From outside, the Hyundai Verna looks like quite a grown-up car, and before we carry on one must highlight one fact - the Hyundai Verna is actually the next generation Accent - but Hyundai did not want to vacate the lower end of the 'C' segment and has continued production of the old Accent. Anyway, outside as well as inside, the Verna feels far more sophisticated than the Accent. The question is whether it is more sophisticated than the Honda City and The Ford Fiesta its two primary competitors.
The answer is one word? Um, I don't have one actually. The Verna is big, inside and outside - bigger than the Fiesta and similar in cabin space to the City. The problem is that the car is a sort of amalgam between its two competitors - more exhilarating to drive than the City, but not as much as the 1.6 Fiesta - but we'll come to driving later. One thing the Verna is good at is rear leg-room - the rear seats are a lot higher than the Accent (sorry to harp on about the Accent - but it is an Accent replacement in the West y'see) as is legroom. Unless you happen to be fairly tall and push the front seat all the way back.
Fitment levels on the top-end petrol models are good, but I hate plastic wood, but thats really not my fault. Anyway, GM cars are still the best in class in interiors (GM cars have other serious problems however) but the Verna isn't bad. So how is it to drive?
1.6 VTVT
Variable Timing Valve Train, thats the term that Hyundai is using in India despite the Engine having 'CVVT' emblazoned on it. Honestly, 100 horsepower is what the car advertises, but it feels rather unexciting. Again straight comparison between this and the Fiesta 1.6 and City VTEC, but it is cheaper than both. The car has a very uninspiring top-end, though mid-range power is fairly good and the car is very well geared for city traffic, though not for wheel-spinning off-the-line drag racing - but changing is comfortable.
On the handling front, this car is a lot tighter than the car it should have replaced, yet, I'll still swear by the Ford or the pricier VTEC. Ride quality is very good, but a thirty minute drive is hardly an idea.
1.5 CRDi
OK, I'll be honest - you want a Verna buy this. It doesn't have electrically operated side mirrors or the fake wood fascia or the nice beige upholstery, but this car moves. It rattles like a truck at start-up sounds loud, but if you let this car go, it would out-gun the petrol. You'll hit 150-160 in no time and on Hyundai's test track at Sriperumbudur, you knew this car still had another 20-30k's left before we ran out of road.
The downside? Try breaking from high speed - the car does tend to wobble a bit and then the ABS catches in on the action. And then I started a fairly high speed U-turn, and the car is not as tight on the corners as the competition, as it tends to understeer unless you cut speed, but the car doesn't react adversely if you lift off the corner mid-corner.
But, honestly despite the niggles, I loved the CRDi, the Verna is really good. The Fiesta 1.4 DuraTorq is far less powerful but tighter on the corners. It is the best in its class.
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