Hyundai Verna the Gold Standard

What is it about this car that sets the Verna apart?

 

You could call it the gold standard for executive sedans in India. Or you could call it Hyundai Verna. But what is it about this car which sets the Verna apart? In the previous issue of the magazine, we had investigated the styling and comfort features of the Hyundai Verna. This time, we dig deeper to find out if there is substance under this style.

The Amazing Four

To do so, we must look at the heart of the Verna, the engine. Or rather, engines, since Hyundai gives you a choice of four engines in the Verna. There are two petrol and two diesel powering the Verna in 1.4 and 1.6 litre cubic capacities. What holds true for all engines is that they are frugal without sacrificing performance.

 

Hyundai engines are designed to maximize fuel economy. The more fuel efficient car is, the less toxic emissions it releases in the air. That means we leave our children cleaner and healthier planet. Yes, we so save on our fuel bills too.

Hyundai uses three methods to enhance the fuel economy of its cars. First is the maximization of fuel efficiency in the power train. Second, minimization of loss of energy and third, use of recycled energy sources. Eco-friendliness is a key element that is taking on bigger and bigger importance at Hyundai. Therefore developing innovative technologies that allow great driving performance through exceptional engines, as well as eco-friendliness has become the most important task at Hyundai. The Gamma engines powering the Verna are a step closer towards Hyundai’s mission of cleaner, greener world. 

Let’s take a look at the engine specifications and see what they tell us. The 1.6 Litre diesel generates 128PS at 400rpm while the 1.4 Litre petrol manages 107PS, On paper, these figures look impressive. But what does it all translate to on the road? There’s only one way to find that out. It’s time to drive.

 

The Driver’s Diary

You can see what to expect just by looking at purposeful stance of the car and its edgy Fluidic design. The Verna’s smart key can stay in your pocket, as the Verna automatically detects the key presence and allows you to unlock the car by pressing a discreet button on the door handle. Press the start button, no keys to turn on the ignition, and the engine warbles to life.

Slot the Verna into gear and mash down on the pedal. As the car surges forward, it’s difficult to tell it’s a diesel. It’s one of the smoothest and quietest in its class. The power delivery is linear and there’s enough power available across the band. You can barely feel the turbo kick in. There’s gentle surge at around 1900rpm followed by a strong thrust all the way to the top. The tractable engine means that you don’t have to constantly work the smoothing-shifting gearbox. The other thing that you’ll love is the Verna’s electrically powered steering. It is light and just what the doctor ordered for effortless scything through crowded urban streets and squeezing into tight parking spots. Given India’s roads, ride quality can, literally, make or break a car. The good news is that the Verna delivers on this front. You feel that you are riding on a magic carpet with softly set-up suspension has been tweaked further to make your drive more engaging than ever before.

Hop out of the diesel and check out the petrol-powdered motor. Like the diesel, the new gamma petrol engine scores high on refinement too with a near-silent idle. There is no doubt that this is a powerful motor with a meaty performance. Stay on the throttle and 100kmph comes up alarmingly fast. And here’s the best bit. The mid-range is strong, but the top end 4000rpm is even stronger. So as the revs rise, the Verna pulls harder. This is a surprisingly fun car to drive. Like a twist in the white-collar sobriety.

Your choice doesn’t end with the engine. The Verna gives you a choice between automatic and manual transmissions. The 5-speed petrol and 6-speed diesel manual gearboxes provide smooth, noiseless shifting of gears thanks to the key-and-ball-type synchromesh, optimized gear-tooth shape and precision matching. On the other hand, the four speed H-matic auto transmission offers highly responsive sporty acceleration, like that of manual transmission. So whether you want the convenience of an auto box or the control of manual, there is Verna for you.

Safety First

With great power comes great responsibility. That is why the Hyundai Verna is packed with an armory of active and passive safety systems to make your drive safer on our dangerous roads.

Anti-Lock braking system

Emergency braking maneuvers can cause a vehicle’s wheel to lock up and skid, resulting in a loss of steering control exactly when you need it most. ABS helps present the possibility of wheel lock up under hard braking, and rapidly pulses the brakes to help you retain steering control as you come to a stop.

Electronic brake-force distribution

EBD balances braking forces at each wheel when the car is dynamically loaded. This helps the driver maintain confident control in difficult braking solutions.

Six airbags all round

Six airbags provide all-round protection. One for the driver, one for the front-seat passenger, two curtain airbags running the length of the cabin , plus two side airbags make it the safest car on road in this segment.

Seatbelt pre-tensioners   

In the event of collision, a sensor detects the impact and automatically tensions the seatbelts around the pelvis, for additional protection.

Electro-chromic mirror (ECM)

The mirror automatically senses and reduces light intrusion from vehicles following you, dramatically reducing glare.

Rear proximity warning system

Sensors in the rear bumper detect objects which you can’t see while reversing and sound a warning if you get too close.

 

 

Front and rear disc breaks

All four disc brakes ensure optimum breaking efficiency and longer brake life.

Impact-sensing auto door unlock

In a case of collision, the doors get unlocked automatically to allow a safe and quick exit for all the passengers.

The Driver’s Diary

 

Talking about safety, what is the most important safety feature in a car?

It is driver. That is why the Hyundai Verna is designed with the driver needs in mind. So how does Hyundai do it? Hera are some examples.

Supervision Cluster with blue illumination

This is a case of no-nonsense functionality meeting sporting elegance. With its curricular rev counter and speedometer illuminated with white and blue lighting for optimum clarity and readability, the cluster provides the driver with vital vehicle information through both sight and sound.

Driver Information system

The new Verna comes equipped with an onboard computer that gives you useful driving information such as journey time and ‘distance to empty’. The panel also has a first-in-segment ECO drive indicator in the automatic variant that helps your drive in a more fuel-efficient way.

Steering wheel remote control

From the driver seat of the Verna you can operate a Bluetooth enabled mobile phone without having to take your hands off from the steering wheel. You can also control the stereo system and adjust the volume of phone calls with remote control on the steering wheel.

Rear-parking assist system

Parking is now a breeze with the visually guided parking system in the electro-chromic rear-view mirror where a camera helps you align the car in relation to other vehicles and the kerb.

 

The Gold Standard

While the Hyundai Verna is the gold standard in the executive sedans today, Hyundai realizes that journey has just started. Hyundai’s responsibility doesn’t end with you driving out of the showroom; in fact, it’s just the beginning. That’s why Hyundai has invested in an exhaustive nationwide dealer and workshop network to ensure that it is there wherever and whenever with whatever you need. Has this really translated to customer satisfaction on the ground? What do the Verna owners really feel about it? What does Hyundai do to increase customer satisfaction? In the next issue we will talk to some people to answer these questions.