New Hyundai Verna

Hyundai Verna

The Hyundai Verna was always an admired sedan in the country. It has surmounted several competitors and challenges en route toward becoming one of the company’s most successful sedans in the Indian market. The Verna first arrived in 2011 and got another makeover in 2017, followed by an updated version in 2020.

How is the design?

The Verna gets a refreshed and attractive design as has been its hallmark for several years. There is a bigger and frameless grille in front, along with a sportier look and creases and cuts aplenty. The fog lamps are swept back and a tiny spoiler is present as well. The coupe-Esque roofline and the boot spoiler come from the previous version while the new alloys also look stylish enough. The Verna has also been raised slightly, giving it a taller stance. The exhaust tips get a chrome finish at the back although the lower bumper treatment does not look as appealing (although opinions are subjective).

How does it perform?

The turbo petrol engine is smooth and powerful enough while the automatic gearbox shifts smoothly. The engine feels slightly sluggish at lower speeds although a few presses on the accelerator with some downshifting are enough to unleash the torque tucked into this engine. The Verna comes with a powerful enough mid-range as well. There is great acceleration. Sporty driving is ensured with this engine. The regular diesel engine performs just fine on the road, being more refined and smoother than before. There is sizably good torque and power with this engine and it can be a great highway cruiser or for regular long commutes. At the same time, the 1497 cc petrol engine also performs quite well. The Verna’s engines are all refined in their manners, with sizable power on tap. However, it is the turbo petrol that feels the most assured and sporty of the lot.

How’s the mileage?

• Diesel Manual- 25 kmpl
• Diesel Automatic- 21.3 kmpl
• Petrol Automatic- 19.2 kmpl
• Petrol Manual- 17.7 kmpl

How’s the driving experience?

The Hyundai Verna does have a vocal note upon hard revving and it is otherwise enjoyable to drive. The Verna has better steering now with more weight and directness. The car feels leaner and more agile while staying balanced around corners as well. The brakes also inspire confidence while driving. However, higher speeds do not always feel sorted and grip runs out once you push the ante further. The ride quality has been enhanced with a raised suspension which stays silent mostly on bad roads. There is some bounce and vibrations/road noise in the cabin although the car can still take bumps and potholes seamlessly.

What is the interior like?

The interiors are refreshing and quite familiar. The key highlight is the 8-inch touch screen infotainment unit with metallic brackets for the vents and also behind the steering wheel. The digital instrument cluster looks inspired by BMW while there are digital readouts for engine rpm and speed. The Turbo version comes with a fully-black interior theme and red accents. The front seats are big and cool, offering reasonable comfort as well. There is also the connected BlueLink app from Hyundai which offers a variety of functions. There is voice command, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and also onboard navigation. However, legroom is not that impressive at the back and the backseat is not as comfortable as well. Headroom may also be an issue for taller passengers. Yet, there is a neat reclining function with good thigh support. The USB charging point, rear AC vent, and manual rear blind are good additions to the package. The top-end trim gets a sunroof with wireless charging, traction control, ESC, cruise control, rear and front parking sensors, and hands-free boot release.

Tech and Infotainment

There is an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment unit with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and navigation. There is the BlueLink app, enabling functions like remote start, real-time fuel status, remote air conditioning, door lock/unlock, live tyre pressure data, real-time location, SOS, and more. Top-end trims also get cruise control and wireless charging, along with the hands-free boot release feature.

Safety Equipment

The top-end trim has six airbags while other safety features include ISOFIX child anchorage points, child lock, seat belt warning, speed sensing door locks, over-speed warning, anti-theft engine immobilizer, flashing emergency brake light, traction control, ESC, and a lot more.

Which variant to buy?

You can choose from five variants of the Verna. The top-end SX (O) Turbo trim is appealing although the automatic SX variant gives you the highest value for your money. The top-end SX (O) may be taken in the diesel-AT or petrol-CVT versions if you are not on a budget. The entry-level S Variant only has a petrol-manual configuration and is decently packed with safety features and other infotainment. The S+ only gives you bigger steel wheels and a few other additions. The SX is costlier but it gets more equipment including the rear camera, auto-dimming inside the rearview mirror, automatic projector headlamps, and more. The top-end SX (O) is the costliest proposition and gets LED headlamps, the premier touch screen infotainment unit, BlueLink, more safety features, and so on. The Turbo is only a nominal sum away from the SX (O) and gets aesthetic tweaks and then some other additions.

Which cars compete in this segment?

The Hyundai Verna takes on the Skoda Slavia, Volkswagen Virtus, Maruti Suzuki Ciaz, and the Honda City in its segment. Its main rival is the Honda City, which gets equally desirable features as the Verna. All in all, the Verna makes for a good proposition with its feature list and some nifty additions, although its price point is not as different from the Honda City and Maruti Suzuki Ciaz. All three cars offer reasonable competition to each other in the segment. The Verna has a slightly more unique design and a sportier turbo engine option to vouch for.

Verdict (Value for Money)

The new Verna is a value proposition for those seeking a driver’s car. The turbo engine is a delight to drive, while the others are refined and smooth. The Verna can be a great chauffeur-driven car as well. The Verna rides and drives better this time, with more equipment and the same stylish design. However, it starts at the costlier end of the segment and this could be the only deterrent for those looking for the right midsized sedan in the country.