Coming of Age.

After years of relentless effort, the Verna went on to become a breakthrough for Hyundai in the Indian market - allowing the brand to make inroads into a completely new segment. So, as the next iteration of the car gathers further popularity, we take a look at the reasons behind the Verna's success.

                                        

The Verna, in its original avatar, was the first premium product from the Korean brand that truly caught the fancy of the Indian consumer. Given how sensitive Indian car buyers are about brand positioning, that's no easy task and Hyundai had made several attempts to find the right formula to make a breakthrough in the market. Well, the Verna was the right product at the right time! 

 

The reasons behind the Verna's success were quite obvious. For the first time in its segment, there was a vehicle that offered the compelling combination of features, technology, design and outstanding engines. So, as the second generation version of the Verna continues to make inroads into the market, we look at the core reasons of why the Verna remains a runaway hit in the Indian market.

The first thing that catches one's eye when you look at the Verna is the arresting styling. Featuring Hyundai’s global Fluidic Sculpture design philosophy, the curves and swooping lines of the car immediately catch your attention. At the front the large headlights are quite distinctive, and lend the car with an air of aggression. Moreover, they're also quite practical as they have standard-fit projectors that provide excellent illumination at night. A strong character line runs the length of the bonnet to further emphasize the large wing-shaped chrome grille. This style statement, which exudes authority and sophistication, is capped off with distinctive fog lamps that perfectly blend into the body. In profile, the 16-inch alloy wheels make quite an impression, and, at the rear, wrap-around taillights add a sense of modernity and elegance. It's evident that the Verna has unmistakable road presence.

The bigger revelation comes when you experience the interiors of the Verna, which provide a space to revel in for both the driver and the passengers. The cascading centre console, tilt-and-telescoping steering, and supportive seats provide the driver with the perfect environment in which to enjoy the serenity of the cabin. It's easy to see why customers love the Verna. The quality of the interiors is absolutely superb. The styling and attention to detail further contributes to the feeling of luxury and opulence that's missing in the other cars of this segment. Of course, one of the biggest selling points of the Verna is the sheer number of features offered by Hyundai.

Beginning from the climate control, to the audio system with 1GB of in-built storage and Bluetooth functionality, along with steering controls, the Verna is a package that's designed to serve your every need. And it doesn't end there. The Verna offers a reversing camera as standard, along with automatic headlights and wipers, rear parking sensors, as well as an auto-dimming rear view mirror. One particular feature that we’re quite fond of is the smart key, which simply eliminates the process of hunting for the key in your pocket or bag when you need to unlock it. With the key in your pocket, you simply have to press the button on the drivers' side door handle in order to unlock it. Starting and stopping the engine is a breeze too, with the push button start function. Simply put, the Verna offers an ease of use that's unparalleled. When you buy this car, you never need to visit an accessory shop - because everything is provided by the company as standard equipment.

Of course, consumers value practicality. And, here too, the Verna has much to offer. It has ample room for five full-sized passengers to travel in the utmost comfort. The seats are designed to provide excellent comfort, even during long distance travel. For rear seat passengers, there is an additional lever mounted on the seat-back of the front passenger seat. Pulling this allows you to easily adjust the seat forwards or backwards from the rear seat in order to give yourself even more legroom. Moreover, the large boot adds to the usability of the Verna – providing ample luggage space for long distance journeys and trips to the airport.

Style and comfort is one thing, but fortunately Hyundai provides just as many options under the hood of the Verna. A big line up of state-of-the-art engines, in both petrol and diesel, are offered in 1.4 and 1.6-litre guises. Automatic transmissions are also offered with both 1.6 engines for additional convenience.

For the economy minded customers, there are the 1.4-litre options in petrol and diesel, which offer a mix of impressive power and superb efficiency levels. For customers who like to push their cars a bit more, there are the 1.6-litre options - both of which feature class-leading power outputs coupled with fantastic fuel efficiency.

For the power hungry enthusiasts out there, the 1.6-litre U2 CRDi diesel engine produces 128PS and 26.5kgm of torque, while still offering claimed fuel efficiency of 23.9km/l. The engine behaves completely unlike traditional diesel engines. Coupled with the well-spaced gear ratios of the six speed manual transmission, it makes the Verna a blisteringly quick car to drive in both urban and highway conditions. And a particularly nice trait of the Verna are the excellent NV11 (Noise Vibration Harshness)levels in the car, which means that noise levels from the engine are kept to an absolute minimum inside the cabin.

Another significant update that Hyundai has made over the years has been to the suspension setup of their cars. The setup is now taut, well balanced, and yet offers plenty of comfort in our road conditions. So, whether you choose to use the Verna in the city or on the highway, the car feels at home in all driving conditions and provides a lovely balance of ride and handling.

Of course, an important part of car is its focus on safety. The Verna is a segment leader here, offering up to six airbags for utmost safety. Paired with the airbags is an ABS system with EBD, and an auto door lock function, which automatically locks the doors as you start driving. In case of an impact, the doors unlock automatically once again. All of this ensures that the Verna is one of the safest cars in the country, and it delivers a reassuring feel on the road.

So it's no surprise that the Verna is car with a great many fans in India. It's also indicative of a company that has come a long way - one that's stayed true to its customers every step of the way. With a well matched blend of features, powerful, yet refined, engines, ample cabin space and beautiful style, the Verna makes quite a compelling argument in a fiercely competitive segment. The success of the Verna is yet another indicator of Hyundai's deep understanding of the Indian consumer, and the dedication of the company to this market.

Published by  : Auto X