Why will I buy the Hyundai Verna diesel?
For its extremely torquey engine, bucket load of features and new-found ride and handling balance.
Why will I avoid the Hyundai Verna diesel?
Lack of rear legroom.
The Hyundai Verna has been around for a long time now. With 3.18 lakh units sold in India and with over 8.8 million customers worldwide, it’s safe to say that the Verna is one of Hyundai’s most popular sedans and not without a reason. The car across all its generations was known to be extremely comfortable, offering plenty of features and very good value for money. The new car promises to offer all that more.
Styling-wise the Verna is a good looking sedan. Hyundai has made sure it hasn’t taken an ultra radical approach to design. According to Hyundai, being too bold also runs the risk of the car ageing too soon and as a result you have the new Verna balancing it out between radical and conservative. The silhouette is quite similar to the earlier car but look closely and the new details come through. The front now gets the new family face that you see in the Xcent and the Elantra thanks to the chrome cascade grille. Now the thing is that the front bumper also gets a very aggressive chin spoiler and splits the air dam from the grille. The transition from the grille to the air dam could have been executed better. This is the only area which does not blend well. The swept back projector headlamps are now smaller than before and also get LED DRL’s which is the norm these days.
The side profile is brought to life with the 5-spoke 16-inch alloy wheels which get kind of a gunmetal grey finish. They really stand out giving the car a sporty appeal. Unlike its Japanese competition you don’t see too many cuts and creases for additional drama. Can’t say the same about the rear though, which has plenty of visual drama and is pretty much the best angle of the new Verna. It’s tightly designed with a lip spoiler and a faux diffuser adding the sporty elements and the split type LED taillamps with LED guides adding a premium appeal. The new Verna then isn’t a ground breaking car when it comes to design, but its good looking car that is sure to be hated by none.
How is it on the inside?
If there’s one manufacturer who knows how to liven up the interiors, its Hyundai and the new Verna is no different. You get a dual tone dashboard and thankfully there’s more of black than beige. Hyundai has made sure it offers a driver centric layout and as a result everything falls to hand easily. The whole dashboard however we think takes up a lot of space and it could have been designed to generate more room in the front. Also the dash gets hard plastics and Hyundai could have given it a soft touch feel to make it more premium.
The driver seats are extremely comfortable and adjusting it to ones preference takes no time at all and more importantly are ventilated which is a segment first. Nothing like a cooled seat on a hot day. The steering feel feels great and is just the right size. The buttons work and feel good but lack the tactile feel of the Germans.
The big news up front is the new infotainment system. Staring at you in the centre is a 7-inch IPS capacitive touch-screen AVN which comes with Apple Carplay, Android Auto and Mirror Link for seamless integration of app based navigation, streaming audio, voice controlled search capabilities and smart phone applications. It also gets 6 speakers along with Smart Surround Sytem by Arkamys and it does sound the part. Another first from Hyundai is the Eco Coating Technology which prevents unpleasant smell to develop in the AC Evaporator by degrading the micro-organisms developed in the AC Evaporator Core. How well this works will have to be seen over a prolonged duration.
Moving to the back, the seats are pretty comfy. Under thigh support is average at best, but what won’t make it comfortable is the legroom. The legroom at the back is just about average and more so when you have a tall driver behind the wheel. Compared to its immediate rival, the Honda City, the Verna does fall short here. Legroom aside there is plenty of storage and you even get a USB charging port at the back. And you get rear ac vents and a manual rear windscreen blind. Boot space at 480 litres is up over the earlier car and also gets a hands free smart trunk that will allow the passengers or the drivers to open the fifth door just by waving at the sensor.
You also get to choose from as many as 6 airbags, a reverse camera and rear parking sensors along with ABS and EBD among other features making the Verna a very well equipped car should you choose the top variant.
How does it drive?
The Verna comes with the same 1.6 litre petrol and diesel as before. Let’s look at the diesel here. For now, Hyundai isn’t offering the 1.4 litre diesel, but we are sure the new GST implementations might force it back under the hood. With 126bhp@ 4000rpm and a meaty 245Nm @1500-3000rpm, it’s still the most powerful diesel in its class. Hyundai has worked on the NVH levels and it shows being one of the most refined cars in its segment. The big news however is the gearbox. Hyundai has finally junked the 4-speed auto and replaced it with a 6-speed auto. The manual 6-speeder is retained.
If you were a little disappointed with the carried over powertrains, here’s something to perk you up, the all-new K2 platform. The last-gen car’s ride and handling package was its major Achilles heels and based on the feedback, Hyundai has worked extremely hard to improve it by bringing in the new platform. The K2 platform gets ‘super body structure’ which is built on an advanced high strength steel structure that ensures extremely good rigidity and crash performance.
