A turbo-petrol engine with 160hp, a manual gearbox, and a low-slung sedan shape might just be the worst combo you could pick for a half-dug-up city like Mumbai.
At least that’s what it looks like on paper – a pretty pessimistic take. But flip that around, and the optimist in you might say it’s exactly what you need to make daily commutes a bit more exciting.
Enter the Hyundai Verna – a sleek sedan that’s got way more power than you need for city traffic, and a manual gearbox to keep things interesting (or make up for skipping leg day).
Long-term cars with manuals usually don’t last long with us at Autocar. They’re fun, sure, but not exactly practical. Add Mumbai monsoons into the mix, and a low car sounds like a nightmare. But I’ve always liked the Verna. Sure, the design isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s growing on me. The Tesla-like front end, sharp creases, and red brake calipers take some time to get used to, but give it a chance, and the stance actually looks pretty good.
First test: ground clearance. With just two people in the car, it handles the usual bumps without a problem – only the badly made ones catch it out. But load it up fully, and yeah, it squats low enough to scrape.
Now, the engine – this one really surprised me. It’s got more than enough poke to make those short signal-to-signal bursts a lot of fun. And it’s smooth too, humming along quietly at around 20kph. No noise, no vibrations. Push it past 2,500rpm, and the power builds steadily; cross 3,000rpm, and the turbo kicks in nicely. Late-night food runs? Great fun.
Fuel efficiency was my biggest concern. I expected under 8kpl, especially after the Exter (my last long-termer) barely managed 9.5kpl. But the Verna has been surprisingly frugal – hovering around 9.5 to 10kpl, and even crossing 11kpl on late-night drives. The average stands at a respectable 10kpl, mostly in Eco mode. The engine really comes alive when you switch to Sport, but in the city, you don’t get to use all that power much.
One of the main complaints we had at launch was the soft suspension – it made the car feel a bit floaty in corners and didn’t help its lap times at our track day. But out in the real world, that soft setup actually makes a lot of sense. It soaks up broken roads really well and feels almost SUV-like in comfort.
Inside, the all-black cabin adds to the sporty feel. I don’t mind it, but a bit of chrome or some brushed metal would’ve helped lift the cabin’s look.
What really does feel premium, though, is the Bose sound system. It’s punchy, with solid bass, and call clarity is great even at higher volumes. If you love your music, you’ll enjoy it.
The only annoying bit? No wireless Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. You’ll need a USB-A cable, and let’s be honest, most of us have already moved on to Type-C. Just a small thing, but still.
Now, the gearbox. Yes, it’s fun and gives you full control, but in traffic, it can be a bit of a workout. The clutch isn’t super light, and the gear travel is on the longer side. Short drives? No problem. But spend an hour in bumper-to-bumper traffic and you’ll really wish you had an automatic. Also, at low speeds, especially when negotiating speed breakers, shifting between first and second can get jerky if you’re not careful with the revs. I ended up riding the clutch a lot more than I’d like.
There’s still more to explore – the back seat, the boot, and how it behaves on the highway with ADAS. But so far, I can totally see myself using the Verna as a daily. It’s been fuss-free, fun, and it ticks almost every box I have for a city car.
Sergius Barretto
Shapur Kotwal
Gavin D'Souza
Hormazd Sorabjee
Rahul Kakar
Nikhil Bhatia
