Best All-Rounder Executive Car

I bought the Verna CRDI SX ABS (Ebony Black) in September 2008. Had roadtested 6 other cars till then - the Fiesta Petrol & Diesel, Honda City ZX, Mitsubishi Cedia, Optra & Aveo. Considering my preferences were Performance, Space and Features (in that order), I shortlisted the Cedia, Optra and the Verna.

The Optra was a revelation, but being a higher segment car, it was too expensive (base version diesel costs more than the Verna high end diesel).Cedia was a beautiful car, fully loaded, and the dealer was giving a very good offer on the car. Truth is, I had been skeptical of the Verna's looks from day one. But a test drive absolutely blew me away! Never had I driven a diesel with such an awesome power spread. Moreover, the SX model came fully loaded. Ultimately settled for it considering it was a diesel (my daily run is 40-50 kms, so I save a lot of money on running costs), yet the performance was comparable/better than the Cedia, and Hyundai's service network in Kolkata is much better than Mitsubishi's.

So much for the buying experience. The car has been with me for just over 3 months now, and has done 3400kms. The ownership experience has been a delight so far. The car has a very good power spread (pickup is clean and fast, and power goes on buidling progressively till 130-140Ks). It darts into gaps with an eagerness unheard of in Diesels. I have so far driven it at a max of 160Kmph, and am quite eager to try out the claimed top speed of 185Kmph. The engine is very coarse when cold (with the clatter being heard even through the impressively silent cabin), but all is well once it warms up.

The car has the best ride of all the cars I had tested (except the Optra). The cabin is well insulated. The Bridgestone 185/65 tubeless tyres have very good cushioning, and all these together ensure a stress free, pleasurable driving experience.

A word about the handling. I tend to be a fast driver, and often drive the car by the scruff of the neck. Agreed, its not a natural driver's car like the Civic, but the handling is quite competent. Unlike what most magazines said, I DO NOT find the handling wallowy or the car under-tyred! In fact, the Bridgestones have taken whatever abuse I dish out extremely well.

Even in low speed, urban city conditions, the car is very maneuverable. As an example, my mom has been driving for 15 years, but she still finds anything bigger than a Zen difficult to handle. Lately, even she's been looking for excuses to take the Verna out when I'm not using it :-). Reason for this could be the fact that the wheels are pushed out to the edges, and the car has little overhangs.

Interior space is very good. We are a family of 4 tall people with heavy builds, and all of us fit in comfortably in the car. Useful touches like the Driver's armrest and the abundance of cupholders and cubbyholes are well appreciated.

The car is rich on features. The factory fitted Kenwood Music system (Double DIN, plays CDs, MP3s, Radios and Cassetes) is of good quality. Very good midrange and clarity. Would ask Metal fans to fit an additional subwoofer for enhanced bass though. Its got many classy features like a lit glovebox, lit boot, damped sunglass holder etc.

Lastly for the fuel economy. The car is giving me around 13-14 kmpl, which I think is excellent mileage for a car this big and fast.

Not much needs to be said of Hyundai Service, which has always been of the highest order. The car has only had one service so far. They offered me a free pickup-and-drop, and the car reached my home gleaming. Every month their service centre calls me to take my feedback about the ownership experience and ask whether a service is due. Dont know whether such high standards are peculiar for this service centre only, or uniform across the country though! :-)

Now for the Cons. Firstly, the car has pathetic headlights. The low beam is dim and useless, and sometimes (in typical night traffic, smoggy conditions) I have to touch the light knob to confirm whether the headlights are actually on! I wanted to fit aftermarket xenons, but was told that the same would void my electronics warranty. The foglights too are more show than go. Secondly, a car costing nearly 9 lakhs on road should definitely come with factory fitted alloys as standard! Beats me why the petrol top model should come so adorned while the diesel is the unloved cousin!

Two words of advice to prospective buyers. Do opt for the ABS option, as it also gives you rear discs. The test drive car I had driven previously did not have this option, and braking from high speeds was much less reassuring. Secondly, if you're from Kolkata, please avoid buying from Spring Hyundai. In a strange paradox, their sales team is as pathetic as their service centre is good! The guy who sold me the car was a Hyundai old-timer. But the sales support team around him was as worthless as they come. During delivery, my insurance papers came with my address incorrect, my car came without the mandatory ashtray (they made 4 calls to the company before they figured out it had been discontinued!) and the accessories desk guy had to make a call to someone everytime I asked him the price of anything.

Performance as good as powerful petrols, Space, Fully Loaded, Fuel EconomyHeadlights, No Alloys