Can the new Verna finally take on the City and Ciaz?

The Verna needed a boost in appeal that would be more than just a cosmetic refresh. The last two rounds of face-lifts weren’t enough to convince buyers to choose the Verna; and in the meantime the competition has been on overdrive resetting their mid-size sedans’ positions and new models too have walked away with buyers.

The next (fifth) generation of the Verna will attempt to make amends; and promises to completely overhaul the sedan’s position within the crucial metrics of performance and value. The car was launched earlier this week and we finally got to take it out on Indian roads for a full test. Here is how it fared and how it compares with the two key competitors

The Honda City and the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz are both good looking cars. So, the new Verna had to be designed to look as good, if not better than these competitors. I think that Hyundai designers have managed to achieve that to a large extent both outside and inside the new Generation Verna. The most striking elements of the exterior are the new cascade design bonnet grille, the projector headlamps with LED daytime running lights, which give it a signature presence at night and the new tail-lamps, which mimic the configuration of Hyundai’s larger sedan Elantra. In fact, the overall exterior design of the new Verna draws a lot of inspiration from the Elantra. Its design makes it look larger from the front with the raised bonnet and bigger headlamps; and more coupe-like at the rear mostly due to the sharply sloping roofline at the rear and the stubby boot lid.

In terms of the sheer number of changes and additions, the new gen Verna’s cabin gets a lot more than the exterior. First impression I got after stepping into the Verna was that the cabin’s perceived quality is up. The fit and finish quality of plastic panels, knobs and controls is much better than the outgoing model, though some of the panels continue to be hard plastics. The other feature about the cabin that comes through is the extreme symmetry of the dashboard layout without it seeming over simplified. The dual tone theme makes it pleasing to the eye and some of the chrome trim elements elevate the cabin’s premiumness. The multi-function steering wheel and the seven-inch touchscreen navigation and infotainment system are nifty additions. But some of the other premium features that have now been brought into the Verna really boost its appeal. They include features such as ventilated front seats, an electric sunroof, hands free smart boot lid and rear privacy curtain, which are from one segment level above.

The new 2018 Verna gets retuned versions of the same two engines featured in the outgoing model. The gearboxes are new, including the six-speed torque-converter automatic transmission, which is now offered with both the petrol and the diesel engines. The 1.6-litre Gamma dual VTVT (variable valve timing) petrol engine now delivers 123 PS of peak power and 151 Nm of peak torque. I drove both the manual and automatic transmissions; the auto is now a six-speed compared to the previous gen’s four-speed. The gearbox is definitely quicker and more refined with smooth shifts, though I would have preferred a sports mode too. Choosing manual mode enabled me to stay in the selected gear all the way to about 6,200 rpm. The manual gearbox is also a six-speeder and is a clean shifting tranny with a progressive clutch and throw gear stick.

The Diesel engine is the 1.6-litre U II CRDi, which has been retuned to offer 128 PS of peak power and 260 Nm of peak torque. The 1.4-litre petrol engine offered earlier has been discontinued. Both the engines in the new 2018 Verna have good mid-range power and torque to exploit for short sprints in the city and during extended driving/overtakes on the highway. I was driving the car on the crowded streets of Kochi and on stretches of the state highway. Both the engines are claimed to be more fuel efficient too now.

The new gen Verna gets a big boost in its handling and ride quality when compared to the outgoing model. The stiffer new K2 platform chassis, with almost three times more use of high strength steel members, helps it deliver much better handling.

While the previous generation model was plagued by considerable understeer, the new gen Verna is almost rid of the problem. The result is a much improved ability to take turns and corners at speed. Steering precision also seems to have been bettered.

The new Verna is also much quieter. Hyundai officials say that a lot of work has gone into noise insulation and reducing other NVH parameters.

The model is now just a couple of inches bigger too and the key figure there is the wheelbase which is up 30 mm, possibly leading to a slight improvement in rear legroom. But the headroom for rear passengers is tight due to the coupe-like sloping roof.

Hyundai is also taking the competition head-on with an aggressive introductory pricing strategy. Many variants have been smartly positioned to give the Verna an advantage over similarly spec-ed competitors.

The Verna was never more equipped to be a disruptor in the segment.