Despite all the cars available at the drive, a not so well planned schedule meant we only got to drive the manual diesel. Push start the diesel motor and you immediately notice the refinement. Yes a little a bit of diesel clatter can be heard but it’s negligible. The clutch feels light and the throws are nice and crisp. The engine builds power in a very linear fashion and builds up speeds quite quickly. Outright acceleration is plenty good but the drivability is even better. No matter what gear the car is in, with the torque available at as low as 1500 rpm, it’s always in the meat of the powerband. The engine revs pretty freely as well and it’s only past 4.5k rpm that it starts feeling coarse. While the power and torque figures are identical to the earlier car, Hyundai has re-tuned the engine to deliver more power at the bottom end.
Like we mentioned before Hyundai has worked plenty hard to sort the ride and handling issues of the previous car. So along with a brand new stiff chassis, the Hyundai has also changed the rear shock absorber position by making it vertical and tuning the McPherson struts upfront. A hydraulic rebound shocker has also been included to smoothen out the vertical shock movements. The mountings for the shock absorber have also been changed for reduced suspension clatter and we can tell you for sure that it works great. The steering rack is all-new too and is way more responsive.
Out on the road, the steering feels unlike Hyundai’s of yore. Gone is the dead, lifeless feel of the older car. The steering still feels light at low speeds, but weighs up nicely as the speeds build up. And this along with the new suspension and chassis set up does wonders for the Verna. The car feels taut and rolls a lot less than before. Yes it’s still tuned for comfort and does roll when pushed, but at the same time feels extremely confident while being pushed. Ride quality is stiffer now but Hyundai have struck the right balance here. Going over bad patches, we just felt muted thumps with the car taking in all the undulations with utmost ease. Full marks to Hyundai here.
Why should I buy one?
If you are considering a mid-size sedan, the new Verna makes a very strong case for itself. It looks good, comes with a bucket-load of features and now even rides and handles well. It’s got a good list of segment first features and that takes the Verna to the next level compared to the competition. The only place it struggles is rear legroom especially when you compare it with its immediate rival, the Honda City which feels and looks like a bigger car. But what it loses in space it gains in price. The base Verna diesel undercuts the base City diesels price by a whopping 88k which is a huge amount. The other advantage is that the Verna gets a diesel AT too which the City lacks. However even the top end diesel Verna AT SX+ undercuts the top end City ZX diesel by over a lakh, and that makes the Verna a bargain deal of sorts. Mind you these are introductory prices which will go up soon.
Where does it fit in?
Bang in the middle of the mid-size sedan war. Hyundai expects to sell 4-5000 units of the new Verna every month which is a big number considering the Honda City sells about 5-6000 units a month. Apart from the City, the Verna will also have to contend with the Maruti Ciaz, Skoda Rapid and the Volkswagen Vento.
Photos: Sagar Bhanushali
First Drive Preview
The mid size sedan segment ‘was’ pretty much one of the most popular segment in the Indian automotive scene, however of late the limelight has been stolen by compact SUV’s and hatchbacks that pretend to look like SUV’s. In a bid to bring the excitement back into the sedan segment, manufacturers are loading their cars to the gills with high tech features and promise a better driving experience as well. Skoda did a major rework on its Rapid and Honda just spruced up its ever popular City as well. From Hyundai’s end, the Verna has been quite a popular sedan but it was majorly due for an upgrade and now the Korean giant has finally brought in the next-gen Verna to take the fight to the competition.
The fluidic Verna when launched was a real sensation when it came to design, especially since its predecessor was quite a bland design. The new car isn’t nearly as ground breaking when it comes to the design, but is more of an evolution. It gets the family’s cascading grille along with a more sleeker profile. We especially loved the gun-metal grey 5-spoke alloy wheels which really stand out. The car is also grown with the wheelbase going up by 10mm, length by 15mm and is also 29mm wider.
On the insides again, it isn’t a great leap forward but still quite pleasing. Hyundai loves beige and the dashboard gets black and beige dual tone treatment. It also gets a new 7-inch Arkham infotainment system with IPS panel that gets AppleCarplay, Android-auto and mirror link connectivity. Since the world lives on gadgets these days, you also get two USB ports upfront along with a 12-volt socket. There’s a USB charging port at the back too. Another first in the segment feature that the Verna gets is ventilated seats which should be a boon in those hot summer days. It also gets Eco Coating, that basically neutralises the air inside the cabin and eliminates any odour. Hyundai has also added rear curtains along with handsfree smart trunk making it extremely utility rich. Furthermore, the new car also gets leather upholstery, sunroof, 6 airbags, rear AC vents and then some.
On the mechanical front, the new car see’s a sea of changes. The platform itself is brand new. The K2 platform gets ‘super body structure’ which is built on an advanced high strength steel structure that ensures extremely good rigidity and crash performance.
Powering the new Verna is a 1.6 litre petrol and a 1.6 litre diesel engine. The talking point here are the power figures which Hyundai claims are best in the segment. The petrol motor makes an impressive 120bhp while the diesel makes a stonking 125bhp. It also gets a 6-speed manual transmission on both the engines. The big news however is the introduction of the 6-speed auto box which replaces the dreary 4 speeder in both the petrol and the diesel motors.
We got a short stint behind the wheel in the diesel variants and we must say the engines had us impressed with power delivery and refinement. Hyundai says it has moved the ride and handling game to the next level too thanks to the new K2 platform and by precise tuning of key suspension components that are vital for ride and handling. We did throw the car around for a bit and it seems Hyundai has finally hit the right balance. But we can only talk about the details once we get to drive the car out in the real world.
The new Verna then has moved the game forward when you compare it to its predecessor. It’s loaded with features, some which are first in its segment. It’s also got the most powerful engines in its class and now with a ride and handling package to match it does make a formidable package. But will it take the fight to the current champion, the Honda City and the likes of the Maruti Ciaz and the Skoda Rapid? Our exhaustive review shall answer that question soon.
Introduction
The Hyundai Creta Automatic Petrol has been with us for three months now. We have extensively used it in the city and on the highways in order to tell you about some of its pros and cons. This long-term review wrap-up report will point out just that. Take a note of these points before you decide to buy it.
The good things
1. Automatic gearbox
To ease their gear shifting hassles in the ever-increasing traffic, customers are choosing an automatic car instead of a manual. And the Creta’s six-speed torque-converter automatic gearbox does this job very well. It’s very smooth and the gear shifts happen without any jerks, making the Creta quite a joy to drive around.
2. Engine and ride
The 1.6-litre petrol engine has an awesome refinement level and isn’t a petrol guzzler. The Creta has a balanced suspension set-up to offer a comfortable ride. It dismisses broken roads with ease and also handles well according to SUV standards.
3. Touch screen system
The Creta was one of the first SUVs to offer a 7-inch touch screen system with audio and video navigation. We found it to be very useful as the Bluetooth feature was continuously used to buffer songs through the phone. The reversing camera paired to this system came to our aid while reversing or parking in a tight spot.
4. Space and storage
Being a premium SUV, one would expect the Creta to get well packaged interiors. And it doesn’t disappoint in that quarter either. It also offers sufficient legroom and headroom, while having a very practical boot.
The not so good things
1. Video playback and navigation
Many customers might not be aware that the system supports video playback as well. That’s probably because you can only use this feature when the car is parked. As a safety measure you cannot use it on the run. Also the navigation system isn’t as friendly and precise as Google Maps. We ended up using our phone more than the car’s sat-nav.
2. Digital instrument cluster
The present digital instrument console displays the odometer, trip-meter, temperature and which gear you are in. However, it misses out on distance-to-empty and average fuel efficiency, which is quite a necessity in present day cars.
3. Price
Many don’t mind shelling out that extra money for a premium car with many features. However, despite the Creta being a premium SUV, it misses out some features which its competitors offer. So it does feel that it’s overpriced.
Farewell
Despite all odds, the Hyundai Creta is a refreshing take on SUVs. It has paved the way for the unconventional compact SUVs we are so accustomed to seeing around these days. So much so, that the average Indian buyer is now all gaga over SUVish looks and wants a vehicle like that. It, therefore, doesn’t come as a surprise that the Creta is a runaway success for Hyundai in India. It remains an all-rounder urban SUV with perfect size for Indian cities and is good looking too! As we bid farewell to it, Hyundai has already planned how to rectify the shortcomings, even an updated version has gone on sale.
Click here to read the first introduction report.
Click here to read the city drive report.
Click here to read the highway drive report.
Pictures also contributed by Kapil Angane and Surmai Bhatt
2017 Hyundai Xcent 1.2D SX (O) First Drive Review
The Xcent is Hyundai’s answer to the hot selling Maruti Suzuki Dzire. But, while the latter sells over 15,000 units a month on an average, the Hyundai doesn’t even manage to ship 3,000. And there are two main reasons for that. The bigger issue with the Xcent has been its styling; not only did it look identical to its hatch sibling, the Grand i10, from the front, it also had an uninspiring looking rear end.
The second problem, which is a more recent one, is the high off-take for the car in the taxi segment. This has clearly affected the desirability aspect of the compact sedan among private car buyers. Now, one might argue that the Innova and the Dzire remain unaffected by this ‘yellow plate’ crisis, but then, the Xcent just isn’t as strong a brand as the latter two.
To address this Hyundai has now launched the 2017 edition of the Xcent complete with revised front and rear end styling and a few additional features. At the front, while the headlamps remain the same, a complete change in the bumper design means the tiny upper grille disappears but the lower grille gets larger and is now adorned with chrome. The bumper design too, especially around the fog lamp area is now more aggressive. The fog lamps are new and alongside it, sit the new LED DRLs, which only come on when you shift into gear.
At the rear, longer units that resemble the ones on the Toyota Camry replace the small tail lamps. Hyundai hasn’t stopped there, however, and has completely redesigned the rear bumper as well as the boot lid. The end result is a pleasant one with the new Xcent coming across as more presentable now, particularly from the rear. The new car gets the new 1.2-litre diesel engine too. We have sampled this diesel unit in the Grand i10 and we quite liked it. Here’s a more in-depth look at the new car.
How is it on the inside?
Not much has changed on the inside of the 2017 Hyundai Xcent. The dash, the vents, the various buttons, and even the stowage spaces remain unchanged. It retains its large cooled glovebox too. The new Xcent uses the same large multifunctional steering as well with the only addition being a voice activation button. It is still only adjustable for rake, by the way. The seat fabric design is new, but otherwise in terms of cushioning, support and seating comfort, it is identical to the older car. So, it’s still reasonably comfortable to spend long hours in both front and back.
What’s significantly new though, is the infotainment system. Like on the Grand i10, the new system gets a wider touchscreen and comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The latter mirrors a few functions of your phone on the screen simplifying access to related apps on the move. The new system besides offering Bluetooth connectivity and various audio input options, also doubles up as a reversing camera screen. Earlier, the Xcent used an inside rear-view mirror integrated screen which was too small to offer a clear view.
Otherwise the feature list for this top of the line variant remains the same with single zone climate control, rear AC vents, rear parking sensors, electric ORVMs with fold function, a basic trip computer, and keyless entry and start.
How does it drive?
Our test car is powered by the new 1.2-litre diesel. It’s a three-cylinder engine that makes 75bhp. But, thanks to the additional torque compared to the older 1.1-litre engine, it hauls the Xcent around with more ease. It isn’t exactly quick. But, the improvement in drivability is significant. It makes driving the new car in the city and out on the highway a more relaxing affair.
The turbo lag is less pronounced, the throttle response is crisper and the car now requires less shifts to keep the desired pace. The new engine works best between 1,600 to 4,000rpm. Revving it higher is a bit pointless, as things only get louder with no meaningful increase in the rate of progress. The gearshifts meanwhile are short throw and precise and the clutch is light too, which works well in bumper-to-bumper traffic.
Given that Hyundai hasn’t bothered with other mechanical changes on the new Xcent, the ride and handling remains almost the same as before. The ride is still plush at low speeds, and with decent visibility and maneuverability, the Xcent makes for an easy car to live within the city. But, the soft suspension setup doesn’t cope very well with the increase in speed.
The ride gets noisy, and the Xcent – its rear in particular, even without being loaded – does wallow more than we would like. Not that it feels unstable or loose, but it lacks the planted feel of some of its competitors. It’s the same story when it comes to handling bends. The Xcent doesn’t feel sharp or nicely balanced to take on switchbacks at speed – the mute steering doesn’t help here either – but it isn’t wayward or scary in any way. It’s just not very interesting to drive quickly.
Should I buy one?
Hyundai is calling this one a stylish family sedan for the young and modern Indian family. Phew, that is a very long tag line. But, the good news for Hyundai is that the new Xcent comes close to justifying it. It’s more stylish that before, yes. And since it can seat four (yes, the seats are comfy too), it’s good for a nuclear family. As for the young and modern, well almost every car in this class now has a similar feature / tech list. So, there’s no real USP there. Our suggestion would be to buy it if you are looking for a no-nonsense car with good service backup.
Where does it fit in?
