Make way for Verna Generation-V!

The fifth generation Verna, Generation-V, is loaded with some great features, and can give competitors a run for their money, says Joshua David Luther

The newly-launched fifth generation Hyundai Verna gets a touch of everything in the right quantities -- technology, comfort, convenience, luxury, space and performance.

The moment I got my hands on this good-looking sedan, I felt that it could give the likes of the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz and the Honda City a run for their money.

The new avatar of the Verna is loaded to the brim with some great features.

It's been built on Hyundai's K2 platform and looks very sophisticated.

Hyundai's cascade grille design and stretched projector headlamps add a modish and bold touch to the sedan's front. The projector headlamps feature LED DRLs and cornering lamps.

Hyundai is also offering projector fog lamps with a smart looking chrome surrounded casing.

The side profile of the sedan is butch and features a solid shoulder line that runs out seamlessly before the A pillar and straight into the boot.

The car rides on smart looking 16-inch 5-spoke diamond cut alloys. Hyundai has given the sedan a sloping C pillar, which lends it a coupe like design.

The rear section features split LED tail lamps, chrome garnish on the boot lid and a muscular bumper with ample plastic cladding.

Despite being immensely functional, I felt its interiors could have done with more colour. The dash is partially biased towards the driver and has been designed in an extremely ergonomical manner.

Hyundai has always aimed at leading the pack with its trend-setting offerings and the new Verna is no exception to this. The top variant is packed with class-leading features such as ventilated front seats, electric sunroof, hands free smart trunk, manually operated rear curtain, rear AC vents, a total of 3 USB charging slots, 7-inch infotainment setup with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Mirror Link, automatic climate control, automatic headlamps, voice commands and cruise control.

The overall space in the cabin as well has been improved.

The rear seat headroom has been improved by 3mm while legroom in the rear has been increased by 44mm.

Seating in the rear is adequately comfortable, however I felt a bit more leg room would have made things even better.

Powering the sedan is a 1.6L, four-cylinder, CRDi, turbocharged diesel mill, which belts out 126bhp and 260Nm of torque.

The engine is the same as the previous generation Verna but it has been re-tuned. The car now feels more linear in its progression and delivers a better low-end torque.

The diesel mill has been tuned to deliver peak torque low, starting from 1,500rpm and ranging up to 3,000rpm.

The engine has been mated to a six-speed manual gearbox, also on offer is a six-speed automatic.

I had the manual transmission version at my disposal.

The gear box is quite crisp and the engine goes through the first three gears quickly.

The fourth, fifth and the sixth come with longer legs, which can be really stretched out on highways.

Hyundai has also improved the ride and handling in the new version.

The sedan gets a hydraulic recoil absorber in the rear. During fast driving and hard cornering, the new Verna feels more confident and sure footed than before.

The brakes have also been tweaked.

The new Hyundai Verna comes with a very competitive price tag, which makes the car very attractive in every way.