Competition in the sedan segment has just got tougher with the launch of new Nissan Sunny in the country. The new model gets mild upgrades in form of new colour – Sandstone Brown, new exterior chrome door handles, black interiors and new seat fabric. Competing against the likes of Honda City, Skoda Rapid and Maruti Ciaz we bring out the spec and feature differences.
The Nissan Sunny is powered by a 1.5-litre petrol and diesel engine option that generates 97bhp and 84bhp respectively. The sedan gets five-speed manual transmission as standard, while the petrol variant gets an optional CVT. As for Honda City, it gets 1.5-litre petrol and diesel engine option that generates 117bhp of power and 98bhp of power respectively. The diesel gets six-speed manual while the petrol is offered in five-speed manual and an optional CVT. The Skoda Rapid is petrol version is powered by a 1.6-litre MPI four-cylinder petrol engine which generates 103bhp of power and 153Nm peak torque, while the diesel variant is powered by an updated 1.5-litre TDI engine which generates 108bhp of power and a peak torque of 250Nm. As for Maruti Ciaz, it gets a 1.3-litre diesel engine with mild hybrid technology that generates 88.5bhp of power, while the petrol version gets a 1.4-litre engine that generates 91bhp of power.
In terms of design, all four cars have their own styling element. In comparison to the other two with a European charm, the Honda City and the Maruti Ciaz feature a sportier stance. Given price constraints, the Ciaz and Nissan Sunny misses out on leather seats and cruise control features in the top-spec CVT variants. For those who like the touchscreen interface, the Skoda Rapid, priciest of all, is the only one to offer a touchscreen system. Though the City, Ciaz and Sunny get Halogen headlamps, the Rapid scores extra with brownie pointers with Xenon headlamps. As for safety, all the vehicles gets anti-lock braking system and dual front airbags. However, the Nissan Sunny and Skoda Rapid additionally offer brake assist system.
In terms of space, the Nissan Sunny beats the rest with ample legroom for occupants and is ideal for those who is more focused on comfort aspect, while on the performance front it emerges as a decent option. For those keen performance, the Honda City is a better pick that offers decent amount of features and comfort. Maruti Ciaz, the most affordable option in comparison to the rest, is a value for money package as it emerges as a decent performer and wins hearts with impressive fuel efficiency figures owing to mild hybrid diesel technology. The Skoda Rapid sits a level above the rest in terms of pricing, however the sedan makes up for the cost with rich features and impressive performance figures.
