Since its debut in 2006, the Hyundai Verna has been one of the most formidable competitors in the Indian midsize sedan sector. It explains why Hyundai has not abandoned the Verna despite the segment’s recent loss of popularity to compact and midsize SUVs. The brand-new, fourth-generation Verna will debut in India on March 21, followed by other regions. Just prior to the arrival of the new Verna, we take a trip back in time to describe its evolution over the years.
Hyundai Verna began life in India as the Accent.
Hyundai introduced the Santro hatchback to India in the late 1990s, and its popularity prompted the manufacturer to introduce the Accent midsize sedan. The Accent we received was the second generation model globally, which, strangely, in its home market of South Korea was known as the “Verna.” The Daewoo Cielo, Mitsubishi Lancer, Fiat Sienna, Maruti Suzuki Esteem, Ford Ikon, and of course, the Honda City were among the competitors in the midsize sedan sector when the Accent was introduced.
The Accent made a favourable first impression on us and our testers, and they were particularly fond of its appearance, upmarket amenities, and large-car driving experience. Yet, we found the Accent to be more of a comfy cruiser than a true driver’s car. It was introduced here in November 1999 with a starting price of Rs 5.35 lakh, which was deemed to be attractive (ex-showroom).
In India, accent substitution was known as "Verna" (2006-2011)
The Accent’s success in the competitive midsize sedan segment may be attributed to the Accent’s cost-effectiveness, good looks, and Hyundai’s brand reputation, all of which were attained in a relatively brief timeframe. Although it never truly overtook the sector leader Honda City, the Accent remained a formidable competitor.
But, six years into its lifespan, the Accent began to face stiff competition from newer, more advanced competitors. From the bottom of the segment, it had to compete with the new Tata Indigo, as well as the incredibly capable made-for-India Ford Fiesta and Chevrolet Aveo. In addition, it had to compete with the formidable City, which had by then entered a new generation and was drastically different from the model it replaced.
In 2010, Hyundai introduced the Verna Transform, a cosmetic refresh of the first-generation vehicle.
Hyundai introduced the next generation Accent in India, but this time it bore the ‘Verna’ label. While the new generation was dubbed Accent in some areas, Hyundai opted for the Verna moniker in India, where it continued to sell the old model Accent. This enabled Hyundai to position not one but two models at the extremes of the segment.
The Verna was a significant upgrade over the Accent. The new Verna, based on Hyundai’s MC platform, featured superior exteriors, more luxurious interiors, and, most importantly, a significantly superior four-cylinder diesel engine than the Accent’s three-cylinder unit. In our thorough road evaluation of the Verna, the diesel engine emerged as the best powertrain. We enjoyed its robust performance and found its refinement and fuel economy to be comparable to the segment-leading Fiesta diesel.
The second-generation Verna raises the fashion stakes (2011-2017)
Five and a half years later, the second generation Verna was introduced, and its design generated the most buzz. As a result of Hyundai’s new “Fluid Sculpture” design language, the new Verna marked a radical change from the previous model. Even in a segment with visually striking vehicles such as the Fiat Linea, new-generation Ford Fiesta, and third-generation Honda City, it truly stood out.
In addition to making the interior of the Verna feel upscale, Hyundai equipped it with several segment-exclusive features. The Verna was also available with several powertrains, and with all of these features, it became a formidable competitor in this segment. It went on to win the 2012 Autocar India Vehicle of the Year award for Best Design and Styling.
It lacked the dynamic polish offered by competitors such as the Volkswagen Vento and Skoda Rapid. Particularly, the ride felt overly soft, which diminished the vehicle’s high-speed stability. In 2015, Hyundai corrected the deficiency with a significant update. The mid-cycle makeover was dubbed “Verna 4S” and included significant suspension upgrades and stylistic modifications.
Hyundai modifies the Vera's aesthetics (2017-present)
In 2017, it was time for another generation update for the Verna, and Hyundai again undertook a complete redesign. Yet, with this generation, Hyundai toned down the style and made the Verna appear more adult and grown-up. The cabin was not as physically appealing as previously, but the high quality feel and extensive equipment remained the same. Hyundai also made significant enhancements to the Verna’s handling, and both the petrol and diesel engines provided excellent performance. What Hyundai did not adequately address was rear-seat space and comfort, which lagged behind some of its competitors.
In 2020, the Verna received a considerable redesign that included new powertrains, such as the Venue’s peppy three-cylinder turbo-petrol. It also received new normally aspirated petrol and turbo-diesel engines, as well as three automatic transmission options, providing a vast array of powertrain configurations. It is now more equipped to compete with rivals such as the new Honda City, Toyota Yaris, and Maruti Suzuki Ciaz.
All New Hyundai Verna will face adversity.
On March 21, the next-generation Verna will make its global debut. The new Verna arrives at a time when the segment for midsize sedans has diminished, as opposed to when its predecessors debuted under intense rivalry. There are fewer competitors, but the new Verna faces a new type of rivalry from a multitude of midsize SUVs, which are obviously the more popular option in the price range of Rs 10 million to 20 million.
In addition, while the number of competitors has decreased, the VW Virtus, Skoda Slavia, Maruti Suzuki Ciaz, and the recently redesigned Honda City are all credible enough to give the Verna significant competition.
All New Hyundai Verna Price, Variants and Colors.
The new Verna saloon will include segment-leading features and a more luxurious cabin. The estimated price range for the new model is between Rs 11 lakh and Rs 18 lakh. It will compete against vehicles such as the Honda City, Volkswagen Virtus, Skoda Slavia, and Maruti Suzuki Ciaz. It will be available in four trim levels: EX, S, SX, and SX (O). The saloon will be available in nine colours, including three new hues: Abyss Black, Atlas White, and Tellurian Brown.
All New Hyundai Verna Engine Specs
The new Verna will be available with a 1.5-liter 4-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol engine and a 1.5-liter 4-cylinder turbo petrol engine. The first engine produces 113 horsepower and 114 Newton-meters of torque, while the second produces 158 horsepower and 253 Newton-meters of torque. Standard transmission options are a 6-speed manual, a 6-speed torque convertor with 1.5L NA gasoline, and a 7-speed DCT with 1.5L turbo gasoline.
New Hyundai Verna Safety Features
The 2017 Verna will be the second compact car to include ADAS technology. Level 2 ADAS features include adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, blind spot collision avoidance assist, forward collision warning, lane keep assist, blind spot collision warning, lane departure warning, lane following assist, driver attention warning, high beam assist, leading vehicle departure alert, and rear cross traffic collision avoidance assist.
The saloon will be equipped with 6 airbags, hill-start assist, electronic stability control (ESC), front and rear parking sensors, ABS with EBD, TPMS, electronic parking brake, headlamp escalation function, automated headlights, and other safety features.
New Hyundai Verna Dimensions
The all-new Hyundai Verna is significantly longer and wider than its predecessor. It is 4535mm in length, 1765mm in width, and 1475mm in height, with a 2670mm wheelbase. It boasts a 528-litre boot, which is the largest in its category. The saloon has a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment unit with wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto connectivity, a digital driver’s display, an 8-speaker Bose sound system, a touch-based climate control panel, heated & ventilated front seats, and more.
