Hyundai Verna vs Honda City: Which Used Sedan Retains Value Better in 2025?

When you talk about used sedans in India, two names always lead the pack: the Honda City and the Hyundai Verna. The City has been India’s bestselling C-segment sedan for over two decades, moving more than 10 lakh units since its launch in 1998. On the other hand, Verna has built a cult-like following with its sharp styling and feature-loaded appeal, clocking over 5 lakh sales since 2006.

Now in 2025, the conversation has shifted. With the used car market in India crossing 5 million annual transactions and sedan buyers becoming more value-conscious, people are not just after design or features anymore. The real question buyers and sellers are asking is: between the used Verna vs Honda City, which sedan actually retains value better in the resale market? Keep reading because we are going to decode it all in detail in this blog. 

Why Resale Value Matters in the Used Sedan Market?

Before diving into the used Verna vs Honda City head-to-head, it’s important to understand why used sedan resale value plays such a huge role in India.

1. Depreciation cycle: Most sedans lose around 40–50% of their value in the first 4–5 years. This rate of depreciation differs among the models.
2. Brand reliability: A car with higher long-term reliability, such as the Honda City, tends to maintain higher resale value.
3. Feature updates: Tech-driven models like the Verna usually fetch a good price in the short-term resale marketplace because buyers look for a combination of the latest design and features even when buying used.
4. Market demand: Cities such as Bangalore, Delhi NCR, and Pune have a higher demand for premium sedans, which influences what you can actually expect during resale.

Resale Trends of used Verna vs Honda City

According to sales insights and depreciation records:

• Hyundai Verna: Depreciates 26.55% in the first year and 44.73% by the fifth year, retaining around 55.27% of its value after 5 years.
• Honda City: Depreciates around 26% in the first year and 44.92% by the fifth year, retaining around 55% of its value after 5 years.

Verdict: The Verna narrowly wins the City on paper at the 5-year mark, but the two hold their value almost the same. In actual buyer behaviour, the fact that the City is more in demand in various regions usually translates to faster sales at near-listed prices.

Design and Appeal: Does Styling Influence Resale?

When it comes to sedans in India, styling is not just skin-deep: it quietly shapes resale value too. 

Hyundai Verna

The Hyundai Verna has always been the sportier-looking sedan in this segment. The coupe-style shape of its roof, its aggressive grille and sharp edges make it popular among younger customers in urban areas. This usually translates into stronger resale demand within the first 3–4 years of ownership. But after a facelift, the older designs start losing value faster. 

Honda City

The Honda City has an altogether different story. It has maintained a timeless look and feel in its design. It does not follow trends, but instead it is more of an executive style that would attract a larger number of buyers. This timelessness works in its favour in the long run. Used car listings reveal that even 7-8-year-old City models hold a higher price than the similarly aged Vernas, largely because the design still remains contemporary.

Verdict: In the used Verna vs Honda City debate, if you are looking for short-term ownership, Verna’s design helps in selling it faster in the first few years. But if you are keeping it for the long haul, the City’s timeless looks mean it stays in demand and retains better resale value 6+ years down the line.

Driving Experience and Ownership Satisfaction

Resale value isn’t about just specifications, it comes down to how the car feels year after year.

Hyundai Verna

The Hyundai Verna delivers a comfortable, feature-rich drive, and in its turbo-petrol or diesel variants, it offers strong torque delivery for highway runs. Owners often highlight its refinement and plush cabin experience, especially in higher trims.

People who own longer-term Verna models often highlight that it stays solid and quiet even after many years. An owner on Team-BHP, after 8 years and nearly 47,000 km, highlighted that the interior remained solid without rattles and the 1.6-litre NA petrol motor still offers good pulling power. 

Honda City

The Honda City, on the other hand, is celebrated for its ride comfort, rear-seat space, and that legendary i-VTEC petrol engine. Reliability and a fuss-free ownership experience remain its strongest selling points.

Over on Reddit, a City owner summed up the experience that anyone who’s driven one will nod along with. The owner stated that it’s one of best NA engines in the market, rivalling even higher segment cars with bigger motors.=. The engine is smooth, strong and effortless to drive. That straightforward reliability means little maintenance fuss, predictable running cost, and no surprises, which is why City models tend to hold their resale value better the longer you own them.

Verdict: This satisfaction with ownership has a direct effect on used sedan resale value. In brief, the Verna scores well on refinement and comfort. On the other hand, what gives a greater tug on the resale market is the legendary dependability and smooth ride of the Honda City over the long run. When customers are searching for pre-owned sedans, a used Honda City is generally more reassuring.

Engine Line-up and Longevity

No aspect of resale is more important to buyer confidence than how the engines have stood the test of time.

The turbo-petrol version of the Hyundai Verna enjoys a cult following among younger customers who are seeking performance in the pre-owned market. However, the added complexity, plus the discontinuation of diesels after BS6, means future upkeep costs can dent long-term buyer demand.

The Honda City i-VTEC petrol, on the other hand, is one of the most trusted engines in India, often lasting well beyond 1.5-2 lakh km. It is this reputation of long-term durability that has made even older City models have solid resale.

Buyers considering between a used Verna and Honda City will want to consider all these aspects. City shines due to its reputation for engine durability and the Verna has an advantage among buyers who are less concerned with long-term reliability in exchange for driving pleasure and more features.

Ownership Costs and Maintenance Trends

Ownership costs are often the determining factor in the comparison of resale. Buyers do not only consider the price of purchase, but they also want to know how much the car will cost them every year. Here is where the Honda City and the Hyundai Verna begin to differ in a distinct way.

Used Verna vs Honda City Service & Maintenance Cost Comparison

What does this mean for resale?

• Honda City: Predictable costs, fewer surprise expenses and reliability, which gives more trust in the used market.
• Hyundai Verna: Prices vary by model (NA petrol is affordable, turbo/diesel expensive). Buyers know this, so for that reason, resale is good in younger cars (2–5 years) but drops off once major services start kicking in.

Summary

In the 2025 used car market, the used Verna vs Honda City debate boils down to what type of buyer you are. If your priority is maximum used sedan resale value and easy ownership, the Honda City is still the safer bet in 2025. But if you’re someone who values a punchy diesel or a turbo-petrol option and don’t mind a slightly narrower resale audience, the Hyundai Verna ensures you won’t lose out heavily either.

At the end of the day, both sedans remain strong players in the Indian used market and both retain their values almost identically over the course of 5 years of ownership. The City is the all-rounder with broad appeal, while the Verna stands tall as a feature-rich alternative for buyers who know what they want.