Maxxd.com – Modified and Performance Car News

oi-Dennis Abraham James

Published: Thursday, April 27, 2023, 11:56 [IST]

The
age
of
electric
vehicles
is
slowly
but
surely
coming
upon
us.
While
we
have
recently
been
inundated
with
larger-size
electric
vehicles
that
cater
to
the
family
guy
and
those
among
the
hoi-polloi.

However,
to
date,
there
hasn’t
been
an
EV
that
caters
to
the
generation
that
will
have
to
deal
with
the
permanent
shift
towards
full
electrification.
So
what
happens
when
a
carmaker
takes
notice
of
the
future
and
decides
to
come
up
with
a
quirky
yet
practical
solution?

A
visit
to
the
capital
saw
us
staring
at
the
rather
comically
small
(from
the
outside)
MG
Comet
EV.
A
chance
behind
the
wheel
of
the
Comet
EV
on
Delhi’s
streets
showed
us
just
what
MG
has
cooked
up
for
the
electric
future
of
the
nation…

MG
Comet
EV
Design
&
Features
–
Quirky
Yet
Useful

The
MG
Comet
EV
is
in
a
word
quirky.
There
is
something
rather
cheerful
and
funky
about
the
two-door
Comet
EV
that
draws
attention
to
it
as
does
its
rather
tiny
overall
footprint.

The
front
section
of
the
Comet
EV
slightly
sticks
out
in
front
of
the
raked
windscreen
of
the
micro
EV.
Taking
centre
stage
is
an
illuminated
MG
badge
that
also
acts
as
a
visual
aid
to
identifying
the
door
covering
up
the
Comet’s
charging
port.

Above
the
illuminated
badge
sits
a
lightbar-style
DRL
that
runs
across
the
width
of
the
Comet.
This
DRL
design
is
extended
further
to
the
sides
of
the
MG
Comet
EV
by
the
chrome
strips
that
run
to
the
integrated
turn
indicators
on
the
ORVMs.

Vertically
stacked
lights
can
be
found
on
either
side
of
the
lower
section
of
the
MG
Comet
EV’s
front
end.
These
include
twin
headlights
and
a
turn
indicator
on
each
side
of
a
small
air
intake
at
the
front.

The
quirks
and
fun
features
are
even
more
visible
from
the
sides
with
the
large
single
door
that
stretches
across
almost
the
entire
distance
between
the
wheels.

Immediately
after
this
a
vertical
three-quarter
window
panel
that
increases
the
glasshouse
area
of
the
Comet
EV.
MG’s
micro
EV
rides
on
tiny
12-inch
steel
wheels
that
sport
stylish
wheel
covers
for
a
bit
more
fun.

The
rear
section
of
the
MG
Comet
EV
is
quite
similar
in
design
to
the
front
end
of
the
microcar.
Sitting
underneath
the
vertical
rear
windscreen
is
a
full-width
lightbar
that
also
acts
as
a
large
brake
light.

Below
the
brake
lit
sits
the
MG
badge
(not
illuminated)
and
the
LED
taillights
can
be
found
in
vertically
stacked
units
that
sit
above
the
rear
bumper
of
the
all-new
Comet
EV.

Once
you
open
the
doors
of
the
MG
Comet
EV,
you’ll
be
greeted
by
a
cabin
that
looks
rather
minimalistic
and
modern.
The
dash
is
dominated
by
twin
10.25-inch
displays
for
the
instrumentation
and
infotainment
setups.

The
infotainment
screen
is
a
touchscreen
unit
that
supports
both
Android
Auto
and
Apple
CarPlay
wirelessly
and
comes
connected
to
a
twin-speaker
audio
system.
The
audio
can
be
controlled
by
the
controls
mounted
to
the
leather-wrapped
steering
wheel.

The
MG
Comet
EV’s
infotainment
screen
is
also
where
you
connect
with
the
microcar’s
connected
car
suite
that
includes
55+
features.
The
infotainment
screen
also
acts
as
a
display
for
the
rear-view
parking
camera.

Below
the
infotainment
screen
is
where
you
find
a
trio
of
knobs
that
help
control
the
manual
air-conditioning
system.
Putting
the
Comet
EV
into
gear
is
done
using
the
rotary
knob
between
the
front
seats
while
the
handbrake
is
a
proper
old-school
manual
lever.

The
MG
Comet
EV’s
seats
follow
the
same
dual-tone
grey
theme
as
the
rest
of
the
cabin.
While
the
seats
are
slightly
smaller
in
size
compared
to
those
in
regular-sized
cars,
they
are
quite
comfortable.

