Looks, Features , Comfort
No Sun Shades, Interior Quality
I got to sample the driving of both a 1.5-l MPi petrol engine with 6-speed intelligent variable transmission, which produces 113.4 bhp of power and 143.8 Nm of Torque and also a 1.5-litre Turbo GDi Petrol engine mated with 6-speed MT which churns out 157.6 bhp of power and 253 Nm of Torque, could not get behind the wheels of the seven-speed DCT and historically dual-clutch transmission (DCT) gives better mileage than continuous variable transmission (CVT) and also peppier to drive with lightning-fast gear changes without any interruption. The non-turbo variant is refined and comfortable to drive and be driven around, and perfectly does the job of a mid-size sedan. The steering inputs were also precise, and it was able to maintain its poise as the revs were going up. I did drive it at 120km/h for a considerable amount and found the 2023 Verna confident while doing it. The ride quality was enhanced, and the speed limit of 120 km/h was possible because we were driving it on the Sohna Elevated Corridor leg of the partially opened Delhi–Mumbai Expressway, which is a beautiful 8-lane expressway coming up and will reduce travel time from Delhi to Mumbai from 24 to 12 hours.
Moving back to the turbo variant, it immediately brought back a smile to my face. Firstly it was the MT, and the manual transmission of any car or any variant is always going to be fun, especially because you can do the handbrake turn and shake things around in the car. The turbo builds up power rather quickly, unlike the non-turbo, which is a gradual building up. Apart from that, steering inputs and drive height were all spots on. Both of them had electrically operated front seats, and even if you decide to sit in the rear seats, the leg room is ample. From the earlier Verna, the wheelbase has increased by 70 mm to 2670 mm, and even the width has increased by 36 mm, offering very roomier legroom. The driver and their co-passenger would enjoy the sunroof more, and it's a shame that the side window blinds were not there. However, the rear windshield had blinds. The turbo variant has a bit of compromised driving comfort compared to the non-turbo variant, but I guess the turbo buyer will want excitement more than comfort. The McPherson strut with coil spring set up in front and the rear gets the Torsion beam axle with vertical shock absorber is low in manufacturing cost and usually found in lower to mid-size cars. The design does not accommodate any lateral movements. Still, it just allows the wheel to move up and down on road bumps, so at cornering, the shock and noise can inevitably be transmitted to the car body. Still, for most city and highway driving that I did, the 2023 Hyundai Verna did offer a decent ride quality, as is expected from a car of its segment.
