Safety Features:
Hyundai has loaded the new Verna with quite a level of safety kit. In a segment first, the Verna's top-end variant is equipped with 6 airbags! The braking is supported by an ABS + EBD system. Hyundai has also reverted back to a 4 disc brake set-up. It may be recalled that Hyundai surreptitiously removed rear disc brakes from the outgoing Verna, and replaced them with drums. This was a pure cost cutting move that drew flak from all quarters. The new Verna has addressed that legitimate grouse. The wheels themselves are 16”, and on first look, the discs also appear to be bigger than what is normally seen in C segment sedans.
The doors lock on their own once the car starts moving and similarly, on a collision, the doors unlock on their own. To help while reversing the car, there are parking sensors as well as a camera on the boot lid (
under the chrome strip). The (inner) rear view mirror doubles up as a display for the reverse camera. The reverse assist system also shows you a rectangular area divided into green, amber and red zones, superimposed on the rear view being projected by the camera.
Engine, Performance and Braking:
As long as the smart key is in your pocket, all you need to do is press the clutch and hit the start button:
The MID reminds me:
The Verna will now be offered with a choice of 4 engines; a petrol & diesel option in each, the 1.4L and 1.6L capacities. Further, the 1.6L engines (petrol or diesel) will give you the option of an automatic transmission. Even the gearboxes on offer are very different. The petrol Vernas, both 1.4 and 1.6, get a 5 speed manual gearbox, whereas the 1.6 petrol Verna also gets the auto tranny as an option. However, the auto tranny is only a 4-speed box which is a sacrilege in a car of this segment. The diesel Verna, both 1.4 and 1.6 VGT, get a 6-speed manual box! The 1.6 diesel also gets the auto treatment (again, the 4-speed box) as an option.
A quick glance at the vital statistics of these engines as provided below:
The 1.6 Diesel + Manual Transmission
Anyone who has driven the previous generation Verna will tell you that the diesel is the more impressive. That continues with the new Verna as well.
The 1.6 diesel MT is the star of the lot. This is a VGT engine (only the 1.6 comes with VGT, and not the 1.4 diesel) with swirl control valves and hydraulic lash adjusters. Switch on the engine and, after the initial warm up, she settles into a nice thrum (as opposed to the clatter of a typical diesel). Inside the cabin, the Verna is on the silent side. At times, it's difficult to tell that the car has an oil burner sitting under the hood. The engine has noticeable turbo lag upto 1,800 rpm, after which you see progress. But it's over 2,000 rpm that the motor really comes onto its own. Acceleration is fast thereafter, thanks to the 260 Nm of peak torque (@ 1900 rpm). Over 2k rpm, the motor is more linear than the outgoing Verna which had a sudden
whoosh in turbo mode. The mid-range is punchy, and overtaking is not a problem at all. It'll sail through most maneuvers easily. However, the gearing is on the taller side. Thus, expect to downshift if you are at an rpm too low for the turbo to be spooling enough. On the open road, you can work your way around the lag. And even at 140 kph, the diesel isn't running out of breath at all. The additional gear ratio greatly helps for comfortable cruising. In 6th gear, the Verna does 100 kph at just about 2,000 rpm. The engine feels relaxed and is in complete "cruise mode". Expect highway fuel efficiency to be
tall.
The lag is more obvious in the city and takes getting used to. Like most other diesels, the action is between 2,000 – 4,000 rpm. In bumper to bumper traffic, you will need to work the gearbox. Within the city, the Vento diesel has a distinct advantage in terms of driveability, due to its inexistent lag. The clutch is not too hard, nor too light on the diesel. You could say it's par for the course. The gears slot in place without much fuss, and the throws aren't long either. It's a good gearbox and slick enough, though not the segment benchmark.
The 1.6 Petrol + Automatic Transmission
I didn't get a chance to test the 1.6L petrol with the manual transmission. It's unfortunate that Hyundai has chosen to equip the new Verna with a 4 speed AT, especially as a manufacturer who has traditionally been AT-friendly & offered the transmission option in so many cars (Santro, i10, i20 etc.). The 4 speed AT is not as much of a problem in the city, as it's on the highway where the lack of a 5th ratio dulls performance.
Those who use the petrol Verna AT within the city will find no reason for complaint. The shift quality is smooth enough, and the Verna can become an effortless city commuter. Note that the AT is suited to a demure driving style. There is a distinct lag when moving from 0 kph too. The gearbox offers relaxed cruising, without any jerks at all. I didn't find it "hunting" for gears either. AT buyers choose an automatic transmission primarily for urban commutes, and the Verna doesn't disappoint there. On the open road, however, it's a different story. The lack of a 5th ratio seems to make the engine work harder, especially in 3rd & 4th gears. The AT box is slow to respond in kick-down mode as well; I found myself using manual override (tiptronic) whenever I wanted a downshift. This is definitely not the transmission for an enthusiastic driving style. Not by a mile. The Honda City - with its 5 well matched gear ratios - is the undisputed superior for highway drives. And no, the Verna doesn't get steering-mounted paddle shifts either.
The petrol engine itself is very refined at normal speeds; within the city, you can hardly hear it. At high rpms though, it does develop a coarse edge near the redline. Considering its power output and the Verna petrol's power / weight ratio, the petrol should be quick with the manual gearbox.
The suspension is softly-tuned by Hyundai engineers. Hence, ride quality is excellent within the city. Even potholes are dismissed off without complaint. On rough urban roads where the Honda City would fumble, the Hyundai Verna breezes through. The soft suspension raises its ugly head at high speeds though, both in ride as well as handling. Dynamically, the Verna is just like most other C segment sedans upto 130 kph. Over that limit, you get the feeling that you are floating. One does not feel very confident to go beyond, as even a small undulation on the road surface causes the new Verna to pitch and roll. Every time I reached 120 - 140, it rocked like a boat at the smallest of unevenness on the road. The twitchy behaviour at high speed is not confidence inspiring & the ride doesn't stay flat either. At this point, the diesel engine wants to go further, but the handling remains a limitation. The diesel Verna felt a little better at high speeds; it's probably the additional weight of the engine at play here. As mentioned earlier, Hyundai has reverted back to the 4 discs arrangement with ABS & EBD. No problems with the brakes on a straight road, the car stops without a fuss. However, it is on the twisties that the Verna gets nervous; brake real hard and the tail shows a tendency to step out of line.