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Hyundai Verna

This is the new Verna. Not all new, but a facelifted one that was introduced internationally last year, and now heading for Indian shores. Of course, Hyundai has a new name for it too  the 4S Fluidic Verna. In case you ask 4S stands for style, safety, speed and sophistication. Last year, the Verna got an update. The most significant change then, was tuning the suspension to make it less choppy for rear seat passengers. This made the ride quite pliant and comfortable. This time, the major change is to the front and rear exterior design. There is a much wider grille with chrome slats that end into an even larger pair of swept-back headlamps. DRLs (daytime running lights), however have been done away with, but you get an upmarket-looking headlight layout with focal lamps. The bumper design is also more protruding now and overall, the Verna looks much wider and bigger than before. However, the dimensions haven't changed. The wheelbase is still the same, but the new, voluptuous rear bumper has added a couple of millimetres to the overall length. While the suspension settings have been tuned further, owners of the 2014 Verna may not notice the difference immediately inside this one, though of course, older Verna owners will. The ride is comfortably pliant, although the ride is a bit noisy at low speeds. At high speeds it can pretty much run over bumps and potholes without getting unsettled, which makes the Verna an apt highway runner too. To help matters, the rear seat has been modified and is a more snug fit now. Three can sit comfortably although it doesn't look as spacious as the City yet. Hyundai however, has realised the need to focus on rear seat comfort, and apart from these changes, the new Verna also offers practical bits like cup holders in the centre armrest and rear door pockets. The steering wheel now gets telescopic adjust as well, apart from height adjust, which helps to get a more comfortable driving position. The driving feel is more or less still not in the same league as the VW Vento. It is light at low speeds and does weigh up as speed builds but offers little in feedback. However, the Verna tries hard to play game to quick lane change demandsBody roll is noticeable but the car doesn't lose composure easily. Under the hood we still get the same engines 1.4 and 1.6-litre units in both petrol and diesel option. While the petrol is mated to a five-speeder manual, the diesel gets a six-speed gearbox. All engines have been tuned for better efficiency.