2017 Hyundai Verna launched at Rs 7.99 lakh

The 5th generation Hyundai Verna has been launched in India. Hyundai is claiming that this new car is better in every way - it is safer, more luxurious, powerful but efficient and sets itself apart from the competition with segment-first features.

Available in 12 variants, the new Hyundai Verna is priced, ex-showroom Delhi, as follows:

Petrol

E MT : Rs 7.99 Lakh

EX MT : Rs 9.07 Lakh

EX AT : Rs 10.23 Lakh

SX MT : Rs 9.50 Lakh

SX (O) MT : Rs 11.09 Lakh

SX (O) AT : Rs 12.24 Lakh

Diesel

E MT : Rs 9.19 Lakh

EX MT : Rs 9.99 Lakh

EX AT : Rs 11.40 Lakh

SX MT : Rs 11.12 Lakh

SX+ AT : Rs 12.62 Lakh

SX (O) MT : Rs 12.40 Lakh

It is easy to see that the new Verna has bigger aspirations - it looks like a scaled down Elantra. This also means that the new Verna is now more understated to look at, the new Fluidic design concept favours a classy look over all-out flashiness. 

At the front, the Verna gets the company's signature cascading grille, sweptback headlamps with projector headlights, horizontally placed L-shaped LED DRLs and projector fog lamps. While it may not look like it at first, the new Verna is wider than the older car by 29mm. The overall height of the car remains the same as before at 1475mm.

The Verna's silhouette is similar to the older car, it is more like a coupe than a three-box sedan. The increase in overall dimensions is apparent from this angle - the new Verna is 65mm longer and gets a 30mm longer wheelbase. The top-of-the-line variants feature 16-inch 5-spoke diamond-cut alloy wheels.

At the rear, the Verna now features another Hyundai signature - slim, side-swept taillights with triple-lamp stop lights. The boot lid is upswept to form a spoiler while the bumper gets a dual-tone treatment to reduce the visual mass at the rear.

On the inside, the new Verna follows Hyundai's philosophy of understated elegance. Form follows function here, with very little in terms of design flair. The Verna's cabin also exudes the same sense of good build quality and premiumness that modern Hyundai's are known for. The cabin features a black-and-beige theme with silver inserts. 

Highlights include a chunky three-spoke steering wheel with multifunction buttons, simple instrument cluster with two large analogue dials and a very informative digital DIS. The centre console features a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity which is flanked by the two central A/C vents.

The Verna, at least on the top-end variants features leather upholstery. The Verna seems to be designed to pamper the front occupants than the ones at the rear. In spite of the increased overall length and wheelbase, the Verna is not a comfortable car for rear seat passengers. This is based on our initial impressions of the car, you can check out our first look review of the car here.

What makes the front seats feel special is the addition of ventilation. Ventilated front seats are one of the segment-first features which should make the Verna more appealing. Other features include hands-free boot release (you wave your foot under the rear bumper and the bootlid opens automatically), projector fog lamps and Eco Coating (A/C tech which eliminates odour).

Standard features available across the range include dual front airbags, ABS, day-night IRVM, ISOFIX child-seat anchor points, front seatbelts with pretensioner, rear centre armrest with cupholders, tilt-adjustable steering and electrically adjustable ORVMs.

Highlights of the top-of-the-line variant include a 6-speaker surround sound system, Hyundai iBlue app-based remote control, sunroof, keyless entry-and-go, six airbags and rear windshield curtain.

The Hyundai Verna carries over the larger-capacity engines from the previous generation. The 1.4-litre petrol and diesel motors have been ditched with the more powerful 1.6-litre motors carried over. 

The 1.6-litre naturally-aspirated petrol motor develops 123PS of maximum power at 6400rpm (as compared to 6,300rpm earlier) and 151Nm of peak torque at 4850rpm (as compared to 155Nm at 4200rpm earlier). The engine can be paired to either a 6-speed manual transmission or an all-new 6-speed automatic transmission. While power and torque figures have not improved, Hyundai claims that the new car is better to drive. The ARAI-certified mileage with MT is 17.70kmpl (+0.7kmpl) and with AT is 15.92kmpl (+0.2kmpl).

The 1.6-litre, turbocharged diesel motor develops 128PS of maximum power at 4000rpm and 260Nm of peak torque at 1500-3000rpm (as compared to 1900-2750rpm). The larger peak torque curve should make the Verna diesel easier to drive in the city and also give it the required boost at higher speeds. ARAI-certified mileage of the new Verna diesel MT is 24.75kmpl (+0.85kmpl) while the AT returns 21.02kmpl (+0.9kmpl).

Hyundai is also offering a connected car service, called the Auto Link, which allows customers to check the car's health, analyse driving habits, contact roadside assistance on their phone. Hyundai is also offering, under its customer care program, 3-year unlimited kilometres warranty, 3-years free roadside assistance package and 3 times map update.

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