Hyundai Verna 2020-2022

Not much has been changed in the interior. The 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system hosts modern connectivity features like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. This time around, you also get the BlueLink connected car technology that lets you control many functions via your smartphone. There's a new digital instrument cluster that resembles BMW's digital layout but surely adds to the premium quotient. However, the purists will miss the classy analogue setup.

The turbo variant gets an all-black interior colour scheme with contrast red stitching on the dashboard and the upholstery. The other variants of the Verna are offered with a dual-tone black and beige colour scheme that gives an airy feel to the cabin. But the all-black interior surely makes the cabin sportier.

Getting into the rear seats is easy but once you are seated inside, you will realise that the headroom is not that great due to the sloping roofline. In addition, even the under-thigh support can be an issue for tall passengers. The legroom, though, is decent. The bench seat at rear is well-bolstered and should keep you comfortable over the longer journeys but the cabin here is a strict four-seater. At 480 litres, the boot space of the facelifted Verna may not be the largest, but it can surely carry enough luggage for a good weekend trip for four.

Feature-wise, the Hyundai Verna has an edge over its rivals. It gets front ventilated seats, front seatback pockets, rear AC vents, automatic climate control, engine start/stop function, cruise control, paddle shifters, rear sunblind, Arkamys music system, automatic headlights, an electric sunroof, and a lot more. Hyundai Verna also has a wireless charging pad but it's not big enough to accommodate larger smartphones. It also misses the air purifier that we have seen in other Hyundai models.

Hyundai Verna is available with three engine options - 1.5L petrol, 1.5L diesel and a 1.0L turbo-petrol. The 1.5L petrol is a four-cylinder motor that churns out 115 PS of maximum power with 144 Nm of peak torque. This engine is mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox as standard and gets an optional CVT. This unit is found in other Hyundai and Kia models as well.

While the driving enthusiasts will not like the rubber-band effect, it’s in the congested city streets that the CVT shines with its smoothness and quick power delivery. Also, one gets to manually control the transmission’s behaviour via paddle shifters. The 6-speed manual transmission of the 1.5-litre petrol engine variant offers smooth shifts and light clutch action. In fact, it even lets you extract a high fuel efficiency when you drive with a light foot.

The 1.0L turbo petrol is borrowed from the Hyundai Venue. It churns out 120 PS of maximum power with 172 Nm of peak torque. Here, you only get a 7-speed DCT as an option. At low speeds, the engine doesn’t excite you as there’s a slight lag that you would experience. However, put the pedal to the metal and the gearbox is quick to respond and downshift immediately. The wide powerband from 2000-6000 RPM will be appreciated by those who drive with a heavy foot.

The diesel engine variant is for those who love highway cruising and are concerned about fuel economy. The 1.5L, four-cylinder motor generates 115 PS of maximum power with 250 Nm of peak torque. While the torque remains the same as what the BS IV-compliant 1.6-litre unit offered, the power has gone down a bit. However, the overall performance hasn't changed much as the diesel variant continues to offer a strong mid-range and top-end performance. The power delivery is linear, and it surely puts a smile on your face when you are driving the diesel Verna on an open straight road. 

The diesel AT retains the charm but even brings in the convenience that comes associated with an automatic transmission. Press the accelerator hard and the transmission responds quickly to the input. Those looking for low running costs will be impressed with the ARAI fuel economy figure of 21.3 kmpl for the automatic and 25 kmpl for the manual variant. What also sets the Verna apart is the fact that it is the only sedan in the segment to offer a Diesel + AT combination. 

The dynamics of the Hyundai Verna have improved a lot since the first-generation model that was sold here. As always, the suspension offers a great ride quality. In fact, be it the big-sized potholes or the sharp-edged speed breakers, the suspension provides ample cushioning and keeps the occupants comfortable. Even the high-speed stability has improved over the previous generations and the great ride quality should keep occupants in both front and rear rows happy over the longer journeys.

Compared to the earlier generations, the handling characteristics of the latest model are a lot better. The steering doesn’t have the lifeless feel of the earlier model and even weighs up well with speed. Also, unlike the previous version, the latest-gen model doesn’t pull towards a side under hard braking, which is a clear indicator of the improvements that have been achieved with the dynamics. Moreover, despite the softly sprung suspension, the Verna feels engaging enough in the corners and is certainly a huge improvement over its previous version when it comes to the handling characteristics. Overall, the latest-gen Verna manages to strike a decent balance between ride comfort and outright corner-carving capabilities and even impresses us with the improvement over the earlier generation models.

The latest-gen Hyundai Verna has bagged a 5-star rating at the ASEAN NCAP. The Indian model is yet to be assessed by Global NCAP but given the top rating of the version tested in A-NCAP, it won’t be a bad idea to expect a high safety rating for even the India-spec version.

Also, the top-spec Hyundai Verna available in the country comes loaded with many active and passive safety features that should keep the occupants safe in an unfortunate event of a crash. These include as many as six airbags, an anti-lock braking system with electronic brake-force distribution, a tyre pressure monitoring system, ISOFIX child seat mounts, seat belt warning, an electronic stability program, traction control, hill hold control, keyless entry, child safety lock and speed sensing door lock. Moreover, with the high-speed dynamics of the sedan now being better than ever, it’s even a safer car to drive, especially when dealing with the corners and moderate-to-high speeds.