2017 Hyundai Verna: which variant should you buy?

Once a segment leader, the previous-gen Verna was toppled from its top spot by the Honda City and the Maruti Ciaz. Not one to back out of a fight, Hyundai is now back in the game with the new-gen Verna, one that features a more mature design and is loaded to the brim with equipment and features. The new Verna comes with petrol and diesel engine options, each offered with automatic as well as manual gearboxes. To further expand your range of choice, the Verna is offered in four trims – E, EX, SX and SX(O). While this much choice is always great for the customer, it can also complicate the buying decision substantially. Lucky for you, though, we are here to simplify it.

The base E variant is offered only with manual gearboxes in the case of both the petrol and diesel models. As expected, the base model isn’t loaded with much; while Hyundai has standardised safety features such as driver and passenger airbags and ABS across all variants including the base, and even offered some frills such as a rear armrest, steering-mounted trip-meter controls, cooled glovebox, electrically-adjustable outside mirrors and blue interior lighting in the base, one still has to do without a media system, alloy wheels, and parking assist and rear camera. While the E variant is attractively priced at Rs 7.99 lakh for the petrol manual and Rs 9.43 lakh for the diesel manual (ex-showroom, Delhi), it is not the variant we would recommend.

The second trim level, the EX, is offered with both manual and automatic options. This is the variant we recommend for those looking for a value-for-money diesel sedan. In the case of the diesel manual, the EX variants costs Rs 82,000 more than the E, and for this, one gets reverse parking sensors and a rear camera, automatic headlamps, speed-sensing auto-locking, height-adjustable driver seat, 5.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth connectivity and steering-wheel-mounted media controls, rear AC vents and USB ports front and back. For the diesel automatic, the premium is a slightly hefty Rs 2.25 lakh over the E.

The third trim level, the SX, is a great value proposition for those looking for a petrol sedan. Priced at Rs 9.69 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi), the SX petrol manual is priced at a premium of Rs 1.69 lakh compared to the E and just Rs 39,000 compared to EX. For that extra money, you get all the bells and whistles of the EX variant plus an electrochromic mirror, height-adjustable front seat belts, projector headlamps with DRLs and cornering lights, 16-inch alloys, a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and MirrorLink and electrically folding outside mirrors.

On top of the SX trim sits the SX(O) trim. This is the fully-loaded variant, armed with all the bells and whistles one expects of a sedan at this price point. The SX(O) trim is available in almost all engine and transmission options and is priced as follows:

The SX(O) trim gets six airbags, a smart key, leatherette interiors, adjustable rear seat headrests, the brilliant ventilated seats, electric sunroof, smart boot and engine start/stop button in addition to all the features and equipment available on the SX variant. It really is a fully-loaded car and if budgetary constraints permit, it is definitely the variant we recommend you choose.

The following table offers you a concise overview of this article:

The following is a price chart for the new Hyundai Verna: