The 2017 Hyundai Verna is nearing launch, and going by what it seems, Hyundai will be launching the refreshed C-segment sedan within the coming month. Apart from the global unveiling that showed off the new design, Hyundai has shared a few teasers of late to build up the hype. Bookings for the new Hyundai Verna are now open, and if you have been planning to head to the Hyundai showrooms soon, this is everything that you need to know about the new Verna, before deciding on it.
The technology package
One of the highlights of the new Hyundai Verna is the significantly upgraded equipment list and interior quality. The mid-range sedan sits between the compact Hyundai Xcent and the premium Hyundai Elantra in India, but is slated to resemble the Elantra more closely in a bit to appear more premium and pose serious competition to Honda City, Maruti Suzuki Ciaz and the likes. It is expected to get a new 7-inch touchscreen display based on the same infotainment firmware that powers the Elantra's console. The feature list includes support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto alongside the native firmware that provides calling and voice control interfaces, music playback, photo viewer and more. However, the Verna seems to be missing out on a native sat-nav unit, and will be relying on voice-based inputs from Google Maps on phones paired to the console (Android Auto users will get the Google Maps GUI reflected on the display).
Other electronics include swept back projector headlamps, projector fog lamps and J-shaped LED DRLs. The central infotainment console is expected to take precedence, and physical control buttons for the system will be mounted underneath the display. It is expected to get a digital climate control unit, and the USB and aux ports will lie below these. The steering wheel will get an extensive array of controls as well, and will be able to control possibly every element of the car's technology. As is typical with Hyundai, the steering wheel is expected to get a voice control button, along with function buttons to control what is expected to be a more comprehensive multi-function LED display on the instrument cluster. On the safety front, the top-of-the-line 2017 Verna is expected to come with six airbags, ABS, and ESP for the automatic transmission variant.
Design and Powertrain
Going beyond the technology package, the 2017 Hyundai Verna is set to get a radical makeover. It is being built on the Fluidic Sculpture 2.0 platform, and continues Hyundai's aim to make all of its sedans look uniform with a characteristic hexagonal chrome-slatted grille up front and narrow LED headlamps. The coupe-like roofline has been streamlined further, and the rear now gets dual-tone bumpers with reflectors and split LED wraparound tail lamps. All of these elements will come together to create a cohesive design statement, which will be crucial for the Verna to challenge its primary Indian rivals – the Honda City, Skoda Rapid, Volkswagen Vento and Maruti Ciaz.
The 2017 Hyundai Verna is expected to retain the same engine configurations as before, with 1.4-litre petrol and 1.6-litre diesel engines powering the new sedan. While the 6-speed manual transmission is also expected to remain the same, the new element will come in the form of a 6-speed automatic transmission module – same as is used in the new Hyundai Creta. The present generation Verna comes with a 4-speed automatic option which is ridiculously ancient, and the new Verna is expected to resolve that.