Hyundai’s midsize sedan, the Verna will soon be welcoming its new-gen avatar sometime around April 2023. The C-segment sedan space in India has recently seen the entry of the VW-Skoda siblings, i.e., the Virtus and Slavia respectively. The arrival of these more powerful and premium offerings from the German automaker has created the need for Hyundai to up its game with its newer generation Verna.
What’s New
This new generation of the sedan has been in the works for some time and the automaker is now seen testing it on the country’s roads as various test mules draped in dark camouflage have been spotted on multiple occasions. Despite the camouflage, we have been able to make out certain elements of the car like its connected tail lamp design element similar to that of the facelifted Venue and the new Tucson. But here’s something new, a fresh set of spy shots of the Verna test prototype shows that it will now sport ADAS!
The latest spy images give us a clear look at the radar module mounted on the sedan’s front bumper which will house the Advanced Driver Assistance System. This system will come calibrated to suit our road conditions unlike the case with the Tucson. This will make Verna the third Hyundai in the country to come equipped with ADAS tech after the Tucson SUV and the upcoming Ioniq 5 electric crossover. Interestingly, the Creta facelift is also said to come equipped with the same ADAS module as the new Verna.
Although, we don’t expect the Verna to have Level 2 autonomous features like the Tucson, which is positioned much higher in the price range as compared to this sedan. The ADAS tech will enable the all-new Verna to have features like forward collision warning, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, blind spot detection, etc.
Other Updates: Interior, Exterior, Powertrains, etc.
The Verna will carry forward the existing features along with additions like a 360-degree parking camera, powered seats, a digital instrument cluster, and a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system from the Creta. The Verna will follow the brand’s ‘Sensuous Sportiness’ design philosophy and borrow its design cues from the new Elantra.
As of now, the current gen Verna comes powered by a 1.5-litre NA petrol engine, a 1.0-litre Turbo petrol engine from the Venue, and a 1.5-litre diesel engine. Due to the upcoming RDE (Real Driving Emission) norms, the Korean automaker will either discontinue the 1.5-litre diesel engine on Verna’s lineup or upgrade it to meet the norms like in its other products. Hyundai might also plonk in the 140 hp, 1.4-litre Turbo petrol motor from the Creta into the new Verna to compete with its rivals – the Virtus and Slavia with their 150 hp, 1.5-litre TSI engine.
Hyundai is also expected to offer a slew of transmission options with its Verna, like the 6-speed manual, iVT, 7-speed DCT, and an additional iMT transmission as well.