Hyundai is putting its eggs in one basket with the 2017 edition of the Verna. The South-Korean automaker has entrusted its ongoing fluidic design to do the talking, thereby giving them hope against the recent onslaught of Honda City and Maruti’s Ciaz.
The car hasn’t launched yet (shelved for 22 August), and we even don’t know the price yet, but the pre-booking started on Friday.
What we do know is that the car has been given a lot of feature upgrades (both interior and exterior), cosmetic touch ups, and as claimed by the company, some first-in-the-segment improvements.
Hyundai invited us to their manufacturing plant in Chennai, where the company does all the work, which is then utilised for its domestic market needs, as well as exporting matters (left hand drive models were also seen in the compound).
We managed to testdrive the new Verna at their condition-controlled test track, lapping up the diesel variant (both manual and automatic) in the process. But first, let’s talk design.
Elantra in Disguise?
That was the first thing that came to my mind. The new Elantra was the first to get the Hyundai fluidic design, and Verna’s been given the same treatment. The 3rd generation Verna to hit India gets cascade grille, which Hyundai claims is part of their new design language.
The smooth lines brushing from bottom to the top, give the 2017 Verna a refreshing touch, something that Hyundai hopes will give them added impetus to compete with its rivals.
Headlamps with LED daytime running lights (DRL), a sunroof, and a shark fin antenna make their debut on the Verna.
The tail lights are much slimmer now, adding to the overall design appeal of the new Verna. Puneet Anand, Marketing head at Hyundai India, emphasised that developing the Verna has seen an investment of over Rs 1,000 crore, and there is very little we can argue, especially after getting a closer look at the changes instilled.
Engine Goes Full Throttle
Hyundai has finally ditched the 1.4-litre unit, and have gone for the kill with its 1.6-litre petrol and diesel engine on the 2017 Verna. The engine that has been built over K2 platform, Hyundai claims, will be more powerful than its predecessor and still manage to balance the gallon.
You get the 2017 Verna with a 6-speed manual and automatic transmission, and we took a liking for the former during our brief time with the car.
Having said that, there’s no change in the power and torque figures, with 123PS (petrol) and 128PS (diesel) highlighted by the company’s spokesperson. The power delivery is linear and you still get the kick that the Verna is renowned for. With a 6-speed transmission, the gears shifts are more pronounced in the manual version, while the automatic could use some tuning.
Safety Features & More
The crores of money spent on developing the 2017 Verna delivers in the form of a slew of new features. You get 6 airbags, rear AC vents, a 4-sensor equipped rear camera for reserve parking, and Android Auto/Apple CarPlay support.
In terms of the newbies, the front seats are ventilated now, which will be a boon for people driving in the Summers. They’ve also added eco-coating technology that keeps the car fresh from odour every time, claims Hyundai. There’s the all familiar 7-inch display on the dashboard and last, but not the least, voice recognition support also comes in tow.
Price it Right And You’ve Got a Winner
We’ve hardly spent anytime with the car to tell you its drivability quotient, but it’s hard to deny that a refreshed Verna was long overdue.
Well, now that it is here all we wait to see is how Hyundai manages to justify the features, the power and the design upgrade with its pricing. Get that spot on (not expecting Jeep-like miracles here), and you’ll be onto something.
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