22 August 2017 Hyundai Motors India Limited has finally taken the wraps off 5th generation Verna in India at a starting price of Rs 7.99 lakh. The top specification diesel automatic train is available at Rs 12.61 lakh (both prices, ex-showroom, Delhi). The car comes in 4 different variants with 1.6-liter petrol and diesel engines. In term of power output, 1.6-liter petrol is capable of putting out 125 PS and 151 Nm while the diesel motor churns out 130 PS and 260 Nm. On the transmission front, Hyundai is offering both 6-speed manual and automatic gearboxes which is a welcome move in the wake of our city roads increasingly becoming chaotic with each passing day. For now, there is no 1.4-liter mill the offer but there is speculation that the smaller engine will make its way at a later point in time. The another highlight of the car that new Verna is underpinned by company's new K2 platform which offers improved torsional rigidity while being lighter at the same time. The company also claims that it has improved upon the driving dynamics and ride and handling of new Verna has evolved over the previous generation.
India’s second largest carmaker Hyundai has launched the all-new Verna at a starting price of Rs 7.99 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) on August 22nd 2017. It is the fifth generation of the sedan. The iteration prior to this model was seen in 2015 facelift. Originally the Verna nomenclature came in 2006 and it was a replacement for Accent. Like its predecessor Verna too had a tough time in the market and only became worse after a makeover in 2010. It was the Fluidic Verna that made things better for Hyundai and brought good sales numbers for the car.
The newest model is underpinned by the K2 platform that is also used for Elantra. As described by Hyundai, it is created on four pillars – futuristic design, dynamic performance, super safety and new technology. The new architecture is stiffer and provides better crash protection than the outgoing model.
The two engines that power the Next Gen Verna include:
• 1.6 litre, 4 cylinder Petrol that churns out 121 bhp at 6400 rpm and 151 Nm torque at 4850 rpm
• 1.6 litre, 4 cylinder diesel that generates 126 bhp at 4000 rpm and 260 Nm torque at 1500-3000 rpm
Both of these come with a transmission choice between 6 speed manual and 6 speed automatic.
For styling of the exterior, Hyundai has again used its tried and tested Fluidic Sculpture 2.0 philosophy. The grille is different than what was seen on the last facelift. It has chrome lined cascade design in a hexagonal frame. The headlamps that flank this grille also get a new look. They are larger and have integrated LED daytime running lights. Down on the bumper, the boomerang shaped fog lamps have been replaced by chrome bezel units with prominent chrome-lined housings. The crease lines on the bonnet add character to the front look.
Moving over to the profile view, the roof slopes down in a coupe like style which is similar to the design of the older spec. The angle of the C pillar is also the same as in the last makeover of the sedan. Another novelty is the change in dimensions. Verna now measures 4440 mm in length which is an increase of 65 mm from the previous model. Its width has increased to 1729 mm from 1700 mm. The revised wheelbase is 2600 mm (increase of 30 mm) and the ground clearance is up by 5 mm to 170 mm. This is a good revision and is the same as for Maruti Ciaz. There is no change in the height. A shark fin radio antenna is affixed above the rear windscreen.
The creases along the flanks are now softer. For the base E and EX trims the car has 15 inch steel wheels padded by 185/65 R15 rubber. The upper end variants SX and SX (O) get diamond cut design 16 inch alloy rims with 195/55 R16 tyres. The suspension comprises McPherson strut and coil springs for front and coupled torsion beam axle for the rear.
At the back you will see an all new look. The tail lamps that wrapped around the side body in previous versions are now elongated onto the boot lid. They seem better with their sleeker and wider design. With internal graphics the look becomes somewhat intricate. A chrome strip marks the lower end of the boot lid. The bumper is marked by a black accent and carries slim reflectors. The model name Verna is inscribed on the top left corner and the variant name sits on the right lower side.
Getting inside the cabin the first thing that comes to notice is the dual colour scheme of beige and black. The seats too feature this combination with black head restraints + sides and beige base + back support.
The layout of the dashboard for New Gen Verna is also tad different from what its predecessor had. But we have seen similar changes in all new Hyundais and it is not something radically different for this C segment sedan. For instance while the steering wheel design is new, the controls on it are shared with Verna’s siblings launched in the recent past. What makes the cabin impressive is the consistency with which Hyundai still continues the quality of parts. The look and feel of elements used is segment-leading. The legroom was good in the outgoing model and is better in the new one that has slightly larger wheelbase.
With large dials containing easily readable fonts, the hooded instrument console is practical. Among other things, the MID also tells which door of the car is left open. The car like others in the segment has start stop button for keyless ignition.
On the centre console you will see the touchscreen infotainment and the climate control system. It is the same 7 inch screen seen in other new Hyundai cars but it has been upgraded with little more functionality for the New Gen Verna. The new features include Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Besides the buttons on the steering wheel and on the screen, there is voice command system to operate some of the feature of the set-up.
According to Hyundai, added safety is an important part of the Verna model revision - the top-end variants come with 6 airbags including curtain and side airbags for the driver and front passenger. The seat belts are height adjustable and ISOFIX child seat mounts are provided. Crash resistance ability of the body structure gets a separate mention. Other safety features include first-in-segment impact sending auto door unlock and the cornering lamps.
In the rear part of the cabin a new upgrade comes in the form of AC vents and these put Verna at par with other sedans competing in the C segment. While there is more legroom for the rear seat occupants too, this spaciousness is still better in Honda City and Maruti Ciaz. What disappoints is the design of the rear seat. The low lying bench is something that the Verna has always been panned for but Hyundai has not worked on the attribute. This seat again offers poor under-thigh support. What’s more, with swooping roofline, the headroom is restricted for taller passengers.
The boot of the new model has a capacity of 480 litres upgraded from 465 litres in older Verna. But Honda City and Maruti Ciaz still lead with 510 litres of stowage space.
On the whole the dimensional and cosmetic changes have improved the appeal of the car and made it a more aggressive competitor in the C segment sedan market. The availability of automatic transmission is a major modification that will pull buyers who prefer convenience to driving enthusiasm. Look out for the performance analysis with the new gearbox in our Expert Review section.
You can choose from seven colours for your New Gen Verna. These include Phantom Black, Sleek Silver, Flame Orange, Siena Brown, Star Dust, Polar White and Fiery Red.
The price starts at Rs. 7.99 lakh for the base petrol variant and goes up to Rs 12.40 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) for the top end diesel trim.