Hyundai Verna 1.4 CRDi

Hyundai Accent, an entry level mid-size sedan was updated and re-badged as Hyundai Verna in India. After the introduction of Verna transform, which was not very much accepted by the crowd, The present or the fourth-gen Hyundai Verna was launched with a totally revamped exterior and interior styling. With their previously boring and not so appealing designs, Hyundai adopted the fluidic design to launch their best selling c-segment sedan.

Their new design language helped them dethrone the segment leader – Honda City, which already had a big flaw – ‘non availability of a diesel option’ (Honda’s arrogance to stay as petrol only, but recently came out with a i-Dtec option). For the first time a c-segment sedan was available with multiple diesel and petrol engines in manual and automatic transmission. Hyundai Verna is available with four engine options. The diesel engines on offer are the 1.4 CRDi and 1.6 CRDi both the engines are available with a six-speed manual gear box,and a 4 speed automatic torque converter for the 1.6. The petrol variant comes in 1.4 and 1.6 with a 5 speed manual gearbox and a 4 speed automatic gearbox for the 1.6.

Exterior Design

The fluidic design implements sharp and swept back headlamps and a sleek looking bonnet with a slim front grille. The vehicle is detailed to even the smallest part that even the classy looking fog lamps compliment the ‘Fluidic’ design philosophy. The Led day time running lamps integrated in the headlamps and the automatic projector setup introduced recently makes Verna look more sporty and upmarket. A special mention here to the diamond cut alloy wheels provided by Hyundai are class apart and the design and look are not matched by any other competitor in this segment. At the rear a coupe like styling has been improvised making the windows small and curvy.

The rear quarter panel detailed in black.

Side mirrors are body colored irrespective of variant and are equipped with LED indicators.

Large wrap around styling is implemented on the tail lamps. Hyundai Verna’s ‘fluidic’ design makes the rear windshield slightly smaller when viewed fro the side. In fact it can be an irritant for certain drivers if they buy a variant lacking reverse parking system.

A dual exhaust look in chrome finish gives the rear a more sportier feel.

16 inch wheels cover the wheel wells pretty well. The lower end variant are equipped with wheel covers and can easily be missed to be an alloy wheel. The higher variant is equipped with stylish looking diamond cut alloys.

Cabin

Step In and you are treated with abundance of beige giving the cabin a more airy feeling. The top variant gets plastic fake wood finishing in certain areas on the dashboard and door pads near power window switch, leather seats and leather door trims, whereas the lower variants are not provided with such wooden inserts, they sport fabric seat covers and fabric inserts on the door pads. Seats are comfortable and provide adequate under thigh support and the driver seat is height adjustable.

A sporty looking steering wheel with audio controls and tilt adjustable on top variant but lower variants are devoid of audio controls.

Dashboard buttons, MID display, Automatic climate control and the double din stereo are all back-lit in blue.

Driver and passenger side sun visor both include mirrors but no lights.

MID shows warning signals, Gear shift indicator as well as loads of supporting data such as distance to empty, average fuel efficiency, instantaneous FE, external temperature, eco mode status. The instrument cluster back light illumination remains on all the time irrespective of parking lights being turned on or off. As the parking lights are switched on the illumination of the cluster gets dimmer.

Ample of storage spaces have been provided. Bottle and cup holder near the hand break, bottle storage space in the door pads and storage space near the door hand rests.

Sufficient rear legroom. Rear seat has center armrest with storage

OEM music system with USB , /Aux and CD functionality. Equipped with 4 speakers. and tweeter. Basic sound quality. Mid and high level bass is weak.

Music system Remote

Smart key for top end and a fold-able key for lower variant

A six speed gear lever.

Door handles in black with fabric insert matching the interior upholstery, with a small storage space

Power window switches, with side mirror adjustment controls.

OBD port compartment just under the steering wheel. With the Bonnet opener

Headlight leveling switch blue back-lit

Small dash-box with cooling option for higher variants

Engine and Performance

Hyundai Verna 1.4 CRDi diesel engine is capable of churning out 90 HP and 220 Nm of torque mated to a 6 speed manual gear box. The 1.4 oil burner is as silent as a petrol engine, with almost no clutter noise even though under bonnet insulation has not been provided by Hyundai. Many a times you wouldn’t know if the engine is running unless you see the rpm needle.

