Design And Engineering

The latest Verna looks nothing like its predecessor and that’s a good
thing. Out go the mundane lines of the older car and in comes a fresh,
bold new look thanks to Hyundai’s new ‘Fluidic Sculpture’ design
language. Fluidic Sculpture is Hyundai-speak for a more dynamic design.
Up front, there is a strong family resemblance to the freshly
face-lifted i10 in the manner in which the large and smartly detailed
headlights sweep back into the body. A ‘V’ on the bonnet that
originates just above the hexagonal Hyundai grille adds much muscle to
the front. But what really catches your eye is the ‘L’-shaped foglights
that sit neatly recessed low down in the front bumper. They look
distinctive and are especially attractive at night. Viewed side-on, the
Verna looks fantastic, credit for which goes to its swooping character
line that rises from the front bumper, slashes past both door handles
and extends right till the tail-light. The coupe-like roofline that
flows into the chunky tail only adds to the effect. Well executed
creases at the rear and spread-out tail-lights further embellish the
Verna’s style quotient. And the twin tailpipes will definitely be a hit
with enthusiasts.
The new Verna is built on a completely new platform with its 2570mm
wheelbase a whole 70mm larger than the older car. Another big change is
the electrically powered steering that comes in place of the outgoing
model’s hydraulic unit. However, the suspension layout is traditional, a
combination of MacPherson struts up front and a torsion beam axle at
the rear.
Hyundai has really upped the quality ante in the recent past and the
Verna is no exception with reasonably tight panel gaps and a paint job
that has a deeper gloss than before. However, it still doesn’t exude
that feeling of solidity of a European car like the Fiat Linea and the
door shut has a disappointingly hollow feel to it. Perhaps it’s because
the Verna is on the lighter side. Despite all the equipment that’s
packed into it, the 1.6 diesel Verna tips the scales at 1191kg, its
1.6-litre petrol engine sibling weighing 120kg less. This compares well
with the competition for this class of car.
Interiors

Going by the new Verna’s adventurous exterior styling, you’d expect
something equally funky on the inside as well. There is some
disappointment here as Hyundai has played it safe with a rather
conventional design. The shield-like fascia though does look quite
appealing. Beige is the colour of choice for the seats and lower portion
of the dashboard and this really enhances the ambience in the car.
Interior quality is impressive and is a big improvement over the
previous model. We really liked the textured dashboard, the damped feel
to the AC vents, knurled finish on the climate control dials and the
chunky steering (borrowed from the i20). Plastic quality is good but not
consistent throughout the cabin. The power window switches look like
they belong to a segment below and the faux wood on the dash doesn’t
look convincing either. The door armrests are also poorly finished and
the fit on panels near the footwells could be better too. But overall,
the Verna exudes a richness that makes the insides a nice place to be.
There is reasonable space for knickknacks including a sunglasses holder
near the rearview mirror. But the door pockets are shallow and not
really suitable for holding more than a few newspapers at best. There is
also a bottle- and cupholder beside the handbrake that comes positioned
a touch too close to the driver’s seat.
Frontal visibility from the driver’s seat is good but the sloping rear
windscreen and high rear passenger headrests hamper visibility out the
back. The front seats themselves are well bolstered with ample support
for your back. If we had a grouse with these seats, it’s with the short
squabs and a general lack of under-thigh support. But this is more of an
issue at the rear which, along with just about average headroom and
restricted visibility out of the rear window (a side effect of the
Verna’s high belt line), mark down the Verna as a chauffeur-driven car.
Passengers will also have to slightly contend with the Verna’s low
stance – getting in and out could be an issue for some. The generous
width and flat floor offer enough space for a fifth passenger but the
seat contours make the rear bench best for two. Earning back brownie
points is the generous legroom at the rear and a nicely angled backrest.
The Verna’s 465-litre, well-finished boot is generously trimmed and
offers more than adequate space for large suitcases. The trouble is the
loading lip which has a narrow aperture and is quite high.
Take one look at the equipment list on offer on the 1.6-litre Vernas and
you could mistake it for a car in a higher class. You get keyless
entry, rear parking sensors, Bluetooth connectivity, climate control, an
iPod-ready music system and steering-mounted audio controls. And we’re
talking base models here. The higher SX trim level comes with even more
goodies like electrically foldable external rearview mirrors, an
automatically dimming internal rearview mirror, a reverse camera, cooled
glovebox and alloy wheels. The top-of-the line SX (O) variant gets ABS
with EBD and leather upholstery in addition to the above. Phew. The
automatic variant (on offer with either 1.6 engines) will only be sold
in top spec, making it the most expensive car in the range.
Performance and Economy

