Redesigned, Feature-Packed New Verna Is A VFM Proposition

When it was launched in India back in mid-2011, the ‘fluidic’ Verna (RB Series) was quite a dramatic departure from its rather nondescript predecessor. With its extroverted design flourishes, the fluidic Verna polarised opinion, with some people loving its over-the-top styling and some going with the belief that it was just too over the top. The car initially did well but later fell prey to the onslaught mounted by the new Honda City and Maruti Ciaz. Now, though, Hyundai has launched the new, 5th generation Verna that’s fully equipped to take on all comers in its segment. We had an opportunity to drive the car extensively and here’s our take on the vehicle.

- Sameer Kumar

DESIGN AND STYLING

While the 2011 Verna (and the subsequent facelift it got in 2015) was unique in its appearance and had its own bunch of fans who loved the way the car looked, we believe the design was a bit over wrought and did not age very well. Hyundai has addressed that issue with the new Verna, which features cleaner, more straightforward lines, without excessive adornment. While the styling still isn’t as restrained or subtle as you’d get with some European brands that compete in the same segment, Hyundai’s design language is definitely more mature now than it was six years ago.

The bigger, more prominent new front grille is one of the more noticeable design updates on the new Verna, which features many other styling updates as well – new sheet metal for the bonnet, reshaped projector headlamps (with integrated LED DRLs), revised front air dam, all-new LED tail lamps and 16-inch 5-spoke ‘diamond cut’ alloy wheels. The car is handsomely proportioned, the black B-pillars look good and though there is a fair bit of chrome all around, most of it looks reasonably restrained and classy. Overall, the new Verna does look suitably premium, which is clearly what Hyundai was aiming for with the new design.

ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION