2015 Hyundai Verna facelift review, test drive

What is it like to drive?

Well, the updated Verna is a big improvement over the older version. The changes to the suspension have made all the difference. It feels more absorbent with that trademark tendency to bottom-out all but gone. As before, there’s a nice softness to the low-speed ride but unlike before, there’s a newfound confidence in the way the Verna behaves at high speeds. There’s more of a connect between the steering and the front wheels, something that makes the new Verna a far nicer cruiser. Compared to the earlier version, this one feels far more settled, has a flatter ride and overall stability is improved too. Still, it doesn’t feel buttoned down to the road at high speeds with a fair bit of vertical movement on gentle undulations. The fact is the Hyundai is still quite far from the ride and handling benchmarks set by the Ford Fiesta and Fiat Linea. The steering still weights up inconsistently and calls for minute but constant inputs to keep the car on the desired course.  Even through tighter corners, the Verna still feels a touch soft and decidedly unsporty. More so, the petrol version, where the suspension doesn’t seem as well set up as the heavier diesel version’s.

As for the engines, they feel pretty much the same as before. We drove the more powerful petrol and found it to be refined, if a bit underwhelming, in terms of performance. More so because it is the most powerful car in its class. As for the 1.6 diesel, it scores for refinement but once again doesn’t feel as strong as the power figure would lead you to expect. Power comes in after 1800rpm and this non-linearity in delivery is a bit of an irritant in city driving. What also takes getting used to are the brakes. While stopping power is good, the ABS system kicks in way too early.