Depress the clutch, thumb the starter and you will realise just how
refined Hyundai’s latest U2 diesel engine is. Idle is a mild hum and
even when you get going, noise and vibrations are well contained.
This 1.6-litre common-rail diesel churns out a class-leading 126bhp and
26.5kgm of max torque but these figures are only impressive on paper.
They somehow don’t translate into blistering performance on the road.
Its 20-80kph timing of 13 seconds is actually half a second off the
older Verna’s time. And this is despite the new car having an additional
sixth ratio. The culprit here is the tall gearing which has blunted
performance in the interests of fuel efficiency. In fact, you have to
really break the highway speed limit to make the most of the sixth gear
which, at 80kph, turns over a lazy 1500rpm, which is just above
tickover!
Power delivery, however, is pretty linear and you can barely feel the
turbo kicking in. There’s a gentle surge at around 1900rpm, followed by a
strong thrust till the model’s 5100rpm rev limit. What’s good is the
engine is fairly tractable for normal driving and you don’t have to
constantly work the smooth-shifting gearbox.
Like the diesel, the all-new Gamma petrol engine scores high on
refinement too with a near-silent idle. Peak power is 121bhp, making
this the most powerful car in its class. But once again, the car just
doesn’t feel as fast as it should forcing us to suspect the power of the
Korean horses under the hood. The dash to 100kph is completed in a
brisk 11.49sec and the engine has a fairly linear power delivery. The
mid-range is strong but the top end beyond 4000rpm is stronger. So as
the revs rise, the Verna pulls harder. Hence, to get the most out of
this engine, you need to keep the motor spinning. This can be a task at
times because with widely spaced ratios (between second and third), the
engine doesn’t always fall back into the meat of the powerband, even at
high rpm upshifts. The five-speed gearbox itself falls easily to hand
and is always smooth in operation.
Tall gearing may have dulled the diesel Verna’s performance but it has
also enhanced mileage. 13.8kpl in the city and 17.9kpl on the highway is
impressive for such a powerful motor. The petrol Verna did well too,
returning 9.8kpl within the city and 15.3kpl on the highway. Long
distance range is a bit restricted as a result of the relatively small
43-litre fuel tank.
Ride And Handling
If your driving is restricted to the city, you’ll love the Verna’s
electrically powered steering. It is light and just what the doctor
ordered for effortless scything through crowded urban streets and
squeezing into tight parking spots. Drive faster than city speeds and
the story becomes quite different. There is an irritating dead zone at
the straight-ahead position and a disconcerting inconsistency in the way
the steering weights up. So what you get is a rather disconnected
driving experience with little feedback from the road. Hard acceleration
also brings about some torque steer on the diesel Verna.
Given India’s roads, ride quality can make or break (literally too) a
car. The good news is that the Verna delivers on this front. Low speed
ride is good with the softly set-up suspension ably absorbing all but
the largest potholes. There is, however, a fair amount of vertical
movement on the petrol Verna especially at the rear, this bobbing only
amplifying with speed. The diesel’s stiffer front springs (to carry the
additional weight of the engine) do their bit in delivering a flatter
high speed ride. The added weight up front also allows the steering to
weight up better.
High speed bumps also tend to unsettle the Verna a fair amount and call
for a steady hand on the steering wheel. Straightline stability is
average and not quite as reassuring as it should be. The Verna’s
ride-oriented soft suspension has also invariably dulled driving
dynamics. Cornering manners are tidy but this is no Ford Fiesta. The
body rolls quite a bit and, given the vague feel at the wheel, does not
bode well for really enthusiastic driving. However, there is ample grip
from the oversized 195/55-R16 Bridgestones when such an occasion does
arise.
The Verna comes with disc brakes all around and the top-end model we
tested is equipped with ABS and EBD as well. Sadly, the brake pedal is
devoid of much feel in the crucial first few centimetres of travel.
Also, in panic stops, the soft rear struggles to hold its line and
threatens to step out. This can get unnerving if you are not used to it.
Verdict
While enthusiasts may not take well to the Verna’s floppy high speed
ride and uninvolving driving experience, these are secondary
considerations to typical buyers in this segment. What you get is
smashing styling and really well designed and comfortable interiors.
Then there is the strong punch from the pair of highly refined petrol
and diesel engine powertrains. Also, low speed ride is good and the
light steering is a boon in the city. And given the long list of
equipment on offer, you do get a whole lot of car for your money. The
Verna may not be exceptional in any one area but as a jack of all trades
and very competitive pricing, it has the makings of a winner.