The South African environs were just a bonus. The Verna can impress anyone, anywhere.

‘Hi listen, this Diwali I want a new car, varna...’
Verna?
‘Varna watch what I do!’
Theek hai, I am off to South Africa to check out the Verna.
‘What? Have you lost it? How will you see my varna there?’
I’m not going there for your varna, but to drive Hyundai’s new Verna which they are launching here soon.
That’s the kind of conversation I have before leaving for South Africa, where Hyundai is showing the new Verna. TopGear had featured it earlier and as I walk up to the cars that have been shipped from Chennai to the Hyundai showroom in Cape Town, I realise that its one of those cars that looks much better in flesh.
What strikes me straightaway about the design are the thick C-pillar and the roof that gently slopes at the rear to merge with a very short boot-lid with tallish tail lamps adorning the back. The abbreviated raised boot-lid along with the thick C-pillar gives the rear end a substantially strong look and makes the middle and front portions appear lower and longer than they actually are. This is further accentuated by the sloping front windscreen and bonnet. The smartly shaped headlamps clearly contribute in determining the shape of the Verna. They are long and flow deep into the fender and dominate the full front face of the Verna. The bonnet has two deep V-shaped grooves that meet up with the rather open grille that has a hump in the centre for the oval Hyundai monogram. This open-mouthed grille is the only element that looks odd in the styling.
Getting into the Verna there is an immediate sense of space and airiness. The two-tone fascia and beige and black combination looks good and everything is sensibly placed. The fit and finish of the upholstery materials and plastics is quite nice. Dual round dials dominate the instrument cluster, one housing the speedo and the other the tachometer. In between, is an LED display with trip computer to provide odo readings, distance to run on fuel, info about outside temperature, etc. It’s nicely backlit in green and easy to read.
Seats are comfortable and the driver gets height adjustment too. It is quite roomy at the rear and the cabin abounds with practicalities and features. Lots of storage space, deep and wide pockets on all doors, a big illuminated glove box, lots of cabin lighting, split rear seats that house an armrest with cup holders, big rotary controls and switches for climate control, electric door mirrors and a nice audio system. All that’s missing is a centre console box, but there is a foldable armrest.
The Verna gets two engine options. The 1.6 petrol with VTVT (variable valve timing train), which produces 101bhp and 146Nm of torque while the 1.5 four-cylinder diesel with VGT (variable geometry turbine) delivering 108bhp and an impressive 235Nm of torque.

ON AN OVERCAST morning, with keen chilly winds blowing over the historic Cape Point harbour, I step into the 1.6 petrol Verna. Following the extremely well-designed preset route I get to Gordon’s Bay, that lies in the shadow of one of the world’s most well known landmarks, Table Mountain. It does not take long to get familiar with the Verna and though I am driving in an unfamiliar country I am very comfortable putting it through the paces. The throttle response is crisp and the engine revs smoothly all the way to the redline. It has a deep-throated note that builds up nicely and sounds sweet even at higher revs. The engine comes into its own at around 3000rpm when all the valves start kicking in vigorously and push the horses into full gallop mode. The 0 to 100 sprint should be possible in about 12-second as it has a powerful punch in the mid-range, but some people may not be particularly impressed with the low-end response. The gear shifter action is light with precise slots, but first to second can be a little recalcitrant and feels slightly notchy. The steering is precise and the power assist reduces appreciably as speeds climb. It provides decent feedback and the road holding is also good, making the Verna feel stable even at speeds above 150kph. It happily changes direction at short notice and feels nimble and assured as I negotiate the tight and twisty Franschhoek Pass that offers fantastic views of the surrounding mountains and valley. I drive alongsidethe pretty coast and pass through Hermanus, a fishing village that has the world’s only whale crier or spotter. On some of the fast sections when towns come up suddenly and the speed limit changes suddenly, I discover that the discs at all four corners alongwith the ABS, make sure that the Verna has no problems stopping. The linear action and positive feel of the pedal too makes the braking easy to modulate.
This feature is even more appreciated in the power bristling diesel version, which is a real flier. Thanks to the VGT, turbo lag on this CRDi engine is minimal and max torque of 235Nm is available as low as 1900rpm! Which means it’s really quick getting off the blocks. Hyundai has done a reasonable job of suppressing the NVH, and have used ETC (electronic throttle control) to improve response and also reduce vibrations. But this engine does not have the rev range of the petrol and runs out of breath at 4000rpm. But keep it at around 2500 and rarely does one have to shift a gear. The in-gear acceleration is very impressive and the overtaking and cruising ability of the diesel powered Verna will leave many gaping.
Having met the Verna at the edge of the Dark Continent, I can say it’s a nice looker and impressive performer, and certainly a welcome addition to the mid-size car segment in India. I guess Hyundai will price it in the range of Rs 7.5 to 8.5 lakh and pitch it directly against the Ford Fiesta, Honda City and Chevrolet Aveo. Now I am waiting to subject it to a full test against these names. Stay tuned. The results should be interesting.