[abhay_D]

Thanks for a great review.

As an owner of the 1st generation Verna crdi (not the Transform ), I was quite interested to see how the new verna would fare in comparison to the City and the Vento.

Hyundai seems to have done a fantastic job in the looks department and the engine choices and the additional power now available will make driving more enjoyable. However, I am disappointed with the review on the handling aspects and stability at high speed. This is one reason why I would hesitate to buy a Verna again. Hyundai should at least have provided some balance there, IMO.

[arvi86]

Originally Posted by vinya_jag

A car that doesn't ride well, and simply does not steer well.
It can have all the goodies but whats the point?
Not sure how everyone is so excited about this launch.

I would rather drive my old zen without PS

Originally Posted by oxyzen

Cant agree more. The first thing about a car is safety most of it is governed by handling. I can say for sure Zen has one of the best driving dynamics among all hatches and numerous sedans. Recently sold off my Zen for a preowned Palio (its the 3rd car of the Family). But still the Low CG of Zen makes you feel in complete control.

I would better be in either Zen or Palio than in Verna. The old Verna was unstable and nervous. And this had been my worst fear in this new model.

And a 1.6D sports for Verna just wont work. It is not only stiffer suspensions that matter. You need to have a good chasis, low CG and lot of other factors. The ideal oil burner for an enthusiast would be a Vento with tweaked suspension (it has got the chasis), a pete's box and a 6 speed MT.

You guys are wrong. There is a lot to be excited about the all-new Verna. People like us - 'car enthusiasts', are so far and few in the real world that car-makers just cannot satisfy only this breed. Hordes of people out there buy a particular model for its looks, its mileage and the fancy features that it offers. And the all-new Verna has truck loads of each one of these crucial factors.

For enthusiasts, there is always the odd Fiesta 1.6S or the all-new Fiesta and cars like that. If you are one, stay away from this car. But most of the car-buying public are not and they will swarm the Hyundai dealerships for this car.

Originally Posted by Sugeeta

Zappo, this is a great review and it has definitely created some chaos for me....The New Fiesta Sedan (which I have booked) or the new Verna RB, which looks so attractive too ?

The previous generation Verna used to wobble at higher speeds. Hope this issue has been addressed to some extent.

I would at least like a TD of the new Verna. If the handling is anywhere close to the Fiesta, this may wean many Ford fans to the Hyundai club.

Please refer to my answer above. If you even have the slightest anticipation of the new Verna handling as good as the upcoming Fiesta, kindly erase those thoughts and wait for the all-new Ford to join you. The Verna is made for a completely different set of clientele.

[noopster]

Originally Posted by Aragorn

I foresee the Honda > VW > Hyundai pricing heirarchy to continue.

Your logic is sound but I think this may just end up slightly higher priced than the Vento. The 1.6 Hyundai delivers more power than the VW for starters. Plus it has a 6-speed (manual) gearbox. And everything that another poster has so nicely captured that notches is higher than the Vento.

With the exception of handling- and that is not a deal breaker for most- I would rate the 1.6 MT higher than the VW offering. The 4 speed AT is where Hyundai's got it wrong else they would kill the market. Remember Hyundai is an established and trusted brand in India and teh success of i20 proves that the market is mature enough to accept premium products from them. So good luck to them!

[oxyzen]

Originally Posted by arvi86

You guys are wrong. There is a lot to be excited about the all-new Verna. People like us - 'car enthusiasts', are so far and few in the real world that car-makers just cannot satisfy only this breed. Hordes of people out there buy a particular model for its looks, its mileage and the fancy features that it offers. And the all-new Verna has truck loads of each one of these crucial factors.

I never said the new Verna has got nothing to be excited about. It is an excellent choice for am janata.
But to me it does not sound like a good proposition. The primary car with below par handling will never make it to my garage.

[arvi86]

Originally Posted by oxyzen

I never said the new Verna has got nothing to be excited about. It is an excellent choice for am janata.
But to me it does not sound like a good proposition. The primary car with below par handling will never make it to my garage.

The 'excited' part was for the other post that I had quoted along with yours.

[Rigid Rotor]

That's a nice review there, Zappo!
Could have perhaps included all those little, minute details that GTO manages to capture!
Voting the thread 4 Stars!
Sidindica summed it up well - the New Verna wants to tick the maximum number of checkboxes and straddle over a nice large range of options.
And all those centrally controlled electronic gizmos - I wonder what will happen when our local Pappu is allowed a free hand for bunging in after-market electronic fitments & mods!

[swiftnfurious]

Originally Posted by naren_kk

I had choosen SX-O Diesel 1.6 MT and color is BLACK....

Congrats !! Whats the expected time of delivery - I know its dumb to ask it even before the prices are out, still...

Originally Posted by vinya_jag

A car that doesn't ride well, and simply does not steer well.
It can have all the goodies but whats the point?
Not sure how everyone is so excited about this launch.