The
MG
Comet
EV
is
a
strict
four-seater
and
access
to
the
rear
seats
is
quite
easy.
This
is
thanks
to
the
one-touch
tumble
function
for
the
front
passenger
seat
and
the
long
door
that
allows
you
to
slip
into
the
back
row
of
seats.

For
those
wondering
just
how
safe
the
new
MG
Comet
EV
is,
there
is
good
news.
The
Comet
EV’s
high-strength
body
is
made
with
the
help
of
17
hot-stamped
panels.

The
Comet
EV
micro
car
from
MG
sports
dual
front
airbags,
ABS
with
EBD,
TPMS,
reversing
camera
and
sensors,
3-point
seatbelts
and
ISOFIX
anchor
points
for
child
seats
as
part
of
its
safety
arsenal.

MG
Comet
EV
Specs
&
Dimensions
–
Big
In
All
The
Small
Ways

The
MG
Comet
EV
is
the
smallest
car
that
has
hit
India’s
roads
in
terms
of
its
overall
length
coming
in
at
a
whopping
125mm
shorter
than
the
Tata
Nano.

The
MG
Comet
EV
is
2,974mm
long,
1,505mm
wide
and
1,640mm
tall.
The
electric
MG
Comet
has
a
2,010mm
long
wheelbase
and
a
turning
circle
of
4.2
metres.

The
MG
Comet
EV
is
powered
by
a
17.3kWh
lithium-ion
battery
pack
that
delivers
an
ARAI-certified
range
of
230
kilometres
on
a
single
charge.
The
Comet
EV
only
supports
AC
charging
and
charging
up
the
battery
pack
with
a
3.3kW
charging
cable
takes
7
hours
(10-80%
charge
takes
5
hours).

The
battery
pack
sends
power
to
a
single
electric
motor
mounted
to
the
rear
axle
of
the
Comet
EV
that
pushes
out
41.4bhp
and
110Nm
of
peak
torque.

MG
Comet
EV
Price
–
India’s
Most
Affordable
EV

The
MG
Comet
EV
is
priced
at
Rs
7.98
lakhs
(ex-showroom),
which
makes
it
the
nation’s
most
affordable
EV
currently
on
sale
today.

MG
Comet
EV
Driving
Impressions
–
Dinky
Electric
Shooting
Star

The
MG
Comet
EV’s
starting
procedure
is
as
quirky
as
the
rest
of
the
car.
Once
in
gear,
you
double-tap
the
brake
pedal
to
get
the
Comet
EV
rolling.

The
Comet
EV’s
powertrain
is
rather
noise-free
and
the
microcar
accelerates
in
a
linear
fashion
when
you
press
down
on
the
accelerator.
Hitting
speeds
of
around
110km/h
is
quite
possible
behind
the
wheel
of
the
all-new
Comet
EV.

MG’s
electric
microcar
offers
three
driving
modes
–
Eco,
Normal
and
Sport.
We
found
Eco
and
Normal
to
be
rather
similar
while
Sport
offered
a
definite
extra
bit
of
sharpness
in
terms
of
acceleration.

Speaking
of
the
steering,
the
slightly
small
wheel
only
offers
tilt
adjustment.
However,
it
feels
quite
light
in
the
hand
which
is
perfect
for
the
city
life
the
Comet
EV
is
meant
for.

A
light
steering
wheel
along
with
rear-wheel
drive
and
a
manual
handbrake
do
call
for
a
bit
of
fun.
However,
the
steering
doesn’t
quite
appreciate
aggressive
manoeuvring.

Speaking
of
fun,
pushing
the
Comet
EV
into
a
corner
isn’t
any.
This
is
due
to
the
unique
combination
of
the
MG
Comet
EV’s
tall-boy
design,
small
wheelbase,
tiny
wheels
and
soft
suspension
setup
which
means
that
body
roll
is
more
than
evident.

While
the
suspension
is
on
the
softer
side,
going
over
the
bad
roads
that
mar
our
cities,
especially
the
ones
in
New
Delhi
can
be
an
absolute
pain.
The
tiny
12-inch
wheels
that
are
shod
in
145/70
R12
rubber
make
any
journey
over
sharp
bumps
and
ruts
harsh,
to
say
the
least.

Thankfully
the
brakes
provide
enough
stopping
power
to
help
you
stop
before
and
evade
most
of
the
ruts
and
bumps.
The
Comet
EV
sports
disc
brakes
up
front
and
drums
at
the
rear
which
is
aided
along
by
multiple
levels
of
regen
braking.

