The 2017 Hyundai Verna is all new and in its 5^th generation globally. The new midsize sedan has finally made it to India at an introductory price of Rs. 7.99 lakh to Rs. 12.61 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). The 2017 Hyundai Verna takes on the likes of the very popular Honda City which has recently received a mid-life facelift and the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz which has been moved from the standard Maruti Suzuki dealership network to the more exclusive Nexa dealerships. The Hyundai Verna in its previous offerings has always temped the Indian audiences with the likes of its good looks, well made and well equipped interior and powerful engines. So lets see how the new 2017 Hyundai Verna takes on the competition this time around, on paper. But, before we being, we have had a chance to drive the new Hyundai Verna very briefly on Hyundai's test track in Chennai so read that first drive review here.

Also Read: 2017 Hyundai Verna Launched; Price and Other Details

2017 Hyundai Verna

Petrol Engine and Gearbox

Also Read: 2017 Hyundai Verna Review

For the new gen Hyundai Verna, the Korean automaker has ditched the smaller 1.4-litre engine in favour of the larger 1.6-litre motors only. The 1.4-litre motor will still be available for the export markets though. The new Verna gets a 1.6-litre petrol, which is the highest displacement engine in its class.

The Verna Petrol gets 121 bhp of peak power and 151 Nm of peak torque from its 4-cylinder 1.6-litre engine. The Honda City gets a 1.5-litre petrol engine that makes 117 bhp and 145 Nm of torque whereas the 1.4-litre engine in the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz makes just 91 bhp and 130 Nm of torque. The petrol engine in the Verna gets both a 6-speed manual and a 6-speed automatic whereas the Honda City gets a 5-speed manual and a CVT gearbox. The popular Maruti Suzuki Ciaz also gets a 5-speed manual gearbox but the automatic is a 4-speed unit.

(2017 Honda City facelift)

In terms of claimed fuel economy for the manual gearbox, the Ciaz scores highest with 20.7 kmpl where as the Hyundai Verna is rated at 17.7 kmpl and the Honda City at 17.4 kmpl. Fuel economy figures for the automatic are again dominated by the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz which clocks 19.1 kmpl as compared to the Honda City's 18 kmpl and the Hyundai Verna's claimed 15.92 kmpl.

Engine Specifications

Diesel Engine and Gearbox

Similar to the petrol engine, Hyundai has ditched the smaller capacity 1.4-litre unit that used to be available in the last generation Verna diesel. Instead the new generation Hyundai Verna will only receive a 1.6-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder unit. Just like the petrol, the diesel engine is also the largest in its class.

(Maruti Suzuki Ciaz NEXA)

The Hyundai Verna Diesel makes a class leading 126 bhp of peak power and 260 Nm of peak toque from its turbo 4-cylinder 1.6-litre mill. Comparatively, the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz makes a measly 89 bhp and 200 Nm from the tried and tested 1.3-litre diesel DDiS engine. The Honda City too is far lower in terms of power and torque with just 99 bhp and 200 Nm of peak power and peak torque produced from the 1.5-litre i-DTEC engine.

In terms of manual gearbox configurations, the Hyundai Verna and the Honda City both get the 6-speed units while the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz gets a 5-speed unit. The Honda City and the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz do not offer an automatic gearbox with the diesel engine whereas the new Hyundai Verna will get a 6-speed automatic gearbox mated to the 1.6-litre diesel motor.

In terms of fuel economy, the more powerful Hyundai Verna's claimed FE figure is rated at 24.75 kmpl as compared to the Honda City's 25.6 kmpl and the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz's 28.09 kmpl. The automatic Hyundai Verna Diesel offers 21.05 kmpl.

Design and Exterior Features

The Hyundai Verna, Honda City and the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz are all similarly sized in terms of exterior dimensions. The Ciaz is the longest car in the trio at 4490 mm as compared to the Verna and the City that both measure 4440 mm. The Verna and the Ciaz are neck in neck when it comes with width measuring in at 1729 and 1730 mm respectively while the Honda city is slightly narrower at 1695 mm. The Verna though is the lowest car here with its more coupe like styling at 1475 mm as compared to the Ciaz's 1485 and the City's 1495 mm. The wheelbase on the City and the Verna is identical at 2600 mm while the Ciaz is longer by 50 mm at 2650 mm.

Exterior Dimensions

In terms of design though, the new Verna has taken a more evolutionary approach as compared to the older car. The Hyundai Verna and the Honda City both get daytime running lights while the Ciaz does not. The Ciaz and the Verna though both get projector headlamps while the Honda City offers LED headlamps in the top spec car. The Verna also gets a really cool set of LED tail lamps with a distinct lighting pattern and so does the Honda City.

(Maruti Suzuki Ciaz Interior and Dashboard with Touchscreen Infotainment)

All three cars get a set of 16-inch alloy wheels on the top of the line version. Where the Honda City and the Hyundai Verna gets diamond cut alloy wheels that look smart, the Ciaz gets an equally smart set of gunmetal grey wheels. The Honda City and Hyundai Verna also offer sun roof options in the top of the line variants whereas the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz does not.

Interiors and Equipment

As with all Hyundai cars in India, the Hyundai Verna comes loaded to the brim with interior equipment. The Verna gets a two tone interior package in grey and beige with a brushed grey finished centre console. The Verna also gets a large 7-inch touchscreen that gets inbuilt navigation. The connectivity options on the Verna for your smartphone include Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and MirrorLink. Comparatively, the Honda City and the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz also get touchscreen infotainment systems and navigation but only the Ciaz gets the Apple CarPlay and Android Auto whereas the City only gets MirrorLink.

(2017 Honda City facelift-Dashboard)

All three cars get optional leather interiors on the top of the line models too and all three get rear AC vents. Two Airbags are standard in all cars but the Honda City and the Hyundai Verna get six airbags in the top of the line variants. That said, the big addition to the Hyundai Verna is the new front cooled and ventilated seats. This is a first in class feature for this segment and will be well appreciated considering the hot climate that we have almost through the year in India.

Pricing

In terms of pricing, the Hyundai Verna is expected to be priced right bang in the middle of the Ciaz and City price range. Y K Koo, Hyundai India M.D. and C.E.O. also stated that the mid-range Hyundai Verna would be priced at Rs 10 lakh (ex-showroom), which in turn would make it a great value for money package for those buyers not looking for a completely loaded package. The new Hyundai Verna will be launched on August 22 and will also go up against competition like the Skoda Rapid and the Volkswagen Vento