I would rather drive my old zen without PS

Originally Posted by specialist1968

and the low rear seating position, the lack of under thigh support...... The list can definitely go on. But the kind of convenience features, engine options it offers and the lack of the same in some current market leaders coupled with Hyundai A.S.S. brings excitement.

The excitement may vanish if Hyundai sticks to the pricing policy they adopted for the old Verna.

Welcome sticking to the old zens, altos, swifts, etc. etc. One may also read the thread on "Lateral upgrades" in Team BHP, which I think is a very useful one (as many others are).

I guess in India, 80% of the car buyers will look at a machine which is trouble free till they sell it and which can get a decent re-sale when they sell it. They should also be able to reach the service stations quick when they have to and should give them minimal $$$ damage when they settle the bills. If they get loads of features and a feel good factor, they are way too happy !! These are the points Verna has in its sleeves. And these people will not go up / down the curves even at 60kmph !! So does handling really matter to them ? [Ask them the technical specs of the cars they own, be it BHP or torque figures, you might be in for some shocks too !]

Originally Posted by fiat_tarun

This car is a jack of all trades, but a master of none type, which is why it will definitely be a hit with the general car buying public. Handling beyond 130 kmph is in no way a deal breaker for most people.

Lets see how the New Fiesta compares to this. Buyers in the 8-10L category are certainly spoilt for choice.

Gosh, I doubt even 20% of any car owners ever think to drive their cars in that speed ! If they think, then I can say this car is not for them !

[k_ajay]

Good review there Zappo. Thanks for the same.

Unfortunately for me though, the suspension setup has killed it and this car won't make it as my next. Sad to say, I was expecting to get it cause it looks a killer, a great diesel 1.6 engine, has space and the goodies.

Sadly with that handling and ride quality, the 1.6 Diesel MT is totally wasted. Pity!!

[Saanil]

I think its premature to pass judgements on Verna's ride and handling. It is better we first take a test drive personally and then comment. Yes the reviewer might have found the ride acceptable but ride is very subjective and it varies from people to people. Whether people like it or not that we can judge from its sales figures in the subsequent months

[swiftnfurious]

Originally Posted by Saanil

I think its premature to pass judgements on Verna's ride and handling. It is better we first take a test drive personally and then comment. Yes the reviewer might have found the ride acceptable but ride is very subjective and it varies from people to people. Whether people like it or not that we can judge from its sales figures in the subsequent months

+ 1.

Originally Posted by k_ajay

Good review there Zappo. Thanks for the same.

Unfortunately for me though, the suspension setup has killed it and this car won't make it as my next. Sad to say, I was expecting to get it cause it looks a killer, a great diesel 1.6 engine, has space and the goodies.

Sadly with that handling and ride quality, the 1.6 Diesel MT is totally wasted. Pity!!

I would still suggest you to strike it off your list after taking one or two test drives. I kind of feel this car suffices the majoity unless you are one of the kind who really takes the car to corners and expect it to stick on to the outer lines. One TD is not going to cost you much and you will get to feel the car as well. Once you TD this one, you could try the NFS too and would be able to compare both. Your experience with these two cars could help someone else to make a decision.

[auto-one]

Originally Posted by noopster

but I think this may just end up slightly higher priced than the Vento.
With the exception of handling- and that is not a deal breaker for most- I would rate the 1.6 MT higher than the VW offering. The 4 speed AT is where Hyundai's got it wrong else they would kill the market. Remember Hyundai is an established and trusted brand in India and teh success of i20 proves that the market is mature enough to accept premium products from them.

I agree with you, noopster. My feeling is that Hyundai, with its multiple variants, would squarely target the Vento by offering options at a price point below as well as above the Vento.This would be a shrewd move by Hyundai. The cheaper version would mean an affordable ( comparatively ) Verna , while a pricey version would dilute the perceived premiumness attached to the German brand, making the Verna more upmarket.
This perception of premiumness associated with the Verna would help Hyundai in its future launches.

[Zappo]

I see a lot of questions as well as some apprehensions expressed in the last few pages. Let me try to answer some of your queries,

- I would not say the AC is ineffective. It could just be the fact that in the peak summer of TN the ACC does not feel chilling. However it is not as if you will feel hot inside. In fact even in the hot summer sun it maintained a pretty ambient atmosphere inside. I do not know whether a freezing antarctica kind of cabin is really your idea of an effective ACC. Let's say the cooling system does it's job.

- while I saw the 4 door mounted speakers I am not sure about the tweeters. Initially I thought the slats on the dashboard top near the A pillars have the tweeters. It is possible the there is a pair of tweeters hidden there somewhere but those slats also gave out cool air. And yet, there were two more slats on the dash corners facing the front passengers...

- I would not worry about those panel gaps as yet. The cars we tested were in all probabilities were the pre production versions. Hyundai may sort out those gaps before the car is actually launched.

