Hyundai may launch the facelifted Verna before the end of this year

The Hyundai Verna was introduced in India back in May 2011 and is one of the Korean manufacturer’s best-selling cars in India. The facelifted Verna was launched in Russia earlier last month and thanks to the ‘Fluidic 2.0’ design philosophy, looks very similar to its elder sibling, the Sonata. Now, reports suggest that Hyundai is planning to launch the car in the Indian market before the end of this year.  

Being just a facelift, the new Verna is mechanically identical to the current car, though it does get a few cosmetic changes inspired by the 'Verna RB concept'. The front grille gets two chrome slats and the headlamp design has also been altered. The lower bumper has also been redesigned and gets a different design for the fog lamps. The rear gets new tail lamps with LED lights and a reflector on the lower bumper. 

The Verna is currently sold in India with the option of two diesel and two petrol engines, and we expect Hyundai to retain these for the facelift. The base petrol variants are available a 1.4-litre unit while the high-end variants get a 1.6-litre unit. The diesel variants also get the option of either a 1.4-litre unit or a 1.6-litre unit. While the petrol variants come with a five-speed manual gearbox, the diesel variants are offered with a six-speed manual gearbox. A four-speed automatic gearbox is also available in some high-end petrol and diesel variants.  

The interiors of the new Verna have remained more or less the same, though it now gets an all-black centre console and cabin. Safety features include six airbags, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) and ABS with EBD. Features and equipment list might be altered to keep the price low for the Indian market.  

As a response to the launch of the new Honda City, Hyundai recently updated the Verna with redesigned alloy wheels, projector headlamps and daytime running lamps. While the sales numbers have remained pretty consistent over the past few months, the City has been performing really well, generating twice the number in domestic sales figures. The Verna is a great looking car and being a Hyundai, offers good value for money. But to tackle the Honda City and regain its crown as the segment leader, Hyundai will have to launch the facelift in India with a very lucrative price tag.