Hyundai Verna

The fifth-gen Verna has us convinced that Hyundai has finally figured out ride and handling

- Ouseph Checko

THE NEW VERNA IS fun to drive. Hyundai were so stung by criticism of the earlier Fluidic Verna’s vague high speed manners that they have gone all out to make sure no one says the same thing about this car. To that extent, this fifth generation Verna (the first Verna in India way back in 2006 was the third generation car) it is built on Hyundai’s new K2 platform, the same as the one in the Elantra. Because it uses a modern chassis, Hyundai says the noise, vibration and harshness levels are at an all time low and, because the chassis is now much stiffer it now drives like a Ferrari. Well, I’m kidding, they didn’t say that. But they do say that at every generation change that the new car is fun to drive. Is it true this time around? I had a 160km go in it and here’s what I think.

Really all-new?

 Well, you already know the chassis is new. Fifty per cent of the chassis comprises of advanced high strength steel while the rest is made up of high strength steel, ultra high strength steel and hot formed steel. What all this means is that the car is stronger and is more crashworthy than before.