Until recently one would have to be recklessly optimistic to pit the Fiat against the Honda City, the best seller in its segment. The old City looked a bit average but when it came to doing what it needed to - effortlessly tackling city traffic, devouring miles on the highway, keeping passengers comfortable and drivers happy at the pumps - it did considerably better than any other rival. So much so that even the SX-4, riding on strong Maruti brand values and offering tons more equipment for far less dosh couldn’t do much to upset the City’s apple cart.

So what hope does the Fiat have? Especially against the all-new City that not only looks utterly smashing but also gets the all-new iVTEC engine with class-leading performance, a more spacious cabin and better dynamics? Well, you will be surprised but with the Linea, Fiat has not so much as turned a new page but slammed shut the old book and unwrapped a brand new one. It’s what happens when expectations are at rock bottom -you go in to a test expecting nothing and then the first five kms come as a shock to your system. Style, interiors, refinement, performance, and dynamics- the Linea lacks nothing and crucially no shortcuts have been taken. OverDrive (Jan. ’09) gives out the test results.

No point focusing on styling though; style is a very personal subject between the two and between the Linea and the City, it’s impossible to crown a winner. The Linea is classic Italian elegance and beauty, the City is modern and futuristic. Both stand out in a crowd, so we focus on the engines.

In a Honda the engine will always be the highlight; the iVTEC engine displaces 1.5 litres and puts out a class-leading 118PS of power. Performance is a world away from the Fiat, 100kmph comes up in 11.53 secs, top speed is 182kmph (compared to the Linea’s 169kmph) and as with all VTECs this engine loves to be revved.

The Linea gets an additional variable geometry turbocharger which boosts power to 91PS which makes for good if not particularly rapid performance. The 100kmph comes in a respectable 15.6 secs. The boost in low down torque makes the car more drivable and doesn’t demand too many gear shifts in traffic situations.

If there is a criticism it has to with refinement; when pushed hard, too much diesel clatter enters the cabin which isn’t acceptable on a car in this segment. And the gear shift isn’t as slick, precise, or light as on the City’s either.

That’s the thing with the City - her refinement and sheer effortlessness says OverDrive (Jan. ‘09). There is a general sense of lightness with the steering, pedals, gear shift - it’s what makes the City perfectly suited to the city. No other car offers effortlessness better than the City, and that’s a fact.

Driven hard the Linea requires the effort. First there is the noise that by the end of the day wears you out, and there is also the constant steering of the gear box which isn’t much of a pleasure. But despite outward appearances of being a heavier car, the Linea tucks in to corners with great enthusiasm. The steering is delightful and crisp, the chassis has great balance, and the grip in corners thanks to the fat 15” tyres is impressive.

Seating wise the Honda City seats are supportive, comfortable and high set while at the rear there is marginally more room all around, which makes it a more comfortable car to spend time in. The Linea also is comfortable but the driver’s seat lacks proper support.
Look around in the City and while the design of the dash will impress you, what wont are the cheap plastics and the choice of colors observes OverDrive (Jan. ’09). In fact at the crucial touch points- the inside door handles, the air-con controls, and the ventilators - all feel terribly cheap. Shocking as it might seem, the Linea on the other hand actually trumps the Honda when it comes to that crucial first impression of quality. All the plastics fit well and feel solid and durable, the inside door handles are nice and you won’t find a better looking or tactile steering wheel at twice the money. This one also has climate control, and even has a proper CD player with Bluetooth connectivity and full iPod compatibility and voice activation courtesy the Blue&Me system that even reads out your text messages.

While the City gets an instantaneous fuel consumption meter the Linea trumps it by not only displaying CD tracks, instantaneous and average fuel consumption and range but by also displaying your text messages. Thus on the equipment front this is a no contest. The Linea wins hands down.

But then again not for nothing has the City been every manufacturer’s benchmark. Overdrive can’t stress enough how easy she is to drive. In traffic she is light silent and effortless but when the fancy takes you she is capable of speed and excitement.

Where the Linea scores is fuel efficiency. Overdrive got an overall fuel efficiency of 15.9kmpl and though the Honda is also impressive with an overall efficiency of 12.66kmpl, the huge price difference between petrol and diesel seals the debate.

The Linea prices are yet to be announced but the emotion variant on test here should not stray too far away from Rs. 8 lakh which is comparatively cheaper than the City and also comes loaded with almost a lakh rupees worth of equipment over the City.

So it is a shocking and unexpected verdict but it looks like Fiat has got the better of Honda.

	Fiat Linea Emotion	Honda City 1.5s MT
Price	Rs. 8 lakh approx. (ex-showrrom, Mumbai)	Rs. 8.68 lakh (ex-showroom, Mumbai)
Engine capacity	Multijet, inline-4, common-rail diesel, VGT, 1248cc	Inline-4, petrol, iVTEC, 1497cc
Maximum Power	91PS@ 4000rpm	118PS @6600rpm
Maximum Torque	203Nm@ 2500rpm	146Nm @4800rpm
Acceleration	0-60kph – 6.1sec, 0-100kph -15.6sec, Top Speed -169kph	0-60kph – 5.7sec, 0-100kph -11.53sec, Top Speed -182kph
Economy	City – 14.9kmpl, Highway – 19.1kmpl, kpl (overall) – 15.9kmpl	City – 10.8kmpl, Highway – 18.2kmpl, kpl (overall) – 12.66kmpl
Verdict	4.5/5	4/5