The new Hyundai Xcent has been launched at Rs 8.41 lakh for the diesel SX (O) trim which we are reviewing. The range though, begins at Rs 5.38 lakh and Rs 6.28 lakh for the petrol and diesel E variants, respectively. This puts the new Hyundai in striking distance of the two cars that are leading the compact sedan class in terms of sales, the Dzire and the Honda Amaze. The Dzire is cheaper while the Amaze is a little more expensive. The Dzire is everywhere, whereas the Amaze is a little more exclusive. But finally, like the new Xcent, you can’t go wrong with either.
Photos by Kapil Angane
Click here for on-road prices of 2017 Hyundai Xcent range
Hyundai Creta Petrol Automatic Long Term report 3
Our Hyundai Creta long-termer has been travelling the traffic-infested Mumbai-Navi Mumbai route for the past two months now. I decided to give it some breathing space and take it out on the highway away from the crowd. I not only drove to remote places in North Maharashtra, but also touched the Madhya Pradesh border. The long time spent in the car helped better my understanding of its abilities.
Performance on the highway
The quiet and refined 122bhp 1.6-litre petrol mill becomes audible only post 3000rpm. Nevertheless, it is still smooth and doesn’t make for any unwanted vibrations or irritating noise inside the cabin. Since the car drives reasonably well at low revs, there was not much need to hold the revs high. It’s only when you need to build up speeds quickly, the motor requires a bit of caning. However, if you are a patient driver and are happy with its linear power delivery, you won’t complain about the lack of power boost. Sane driving, with revs below the 2,500rpm mark, will also help you get fuel economy figures of up to 12-14kmpl on the highway. I am happy with this automatic variant as it gave me a range of nearly 600km on a 50-litre full tank. This is despite the car being packed with five occupants and their luggage.
Overtaking other vehicles quickly is easily possible in the Creta once you depress the pedal firmly. The automatic gearbox changes gears without much of a delay. Having said that, manual shifting still gave me much more control and confidence. The steering weighs up nicely at high speeds and doesn’t feel vague even during quick lane changes. This is where the body roll becomes noticeable, otherwise it is well-contained around long sweeping bends. The ride is supple and the suspension does an excellent job of absorbing undulations on the highway. The 17-inch large wheels with low profile tyres complement the overall set-up too.
Off-roading?
The high ground clearance, large wheels, faux skid plates and tall height might give you an impression that the Creta can be a good off-roader. However, I wouldn’t say that, since it’s not made to do that. Despite this, the afore-mentioned features definitely give the Creta an advantage over regular cars. I faced many rough patches, diversions and some dug up roads across my long journey. And I was pleasantly surprised at how the vehicle took these roads in its stride without making the occupants feel uncomfortable.
Driver and passenger comfort
Unlike other SUVs, you get to sit relatively low inside the Creta’s cabin. For all the character and high ground clearance of this SUV, the driving position doesn’t come across as commanding. In fact, it is more car-like, even if the dashboard is set high. And this is a good thing, especially while out on the highways for a comfortable ride. Headroom and shoulder room in the second row is quite adequate making the rear seat good for three average-built passengers. None of the occupants complained of the car being cramped and were comfortable even on a long stint. And moreover, the rear AC blower with its two vents did a good job of routing the cold air to the second row.
Instrument panel storage spaces and other features
A digital trip meter is fine, but I’m sure anyone would love to know the approximate distance-to-dry without having to wait till the low-fuel sign comes up. My biggest complaint is that the Creta misses out on an extensive trip computer with details like range, average fuel efficiency and such important data. The projector headlamps and DRLs give the car a premium character. However, it’s the cornering lights that add more practicality. These corner illuminators get separate halogen units which illuminate with the movement of the steering. This helped extensively while negotiating the Ghats at night.
There is no lack of storage spaces in the cabin. All four doors have space to hold big bottles with map pockets. The sockets below the centre console include USB/Aux-in and a 12V power socket. This is where my wallet and cellphone fitted easily. The storage space under the centre arm rest accommodated more stuff including a small bottle. Added to that, the infotainment system kept us entertained throughout the journey. But, I still preferred the detailed Google maps over the car’s sat-nav system.
Luggage area
The Creta’s boot space might not be the largest amongst its segment. However, it is large enough to suffice all your needs. It easily housed six big bags leaving space for even more. So I never had to worry about carrying extra luggage or picking up additional things from the places we visited. Apart from the split seat option, the rear seat folds down to make for a flat bed. I could fit a full-sized bicycle inside without any fuss, even with the 16-inch spare wheel being tucked neatly below.
Having driven it extensively in the city and even on the highways, our next wrap-up long term report will be out next month. It will highlight the things we loved and the things we hated, while using it to see what it’s like to own the Hyundai Creta petrol automatic.
Pictures also contributed by Kapil Angane
[“Source-carwale”]