The
brake
pedal
offers
more
than
adequate
travel
and
the
brakes
themselves
offer
good
initial
bite
and
good
progression
as
you
depress
the
pedal
down
further.

The
Comet
EV
also
sports
multiple
regen
modes
that
help
with
the
braking
with
the
strong
mode
being
the
best
of
the
bunch.
However,
one-pedal
driving
is
not
offered
with
the
Comet
EV,
which
we
feel
is
a
shame
considering
that
this
is
an
electric
car
for
the
city.

MG
claims
that
the
all-new
Comet
EV
will
provide
230km
of
range
on
a
single
charge.
While
we
didn’t
get
enough
time
behind
the
wheel
in
Delhi
to
test
this
out,
we
wouldn’t
rule
out
a
real-world
range
of
up
to
170
kilometres.

Final
Thoughts
About
The
MG
Comet
EV
–
Small
Package
For
GenZ
Drivers
Going
Big
On
EVs

The
MG
Comet
EV
is
a
quirky
little
electric
microcar
aimed
at
a
generation
that
is
more
than
likely
to
go
electric
for
their
first
car.

With
its
beguilingly
cute
looks,
surprisingly
sized
interior
aggressive
price
point
and
a
drive
that
won’t
bore
you
even
in
the
jams,
the
Comet
EV
from
MG
may
just
be
the
perfect
EV
for
the
GenZ
driver
looking
to
beat
the
buddhas
into
the
electric
age
despite
its
somewhat
harsh
ride.

Source

oi-Dennis Abraham James

Published: Sunday, April 9, 2023, 13:01 [IST]

Auto
Expo
2023
was
Maruti
Suzuki’s
big
showcase
of
the
year
and
the
nation’s
largest
carmaker
took
the
opportunity
to
show
off
its
SUV-focused
future.

Taking
its
place
alongside
the
EVX
concept
and
the
new
5-door
Jimny
was
a
new
crossover
SUV
based
on
the
Baleno.
Dubbed
the ‘Baleno
Cross’ by
the
automotive
fraternity,
that
had
been
setting
tongues
wagging
and
forcing
auto
pap
shutter
buttons
on
burst
whenever
it
tried
to
sneak
around
under
camo
cover.

At
Auto
Expo
2023,
the
Baleno-based
crossover
took
to
the
stage
for
the
first
time
with
its
official
Maruti
Suzuki
appointed
name
–
Fronx
(and
yes
we
did
roll
our
eyes
and
wonder
what
the
person
behind
it
was
sniffing).

Maruti
Suzuki
recently
came
calling
ahead
of
the
all-new
Fronx’s
launch
asking
us
if
we
wanted
a
turn
behind
the
wheel
of
its
brand-new ‘SUV’.
We
dutifully
dropped
tools
and
got
into
the
driver’s
seat
of
the
all-new
Fronx.

The
question
we
wanted
the
answers
to
was
if
Maruti
Suzuki
had
finally
got
the
crossover
SUV
right
or
if
we
had
another
jack
of
all
trades
and
master
of
none
on
our
hands.

Here’s
what
we
found
out
after
a
day
on
the
busy
roads
of
Goa
in
the
all-new
Maruti
Suzuki
Fronx…

Maruti
Suzuki
Fronx
Design
&
Features
–
The
Nexa
Kool-Aid
Blend

When
Maruti
Suzuki
first
pulled
the
covers
off
the
Fronx
at
Auto
Expo,
we
were
greeted
by
a
rather
eclectic
mix
of
the
latest
hits
from
the
firm’s
premium
Nexa
department
shaped
into
what
was
quite
obviously
a
crossover
hatchback.

At
the
front,
the
new
Fronx
quite
obviously
takes
inspiration
from
Maruti’s
flagship
Grand
Vitara
SUV.
The
crossover
hatchback
sports
an
upright
front
end
with
a
split
headlamp
design.

The
triple
LED
DRLs
are
connected
to
the
Suzuki
badge
set
into
the
upper
section
of
the
grille
by
chrome
strips.
These
chrome
strips
start
off
the
size
of
the
DRLs
before
suddenly
thinning
out
into
sleek
strips
as
they
join
up
at
the
Suzuki
badge.

Like
the
Grand
Vitara,
the
headlamps
of
the
new
Fronx
crossover
hatchback
are
found
in
their
own
enclosures
on
the
sides
of
the
front
bumper.
Underneath
the
grille
sits
a
sleek,
angular
air
dam
section
with
the
grey,
faux
bash
plate
sitting
further
below.

