careful checks.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Buying an old diesel for Delhi without counting the years left under the 10-year rule.
- Assuming every City has six airbags; pre-April 2024 base trims had fewer.
- Skipping the recall check on 2017–2018 Cities and 2023 Verna CVTs.
- Not testing the CVT or DCT in slow traffic.
- Ignoring rattles and infotainment glitches on the test drive.
FAQs
Which is better second-hand, the Honda City or Hyundai Verna?
It depends on priorities. The City suits buyers who want a relaxed drive and a hybrid option; the Verna offers a turbo-petrol, a dual-clutch automatic and, from 2023, a five-star Global NCAP rating.
Which has better mileage?
The City e:HEV strong hybrid is the most fuel-efficient. Among regular petrols, the claimed figures are close.
Is the Hyundai Verna safe?
The 2023-onward Verna scored five stars for adults and children in Global NCAP's October 2023 test. Older Vernas were not tested in that form.
Should I buy a used diesel City or Verna?
Only if the remaining years under Delhi's 10-year diesel rule suit you. Both lost their diesel engines in 2023: the City with its March 2023 facelift and the Verna with the sixth generation.
Does the City hybrid's battery warranty transfer?
Check with Honda for your specific car and see our warranty transfer guide before you pay a premium for it.
The bottom line
Choose the City for comfort, refinement and the option of a hybrid, and the Verna for features, performance and the newer model's safety rating, then pick the right generation within each. Check recalls, service history and Delhi's age rules on whichever car you shortlist. You can browse used Honda City cars and used Hyundai Verna cars on Hooter, or compare more options in our guide to the best used sedans under ₹8 lakh in Delhi.