There is a new Hyundai Accent prowling the streets of Indian cities and it has a new name too — Verna. This is Hyundai’s latest offering to Indian car-lovers and was introduced to the Indian media in South Africa. There are four variants available and the prices (ex-showroom and introductory ones at that) put them in the same bracket as the Chevrolet Aveo and Ford Fiesta — worthy competitors. The Verna i, the base petrol version comes with a tag of Rs 6,21,498; the top-of-the-line petrol Verna XXi costs Rs 6,93,500; and the diesel Verna VGT will have you forking out a good Rs 7,35,499.

At first glance, the Verna is a bit of an oddity. It doesn’t have the traditionally ugly (Hyundai would call it distinctive, I suppose) Korean styling, but it doesn’t sport the distinctive European looks of the Getz or the Sonata Embera either. Hyundai prefers to call it clean, modern styling. With the Verna, Hyundai has gone with what they prefer to call clean, modern styling.

But is it a top-notch product? As always, the proof of the pudding will be in the eating, or in this case, the testing. Nevertheless, the Verna comes with a fairly decent booty of features. The front end has been given an interesting style with a fluted bonnet, a big wide grille with four horizontal chromed slats and slightly flared wheel arches that give it a hint of a sporty look. The clear headlights wrap around the corners of the car and have the turn indicators integrated into them. Fog lamps are integrated into the bumper, which features a full-width air intake.

The Verna measures 4310mm x 1695mm x 1490mm in length, width and height respectively. The ground clearance, at 170mm, is decent and the 2500mm wheelbase makes for whatever space there is inside the cabin. For comparison’s sake, the Fiesta and Aveo have dimensions of 4282mm x 1686mm x 1468mm and 4310mm x 1710mm x 1505mm respectively.

As mentioned earlier, the Verna comes with two engine options — diesel and petrol. The petrol unit has a capacity of 1599cc and features VTVT or Variable Timing Valve Train. This is a 16-valve twin overhead cam unit and develops a bit over 100bhp of power at 5500rpm and 14.9kgm of torque at 3000rpm. The gearbox, common to both variants, is a five-speed manual. The diesel on the other hand is a 1493cc common rail turbo-charged unit developing about 110bhp at 4000rm and 24kgm of torque from 1900 to 2750rpm. This is what gives the diesel Verna its pulling power and low-speed driveability.

The Verna has power-assisted steering, which is of the rack and pinion type and makes for direct response. The Verna rides on either 5.5J x 14” alloy wheels fitted with 185/65 R14 tyres (available only on the petrol XXi) or 5.0J x 14” steel wheels fitted with 175/70 R14 tyres. The front brakes are ventilated discs while the rear brakes are drum or disc — the latter if the car features ABS anti-lock braking. MacPherson struts, with coil springs and an anti roll bar at front and a coupled torsion beam axle at the rear determine ride quality.

The ORVMs (outside rear view mirrors) are electrically operated while the door handles are of the grip type. The Verna also has a high mounted LED stop lamp positioned for maximum visibility. Other interior features include an instrument gauge cluster with green LED-lit instruments for clear visibility. Par for the course is the sunglasses holder, a paper holder on the back of the sun visor, a portable ashtray, an illuminated large capacity glove box in the fascia as well as pockets at the back of the front seats that come with the Xi and XXi versions only.

Other goodies usually found in more luxurious vehicles are thrown into the Verna with gay abandon, like a keyless entry system and a storage tray under the tilting steering wheel, which along with the gear knob, incidentally, comes leather-wrapped in the XXi. The XXi even goes one better with an automatic air-conditioning system, a trip computer instead of an ordinary odometer and a luggage net. Strangely enough, some of these features are missing in the more expensive VGT diesel version.

An essential part of any lean mean driving machine is the safety aspect. This in the Verna, includes dual member side impact beams, collapsible steering column and impact sensing for auto door unlocking. Now, do keep in mind that the ABS is not a standard feature, but an extra option. However, the disc brakes do feature bigger boosters for an effective and quick braking action.

Hyundai has always offered good value-for-money cars instead of stripped down performance machines. But the Verna, thanks to its two engine options, could combine both and make for a striking change. Watch out for a TT driving impression soon.

Photographs by the author

Road rage

Arindam Sil, actor

The sheer lack of basic driving skills amongst Calcuttans and in particular, the ones driving a public transport vehicle is appalling. There’s also a remarkable lack of consideration towards others. One thing that always makes my blood boil is when I’m stuck at a red light, and there’s inevitably someone honking from behind for no rhyme or reason.

There’s a very lackadaisical approach towards driving on our roads. You’ll see mini-buses madly racing each other on a major thoroughfare. You’ll see taxis speeding away with a remarkable display of rash driving and it’s futile to even speak of the autorickshaws. Recently, my car was totalled on Shakespeare Sarani when a taxi, speeding at about 80kmph — and mind you, it was at just 9am — crashed against it. Luckily my driver didn’t suffer any injuries.

The whole corrupt racket of issuing a driving license for money also has to stop. Otherwise, we’ll keep having an influx of drivers on the streets who can’t drive to save a life — theirs or others!