When
viewed
from
the
side,
the
Fronx”s
Baleno
heritage
shines
through
with
the
section
near
the
C-pillar
a
rather
familiar
site
for
owners
of
Maruti’s
premium
hatchback.
The
C-pillar
also
features
a
black
plastic
insert
which
gives
the
illusion
of
a
floating
roof.

The
rear
section
of
the
Fronx
crossover
hatchback
is
all
new
as
are
the
geometric
precision-cut
16-inch
alloy
wheels.
The
rear
section
of
the
Fronx
sports
a
sharply
raked
windscreen
and
connected
LED
taillights
that
give
the
Fronx
a
rather
distinct
look
when
someone
gazes
at
it
from
the
back.

However,
it
is
when
you
open
the
doors
and
get
inside
the
cabin
of
the
new
Fronx
does
the
new
car’s
Baleno
origins
really
flare
into
life.
The
cabin
of
the
new
Fronx
looks
like
it
has
been
directly
lifted
off
from
the
Baleno,
which
may
put
off
some
buyers.

The
dash
feels
rather
plasticky
and
the
lack
of
soft-touch
materials
seems
like
a
rather
avoidable
miss
from
Maruti.
The
seats
are
rather
comfortable
though
Maruti
could
have
added
an
armrest
at
the
rear
to
give
the
Fronx
a
more
premium
feel.

The
all-new
Fronx’s
cabin
sports
a
dual-tone
theme
with
the
layered
dash
playing
host
to
a
large
9-inch
infotainment
screen
with
support
for
both
Android
Auto
and
Apple
CarPlay.

The
display
also
allows
owners
to
interact
with
the
Suzuki
Connect
suite
of
40+
connected
car
features.
The
output
from
the
360-degree
camera
is
also
transmitted
through
the
central
display.

Other
features
on
the
Fronx
include
a
heads-up
display,
a
wireless
phone
charging
pad
and
paddle
shifters
for
the
automatic
variant.

The
new
Maruti
Suzuki
Nexa
comes
packed
with
safety
tech
as
well
with
the
crossover
hatchback
sporting
up
to
6
airbags,
ABS
with
EBD,
ESP,
Hill-Hold
Assist,
rear
parking
sensors,
the
aforementioned
360-degree
camera,
day/night
IRVM
and
ISOFIX
anchor
points
for
child
seats.

The
all-new
Fronx
is
offered
with
a
choice
of
6
single-tone
colour
options
–
Nexa
Blue,
Arctic
White,
Grandeur
Grey,
Earthen
Brown,
Opulent
Red,
and
Splendid
Silver.
Also
on
offer
are
three
dual-tone
colours
–
Earthen
Brown,
Opulent
Red,
and
Splendid
Silver
with
Bluish-Black
roofs.

Maruti
Suzuki
Fronx
Specs
&
Dimensions
–
The
Return
Of
The
Turbo
Three-Pot

The
Maruti
Suzuki
Fronx
is
offered
with
two
engine
options
–
the
1.2-litre
naturally
aspirated
K12C
engine
and
an
updated
version
of
the
998cc
turbocharged
three-cylinder
engine
that
was
last
seen
on
the
Baleno
RS.
Both
engines
feature
mild-hybrid
tech.

The
1.2-litre
engine
is
lifted
directly
from
the
Baleno
and
produces
88.5bhp
at
6,000rpm
and
113Nm
of
peak
torque
at
4,400rpm.
The
K12C
engine
is
offered
with
5-speed
manual
and
automatic
(AMT)
gearbox
options.

The
three-cylinder
Boosterjet
engine
churns
out
98.7bhp
at
5,500rpm
and
147.6Nm
of
peak
torque
from
2,000
to
4,500rpm.
The
Boosterjet
version
of
the
Fronx
is
offered
with
either
a
5-speed
manual
gearbox
or
a
6-speed
torque
converter
automatic
transmission.

The
Maruti
Suzuki
Fronx
is
3,995mm
long,
1,765mm
wide
and
1,550mm
tall
and
sports
a
2,520mm
long
wheelbase.
The
Fronx
offers
190mm
of
ground
clearance,
a
37-litre
petrol
tank
and
a
308-litre
boot.

The
Fronx
weighs
from
965
to
975kg
for
the
version
equipped
with
the
1.2-litre
engine
while
the
turbocharged
versions
of
the
crossover
hatchback
weigh
between
1,015
and
1,060kg.

