Hyundai will launch a facelifted version of its popular midsize car, the Verna, on February 18. Appreciated for its 'fluidic' looks and feature-rich cabin, the Verna took Hyundai to the top of its class back when it was launched in 2011. Hyundai will now update the car for the second time (it carried out a mild update in August 2013 where the suspension was re-tuned) since its launch, in an effort to keep it fresh.
Almost identical to the facelifted 'Solaris' sold in Russia, the car will get an all-new nose that is both longer and 'pointier' looking than that of the current car. The new headlights are more elongated, the new grille is wider and the 'inverted comma' like fogs also get LED daytime-running lights. The new grown up look is nice, but some of the cohesiveness of the earlier design has been lost. The rear of the car is similar to the current one, however, with the car in Russia getting LEDs in the tail-lights; something we could get here in India too.
Under the skin, there aren't likely to be too many changes. Though Hyundai insiders say they have worked on improving the power steering. The current car's steering is a bit too light and Hyundai has apparently made changes to the steering linkages and the electrical assistance system to enable the car to deliver better feel to the driver.
On the inside, materials and trim are expected to change, but the design is likely to remain unchanged. Expect only a small correction in prices.
Viraaj Bhatnagar
Dipan Sur
Glenn Noronha
Dhruv Dhaka
