Maxabout Review

Best Diesel in Its Class

Hyundai Verna is a mid-size sedan that is based on the concept of 'large on the inside and compact outside'. Verna has a contemporary automotive design. It has a relatively short bonnet, which gives it a cab-forward stance, and a stubby, notchback-style boot. Verna's interiors have a dual tone color theme that has a dark tan top portion and a light, fawn colored bottom half to give the inside of the Verna an airy, spacious feel.

The interiors of the Verna are plush, spacious and upmarket. The dash is neatly designed like a cockpit, making it more functional. The diesel option has a new 1.5-litre, 16-valve CRDi engine that delivers a 110 PS of peak power at 4,000 rpm and a maximum torque of 24 kgm from as low as about 1,900 rpm. The petrol option has 1.6-litre engine that the VTVT (Variable Timing Valve Train) technology. It generates a peak power of 103.2 ps at 5,000 rpm and a maximum torque of 14.9 kgm at 3,000 rpm.

The easy availability of torque meant that it was powering its way through corners effortlessly. And it was on these roads that the vast generation gap between the Verna and the Accent makes itself very apparent. The Verna's dynamics are well sorted and the car feels much more integrated. All in all, the Verna seems to have everything in place - petrol and diesel engine options, a taut body, conservative looks that will not ruffle any feathers, quality interiors and high-spec build quality. Both the engines get a 5-speed manual transmission featuring a shift forward for reverse gear.

The Verna is the first Hyundai model in India that comes with this feature. It also comes with a ring that needs to be lifted to engage reverse. Verna's transmission does not qualify as the best; it is notchy between the second and the third gear. The Verna is a segment above Accent and competes with the Honda City, Chevrolet Aveo and Ford Fiesta.

Verna comes in three trim levels for petrol - the Verna i, Xi and XXi, and two for diesel the CRDi VGT and CRDi VGT SX. The Verna is available in nine colors - Nobel White, Ebony Black, Bright Silver, Passion Red, Dynasty Red, Real Earth, Husky Blue, Deep Pearl Blue and Kyara.