New Hyundai Verna Turbo DCT And Manual Review — Powerful Engine, Advanced Features And Sporty Handling

The new Verna gets a proper 6-speed manual gearbox and that means you can really enjoy pushing this engine. 

New Hyundai Verna

I should probably talk about the exterior or interior while also taking you through the features but you have seen all that already hence, let me take you straight to a twisty road and how the new Verna shines here. The talking point of the new Verna along with those head-turning looks is the driving experience. The new 1.5l turbo petrol brings in a massive amount of power and torque at 160PS and 253Nm while the whole car is built to delight the driver.

This is the most enthusiastic focussed Hyundai and the engine plays a big part in that. Compared to the previous Verna with its 1.0l turbo, the newer engine brings greater urgency and feels abundant with its power delivery. The new Verna is seriously quick and feels so. The response off the mark is quick and sharp with the manual version adding to the sense of performance further. The new Verna gets a proper 6-speed manual gearbox and that means you can enjoy pushing this engine. 

 

That said, the huge amount of power and torque means you honestly do not need to downshift a lot and the clutch/gearbox is also very light. Hence, it is easy to drive in traffic and feels stress-free for a manual while empty roads will tempt you to push this engine further. The manual gearbox with this turbo petrol is the enthusiasts' favourite but even the DCT automatic is. The 7-speed DCT is pretty quick and responsive while being quicker than other Hyundai cars with this gearbox. It is smooth and jerk free in traffic while paddle shifters add manual control when you want it. I like the manual more but the DCT offers more convenience while also being more efficient.

 

 

The handling is another area where the Verna takes a big leap forward as it is less soft than its siblings and eager to take corners. It is not a jacked-up sedan and hence, the body control or the cornering is sharp. It feels sure-footed and adds to the dynamic qualities of the car. Dynamics-wise, it is a Hyundai that is very different and fits in with the 'fun' theme. Even the brakes inspire confidence and have excellent stopping power. We would say that handling has taken some priority override but the overall ride quality is still quite pliant even if having a slightly firm edge at low speeds. It is refined and easy to drive too while the ground clearance is more than decent for a sedan with the ability to tackle speed-breakers without scraping its underside. A sea change is also the fact that the steering feels direct and gives you the required confidence although it is still a bit light. We feel the driving experience brings the Verna to the top tier in terms of performance sedans and feels a huge leap forward in terms of its dynamic qualities or even the engine. 

 

 

If the engine seemed impressive then the interior is where it makes things difficult for any car at this price bracket. The design theme is simple and cluttered free while the new look steering wheel is certainly unique with its two-spoke design. The interior comes with soft-touch materials and the turbo gets an all-black look with red accents while the standard petrol version gets a dual-tone beige/black combo. Build quality is also fairly impressive with no low-rent plastics or materials anywhere. Some thoughtful bits include the running air vent design to the door pads along with the layered look of the dashboard. Look closer and you will see a new way of presenting the switchgear with switchable controls via a button where a touch panel changes the controls from climate control to music. Elsewhere, there is a 10.25-inch touchscreen which is angled towards the driver while there is a digital instrument cluster as well. 

 

 

Aside from the segment norm of climate control, sunroof, connected car tech and more, the new Verna comes with dual ventilated cooled/heated seats along with a powered driver's seat as well while the 64-color ambient lighting is linked to the drive modes too. An 8-speaker Bose audio system, rear curtain, vents, paddle shifters, cruise control, a powered handbrake, all disc brakes, front/rear parking sensors and 6 airbags round off this extensive features list. However, the best is saved for the last with the inclusion of ADAS Level2 features with a front/rear radar/camera and that brings in 17 ADAS features like forward collision warning/avoidance assist, smart cruise control, blind spot assist, lane keep assist, rear cross-traffic collision warning and more.

 

 

During our test route, the ADAS features worked perfectly and they have been developed for our roads as it seems. Few other things? The touchscreen response is crisp and so is the audio quality although we would have liked a 360-degree camera amongst the whole lot of features that you get.

 

 

The new Verna gets the longest wheelbase and that means, unlike the previous Verna, there is much more room while legroom is actually very good along with good support from the seats itself. Getting in and out requires a bit of effort due to being low but the rear seat is a perfectly comfortable place to be while even the boot is a huge 528 litres.

 

The new Verna sure does look like it belongs to a higher segment with the features, and tech and it also has a radical design which has gotten everyone talking. It is much longer than the previous Verna and the turbo version especially has a lot of presence with the black wheels and sportier colours. Overall, Hyundai seems to have done its homework with the new Verna since it ticks nearly all of the boxes and leaves out none. The turbo especially brings in more power and is tempting for even prospective SUV buyers. 

What We Like — Looks, performance, features, driving experience

What We Do Not Like — No 360-degree camera