Hyundai Verna
Gets cosmetic and mechanical updates
In the almost decade and a half that the Hyundai Verna has been in India it’s aged like a fine wine, getting better and better with every new rendition. Hyundai have not always got it ALL right but each new Verna has been decisively better than the last one. This year, the third generation of the Hyundai Verna has been given new BS6 compliant motors (both petrol and diesel) and a few tweaks inside and out. Question is, does it decisively best the car that it replaces? We spent a few days behind the wheel of the 2020 Verna diesel manual variant to find out exactly that.
Being a mid-life facelift, the new Verna is not a stark contrast to its predecessor, but from the moment it enters the frame the new Verna looks fresh(er) and up on presence. The first thing that’s gonna catch your eye are the new headlamps that now sport swept-back LED projectors that replace the conventional projectors on the pre-facelift. Paired with the smaller projector fog lamps, there’s not just added visual impact but also
1. On the inside the new Verna retains that familiar plushness of its predecessor, with subtle changes that add premium value and in some cases a competitive advantage. 2. The digital MIDI is the centrepiece of the new Verna’s cabin with futuristic digital dials replacing analogue units 3. The infotainment screen is larger too and now comes equipped with Hyundai’s latest bluelink smartphone connect that allows for some IOT features as well as some telemetrics 4. The Climate control system is mostly the same although the Verna still retains the title of being the only sedan in the better illumination especially on highways! On the diesel variant, the grille gets a few visual tweaks but misses out on the bling that you’d get on the 1.0-litre turbo petrol motor variant. In profile, the Verna gets chrome door sills but remains largely unchanged with a coupe-style c-pillar matched with an upswept belt line to give it a little bit of a sporty silhouette. The rear lamps get a slight tweak, as well! The bumpers too have more sinews with plastic skid plates on both ends, adding to the theme that seems to play on contrasting themes of butch and svelte working in synergy. One of my personal picks on the exteriors is the new smart boot lid which unlocks when the key is in range, making a whole lot easier to load.
On the inside, the most eye-grabbing feature is the new 10.6cm digital instrument cluster that really adds to character of the cockpit. Aside from that the infotainment system is updated as well, with a larger display preloaded with Hyundai’s newest generation mobile pairing platform, Bluelink that allows for some IOT features (Remote start etc) as well as some telemetry data that can be read through the app on the phone. That aside like the rest of it’s siblings from the Hyundai garage the Verna too gets a wireless charging dock as well as two USB fast chargers up front.
That aside not much has changed, you still get black on beige dual tone interiors and most importantly cooled seats. On the turbo petrol, their more sportier offering, the interiors get blacked out with red accents to convey intent.
The balance of ride versus handling has long been the Verna’s Achilles’ heel. Now while the older car was a significant improvement in terms of ride, with a better balance of damping and rebound such that it was not wallowy nor too firm, when the road surface deteriorated. This version seems to have improved on that even further with a steering wheel that weighs up much better, rather than the vagueish-lightness of its predecessor. The result is a sedan that is as engaging to drive in the twisty bits as it is out on the open highway
thanks to the added feedback. My only one grouse with Verna are the 15-inch Nexen tyres that seem to be of the low-resistance persuasion. As a result, breathe on the brakes too hard and you’d be met with a screech and feedback as ABS kicks in. I’m convinced that better tyres would have made the Verna that much more engaging to drive.
Under the hood is a brand new diesel mill that’s down on displacement and power, with a 1.5l motor replacing the older 1.6 and power coming down to 115bhp, from 125. Twist force remains the same with 250Nm at peak. What this means, contrary to what the spec sheet will tell you, is that the feeling of performance doesn’t really change all that much. In fact I doubt you’d be able to tell the two motors apart even if you drove them back to back. Add that to the slick six-speed manual box with tall-gears and a walloping mid-to-top range, and you have a car that has an uncanny way of putting a smile on your face.
To sum up, despite being a mid-life facelift, the Verna is decisively better than the car it leaves behind with more features, just as much performance and a slightly prettier package!