VERNAN REVITALISED

The most radical iteration of the Hyundai Verna is here and we had an opportunity to drive it on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway

- Joshua Varghese

IN ITS LATEST AVATAR, THE HYUNDAI VERNA IS a completely new car. The design language, dimensions, specifications, and features are all fresh. The car itself is now placed in a premium slot in the market, a rung above its predecessor's position. With a powerful engine on offer, the top-shelf Verna is also the most powerful sedan in its segment.

Armed with such significant changes, the latest Verna deserved to be scrutinised further and the new Delhi-Mumbai Expressway was the tarmac for our first experience, driving the top-end 1.5 TGDi model.

The styling of the new Verna is nothing like anything that came before it. The sedan body shape is the only thing this iteration has in common with its predecessors. At 1,765 millimetres, this car is wider than before and, at the front, an LED DRL strip spans the width of the bonnet, giving the new Verna a distinctly unique look. That is further complemented by the parametric grille and headlights which dominate the front bumper. The sloping front extends into a profile that features sharp panels which bear a striking resemblance to the new Tucson but also do a good job of highlighting that this car has increased in length to 4,535 mm. The new design is rounded off in style with a fastback-inspired roofline that culminates in a rear that features intricate tail-lights along with a lighting element that runs the width of the whole rear. The turbo-petrol variant of the Verna gets disc brakes all around along with 16-inch black wheels and red calipers (at the front).