The diesel mill has slight lag under 1700 RPM, but the lag is not that problematic as it was a case with the i-gen i20. The gear ratios have been tweaked and turbo lag reduced. Even if you come down to 20 kmph you might not need to down shift to 1, you can easily press the throttle and accelerate. Hyundai has provided a short 1st and 2nd gear ratio. Power delivery is linear and turbo wakes up around 1700 RPM and you will not get the seat grabbing turbo push that can be experienced in the fiat’s multijet engine. Push the accelerator and the sedan easily reaches 140 Km/h without any strain and still feels as if it can go further (couldn’t test, nor is it advisable). Overtaking is easy and can easily be done with just slight push on the gas. At 100 KM/H on the 6th gear the RPM needle is stable around 1900 RPM and at high speeds the engine noise is so settled you wouldn’t feel like its an oil burner. This 1.4 mill never felt to be under-powered.

The 6 speed manual gear box is smooth to operate with short 1st and second gear ratio, as you go higher the ratios are pretty tall. Gear slotting is soft and easy. Assisted with an electronic power steering, it is super light to operate, making it an easy to drive sedan. The power steering weighs up slightly as you speed up, but not a lot.

Hyundai Verna has been bashed for a light suspension which easily eats up bumps at low speeds but becomes ugly at high speeds. With not so great high speed handling for Verna, Hyundai tweaked the suspension to a more stiffer setup, and the complains of a boat like feeling on high speeds have been solved. The 2014 manufactured vehicles are now shipped with greatly improved suspension. It easily eats up small bumps and the high speed handling is now more confidence inspiring than before.

Fuel Efficiency

The mileage for the Hyundai Verna 1.4 CRDi test vehicle easily touched 23 – 24 KM/liter on a 700 km highway run and 17 KM/liter in the rush hours of Delhi.

ARAI certified Hyundai Verna Mileage

1.4 liter CRDi – 23.5 Km/liter

1.6 liter CRDi – 22.32 KM/liter

1.4 liter Petrol – 17.43 KM/liter

1.6 Petrol – 17.01 KM/liter

Safety

Hyundai has loaded this vehicle with loads of safety features. The base version is devoid of most of the features, but comes equipped with immobilizer, clutch lock and central locking with fold-able key. The top version is loaded with dual front airbags, side and curtain air bags, ABS with EBD, Rear disk brakes, rear parking sensors, impact sensing door unlock, speed sensing door lock, clutch lock system and smart key.

Verdict

Hyundai Verna is a great looking and highly loaded sedan. High amount of equipment, space with 4 different engine options, Verna undercuts its competition easily. There is an option for everyone, be it a cost conscious buyer, or a performance oriented buyer. The 1.4 CRDi is the quietest in its class, with an extremely impressive fuel efficiency figures. Its no where under powered and is value for money vehicle.

Key Sore Points

1- The extra spare wheel inside the boot has been placed upside down. At the point of air check, the spare wheel needs to be opened at turned to access the air inlet point. In order to check how big this problem could be we took the vehicle to the nearest gas station and stopped at the free wheel pressure check up point. We got the tire pressure checked for all the four wheels and told the guy to also check the spare wheel pressure, we were amazed as to the reply we received – “sahab yeh to ulti rakhi hui puri kholni padegi check krne ke liye isme to bahot time lagega” (sir the spare wheel is upside down, it has to be opened first to check the tire pressure, it would take a lot of time. We had to give the guy some money to get it done, whereas it would have been free of cost if the in spare wheel was kept the other way like by other manufacturers

2 – At the time of locking your vehicle with the smart key there is no beep sound to signify that the vehicle is locked, you will have to look behind to ensure your lock key button responded. In order to get that you would have to shell out some more money.

3 – When you switch off your vehicle and remove the key, your parking lights switch off. In case you are stranded in the middle of the highway, wanna lock your vehicle and keep your parking lights on, you will have to again turn off and turn on the parking light from the stalk. One will need to read the manual to do that.