Hyundai Verna: new vs old

The new Hyundai Verna has two powertrain options compared to the three that were offered in the old model.

Published On Mar 23, 2023 01:27:00 PM

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Hyundai has launched the new 4th gen Verna three years after its predecessor received a facelift. The carmaker has addressed some crucial weaknesses, which it hopes will help reinforce the sedan’s hold in the market once again. However, some core facets of the midsize sedan that buyers love has been retained, and we take a look at these similarities and differences.

Hyundai Verna new vs old exterior design and dimensions

Just like the previous iterations, since the distinct looking Fluidic Verna in 2011, the all-new Verna is sleek and stylish. From the front and rear, the new sedan bears little resemblance to its predecessor. Up front, it now gets a split headlamp design with the LED Daytime Running Lamp strip spanning the width of the car, and the Hyundai logo positioned on the bonnet rather than the grille. However, the sharp cut lines that shape the massive front grille are reminiscent of the previous gen Verna.

The rear features an LED light bar that spans the car’s width, with the vertical light signatures meant to spell out the letter ‘H’, unlike the previous model that had conventional triangular tail-lamps. The Verna badge has moved from the top of the boot to within the light bar at the centre, while the variant badge is now lower on the tailgate. Curiously, the indicators are separated from the tail-light cluster in the new car, and a ‘parametric’ mesh pattern replaces the chrome strip at the base of the bumper in the old car.

In profile, the silhouette is similar, although the new Verna features sharper creases in the bodywork than the older model. And though the design is all new, both cars feature 16-inch alloy wheels.

The New Verna is bigger than its predecessor, ensuring that the sedan has the largest dimensions in the segment. The wheelbase has increased by 70mm to 2,670mm and the width increased by 36mm to 1,765 mm. This multi-dimensional stretch provides the new Verna with a 13.5 percent increase in boot space, which, at 528 litres, is the largest in the segment.

Hyundai Verna new vs old interior and features

The Verna receives an all-new interior, but like the old car, retains a beige and black colour scheme for most variants, with an all-black interior reserved for the turbo-petrol models. The old Hyundai Verna interior had started to look quite dated compared to rivals, and this new one is a welcome change. For one, it takes on a more horizontal orientation, including a continuous strip for the AC vents, with the controls layered on top of it. There’s also a brand-new two-spoke steering wheel compared to the previous three-spoke unit. There are fewer physical buttons, with the AC and audio controls having been combined into a single, switchable panel.

The new Verna also gets Hyundai’s now-ubiquitous 10.25-inch screen over the previously available 8-inch touchscreen, and, this time around, it’s been integrated into a continuous panel that also houses the instrument cluster. Like with the old car, the cluster is digital, but it now gets sharper graphics integrated with the touchscreen, rather than a separate hooded binnacle. And while the old Verna had some basic in-cabin mood lighting, the new one gets an ambient light strip that runs throughout the cabin and along the door trims.

The Hyundai Verna has always been big on features, and that list has only grown with the new model. Where the old car got ventilated front seats, the new one gets heated and ventilated seats, with a powered driver’s seat. It also gets more safety features: 6 airbags are now standard across all trims instead of the old one's two, in addition to several active driver assist systems. However, the big addition on the new-generation Verna is ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System), which works with front and rear radar sensors and cameras to actively detect and prevent potential accidents.

Hyundai Verna new vs old engines, gearboxes, price and mileage

The most powerful version of the old Hyundai Verna used a 120hp, 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engine with a twin-clutch automatic gearbox. There was also a 115hp naturally aspirated petrol and a 115hp diesel with both manual and automatic gearbox options.

The top-of-the-line new Hyundai Verna steps up from where it left off with a 160hp, 1.5 litre, turbo-petrol that can be paired with a dual-clutch transmission or a manual this time. Moreover, the turbo engine is available in two trim levels rather than just the single variant as before. However, like its competitors, Hyundai has let go of the diesel engine and offers only a more frugal 115hp, 1.5 litre, naturally aspirated petrol engine that comes with a manual or CVT gearbox. Also, both engines are now E20 fuel ready and compliant with RDE norms.

With a price range between Rs 10.90 lakh-17.89 lakh (ex-showroom, India), the new Hyundai Verna has become more expensive than the car it replaces. The old Verna was priced between Rs 9.31 lakh-15.10 lakh, but the new car is still quite competitive with rivals. However, the price increase is understandable given the larger size of the new sedan as well as the raft of new features and tech on offer.

The previous turbo-petrol version of the Verna offered a claimed fuel efficiency of 19.2kpl with the 7-speed DCT. The claimed efficiency of the new Verna, with the same DCT gearbox, has increased to 20.6kpl. The old naturally aspirated Verna with the CVT gearbox offered a fuel economy of 18.45kpl, while the new one offers a claimed average of 19.6kpl.

Also see:

New Hyundai Verna launched at Rs 10.90 lakh

New Hyundai Verna vs rivals: price, specifications compared

New Hyundai Verna price, variants explained