Hyundai Verna 1.6 Diesel - Long Term Report

“It’s all in the details,” I murmured to myself as I step inside the Hyundai Verna – the latest addition to our long-term fleet. Having lived with it for little over a couple of weeks, I’ve quickly come to appreciate its finer points, of which there are many.

Our silver coloured car arrived for its long ordeal as a fully loaded diesel-powered SX Opt model with a 6-speed manual gearbox. And by fully loaded, we literally meant it, because the SX variant with the option pack includes six airbags, leather upholstery and automatic headlights with LEDs among its long list of amenities. On first impression, the Verna has proved to be a relaxing companion to live with, thanks to a couple of neat features which help take the strain out of driving. Keyless entry means I never have to fumble for the key to unlock the car, while push button start not only allows easy access of all the controls, but also fires up the engine with a touch of a button.

A fair bit of thought has been put into making the cabin stylish, yet ergonomically sound at the same time. The design and the layout of controls, as a result, are easy to apprehend. While it can take days to learn where all the buttons are in some cars, you will know your way round the Verna’s cabin in a jiffy. A worthy mention should also go to the soft leather that surrounds the steering wheel and the seats. The overall quality, for that matter, is so good that most of the bits one would frequently put their hands on feel plush.

Although there’s little you will be left wanting for in terms of improvement, I’ve come across a couple of niggles that Hyundai should address in the next round of upgrades. First up is the audio system, which features Bluetooth compatibility and audio streaming but for reasons I cannot gauge, doesn’t allow users to navigate between the tracks. Unfortunately I’ve resorted to switching music using the cell phone itself; something which is not really ideal on the go. Secondly, the Verna could definitely make use of a better set of headlights. The existing projector bulbs were nowhere bright enough when driving in the dark, especially during the recent heavy downpours. While the low beam gives a decent clear view of what’s right ahead, the high beam is no good for highway runs in the night. The latter is an immediate upgrade Hyundai should consider for the Verna. That being said, what our range-topping diesel model lacks in a few bare upgrades, it makes up for with its impressive touring credentials.

On the road, the Verna has been nothing short of an effortless cruiser each time I’ve ventured onto the highway. The 1.6-litre CRDI engine is muscular enough to bestow it with strong performance, even when fully loaded. In the town, the Verna’s behaviour is slightly less convincing; with the jittery ride over rough surfaces and the slightly notchy gearbox.

Predictably, the car has spent a whole load of time on the highway. A couple of months and more than 3,000kilometers into its stay, it already has volunteered us lot outside of Mumbai several times, heading to North Konkan areas of Maharashtra, besides multiple trips to Pune. Thanks to all the highway runs and the engine’s meaty torque band, the Verna has impressed us all with its fuel economy, averaging 15kmpl to date. One particularly relaxed, late night run allowed me to stretch over 18kmpl to a litre of diesel, proving that the Verna really can be a rather fuel efficient car when driven with a light foot.

Sadly, neither of those performance or efficiency figures helps in imparting a solid feel behind the wheel, in terms of steering and braking. The light steering is devoid of any feedback while the brakes need a bit of a shove even under normal deceleration. Despite Hyundai’s most recent efforts in upgrading the on-road dynamics of the 2014 model, the Verna’s logbook has a few criticisms pointing out its excessively soft high-speed dynamics. Managing Editor Ninad sums up it up well by stating, “The Verna is the perfect sedan if you don’t have to go out of the cities much”.

Niggles have been few and far between. The Verna has even managed to stay trouble-free except for this one instance when we eventually swapped the right-hand side rear tyre. All things considered, I’m pretty convinced that not many similarly priced cars can combine comfort, pace and efficiency the way the Verna can. It’s a fairly convincing thumbs-up for Hyundai, then. We will have to see whether the Verna continues to impress us during the rest of its stint.