- I did not experience any vibrations either through the clutch pedals or the steering, gear lever or in any other areas of the car. That ways the car is highly refined in my opinion.

- The test cars did not wear any variant based badging. So can't say for sure whether the top end will be really called the SX(O) or something else. They all had the 1.6 badge on the boot and the VTVT or the CRDI badge on the sides. That's all.

- The quality of plastics and switch gears for the most part are very good and chunky. I particularly liked the soft dashboard top. Only the PW and other switches were very small and felt a bit feeble. Otherwise it's all pretty good to touch and feel in my opinion.

- Someone said that barring this and that most accessories can be fitted outside. Well, maybe. But then its the overall package that one should look at. Cooled glovebox, day/night mirrors with integrated display, driver's armrest with a built in box underneath, ACC with ionizer (much like the modern day home ACs) for clean air, a versatile driver's display that throws up a plethora of information, advices and warnings etc all add up to the charms of the top end and it may not be so easy or cost effective to get these all fitted from outside.

- yes I drove the petrol as well. However it was the 4 speed autobox variant. I felt the engine sounds somewhat coarse in this setup if you try driving it above 110-120 km/h with some lead footed action. But then again it could simply be due to that hopelessly short of the mark slush box whose ratios make the engine scream. Also this car appeared sluggish to me which I figured could again be due to the tuned for FE ratios which tend to upshift early. In fact I then shifted over to the manual mode and started holding the gears longer before moving upwards. This is actually when the engine starts sounding coarse as you rev higher.

- About the headlights, I think most will want to look for something brighter if they travel a lot on the highways at night.

- The fifth passenger in the best of sedans also has to make some compromises. If anything Hyundai has actually tried to provide some succor by adding a third central headrest in the back. Even the central hump is minimal. But yes, if you are planning a long journey in this car you are better off with a maximum of 4 passengers.

- Someone elsewhere asked about the utility of the net in the boot. It is there to keep your small knick knacks in place and preventing them from being tossed all over the place.

- others asked about specs like GC, wheelbase and other figures related to acceleration, in gear rolling numbers, braking distance etc. These specs need to be provided by the company and at the time of the event these figures were simply not available. Performance numbers can be worked out but need specialized gadgets like VBox which we didn't have. We don't comment on these performance numbers based on crude methods of recording.

- Finally, the Fluidic ad and booking messages are actually about this same car. Hyundai likes to refer to this car as the new "Fluidic Verna" as it is based on their new fluidic sculpture line of design.

I hope I have managed to answer some of your queries.

[ph03n!x]

Zappo, I have read the review a few times, as well as followed the discussions here. You have covered pretty much what can be covered, hats off!

About the 1.4 VGT vs. non-VGT doubt - I checked with a couple of sales advisors in the Hyundai showrooms here - even they swear that the i20 comes with a 1.4 non-VGT turbo. The logic being if it is a VGT, Hyundai would have had a badge for it What is surprising though, is that Hyundai has said only the 1.6 mill comes with VGT and not the 1.4 - it made me doubt what I had believed all long (and no, the 1.4 mill in the i20 does comes with VGT!). Hyundai, if you are reading this, please shake up the sales & marketing tree!

On a side note, I have told that I am being invited for the launch event in Chennai. Supposed to be in Taj (forgot if it is Mount Road or Coromandel).

[sreejinair]

Hello people, I am back

Have been following the thread since the beginning and have read almost all the quotes. First of all thanks for the great review. I've a question for everyone here who are talking about bad handling of the new verna. Most of the reviews have said that it doesnt handle good after 130 kmph. Here is the questions, how many times do you drive at 130+ kmph speed? how many times have you slowed down your car on a ghat be it a BMW or a WagonR so that you can effortlessly make the turn? How many people do you see taking turns at high speeds like 130 kmph?

Here is a something which might interest some people, can you guys please mention the car you drive right now and which car do you think (in your budget) handles better? The reason to do this is, we might actually get real people talking practical stuff. Another question if you had around 10 lacs which car will you buy at this moment?

Hyundai Verna is a good car, it looks good, it handles good at reasonable speed, it has a very good engine and Hyundai is providing so many goodies which other cars in this or even in the bigger segment are not.

Another question to people who have seen most of the reviews (video/text). They say that the handling of the diesel 1.6 is better than that of petrol 1.6, any ideas why? is the suspension coil different/hard than the petrol version? is the diesel engines weight which makes any difference? does the torque has something to do with it?

[Bullfrog]

Originally Posted by sreejinair

Here is a something which might interest some people, can you guys please mention the car you drive right now and which car do you think (in your budget) handles better? The reason to do this is, we might actually get real people talking practical stuff. Another question if you had around 10 lacs which car will you buy at this moment?

Absolutely my opinion as well. Lot of them out there out to flame Hyundai. How do all others handle at 130+ ? Linea is a great handler but not exactly setting charts on fire. There are so many thing that go into buying decision and high speed handling is just one of them.