Maruti
Suzuki
Fronx
Driving
Impressions
–
Boosted
Twitch

We
got
to
drive
the
new
Fronx
with
the
Booster
Jet
engine
and
the
6-speed
torque
converter
automatic
gearbox.
The
combination
while
good
on
paper
isn’t
a
booster
banger
getting
off
the
line.

The
boosted
three-pot
takes
a
bit
of
time
to
spool
up
but
offers
good
mid-range
and
top-end
grunt.
Once
on
the
move
and
in
boost,
the
turbocharged
engine
is
a
hoot
to
drive
though
it
can
get
a
bit
noisy
at
the
top
end.

The
6-speed
automatic
has
all
the
characteristics
of
an
old-school
torque
converter
as
it
takes
a
bit
of
time
to
wake
up
but
once
going,
shifts
through
the
gears
with
ease.

The
gearbox
is
best
left
in
automatic
mode,
though
if
you
want
to
have
a
bit
of ‘fun’,
changing
gears
with
the
paddle
shifters
will
easily
give
you
the
feels.

If
you
have
a
leaden
right
foot,
the
gearbox
eagerly
shifts
down
two
gears,
which
makes
overtaking
a
dun
endeavour.
However,
if
you
care
more
about
mileage,
that
right
foot
better
remain
as
light
as
possible.

Braking
duties
are
handled
by
disc
brakes
at
the
front
and
drums
at
the
rear.
While
the
brake
pedal
has
a
bit
more
travel
than
we
expected,
the
Fronx
offers
good
initial
bite
progression
when
you
step
on
the
anchors.

The
suspension
setup
of
the
Fronx
is
perhaps
its
best
point.
The
Fronx’s
suspension
setup
is
slightly
on
the
stiffer
side
though
this
doesn’t
really
cause
any
issues
when
going
over
our
bumpy
and
pothole-friendly
roads.

However,
don’t
go
shoving
the
Fronx
into
a
corner
as
while
there
is
a
bit
of
body
roll,
it
is
the
slightly
twitchy
steering
that
really
lets
it
down.

The
steering
is
way
too
light
when
travelling
at
higher
speeds,
which
doesn’t
really
help
with
your
confidence.
However,
considering
most
Fronx
owners
will
find
themselves
stuck
inside
the
city,
the
light
steering
can
also
be
a
blessing
as
we
found
on
the
crowded
and
narrow
streets
of
Goa.

Final
Thoughts
About
The
Maruti
Suzuki
Fronx
–
Almost
A
Mastered
Mashup

The
Maruti
Suzuki
Fronx
takes
the
Baleno
formula
and
raises
it
slightly
more
above
the
ground
to
give
a
pseudo-SUV
combination
that
will
appeal
to
most
buyers.
For
us
though,
the
lack
of
a
sport
mode
and
the
ultra-light
steering
at
high
speeds
were
slightly
off-putting.

However,
Fronx
isn’t
a
jack
of
all
trades.
The
Fronx
does
the
crossover
hatchback
game
rather
well.
If
Maruti
Suzuki
is
as
aggressive
as
they
usually
are
with
the
pricing,
we
expect
the
Fronx
to
start
flying
out
of
showrooms
when
it
finally
hits
the
streets
later
this
month…

Source

oi-Dennis Abraham James

Published: Thursday, March 30, 2023, 12:40 [IST]

The
sedan
segment
has
been
on
the
decline
in
India
for
quite
a
while
now
as
car
buyers
across
the
country
have
shifted
their
focus
onto
the
higher
(slightly)
riding
SUVs
to
ferry
their
families
around.

The
shift
to
SUVs
has
been
so
significant
that
the
arrival
of
a
new
sedan
is
something
that
happens
maybe
once
in
a
blue
moon.
Thankfully,
that
rare
event
recently
happened
when
Hyundai
launched
the
all-new
Verna
in
Delhi
earlier
this
month.

What
emerged
from
under
the
covers
was
the
sixth-generation
Hyundai
Verna,
an
edgy
and
futuristic
car
that
looks
to
remind
the
nation
about
just
how ‘cool’ sedans
really
are.

So
when
the
South
Korean
carmaker
invited
us
to
the
national
capital
to
take
the
2023
Hyundai
Verna
out
for
a
drive,
we
jumped
at
the
opportunity.
So
just
what
did
our
stint
with
the
all-new
Hyundai
Verna
tells
us
about
this
futuristic
fighter
flying
the
flag
for
the
sedan
in
India?
Here
are
our
thoughts…

2023
Hyundai
Verna
Design
&
Features
–
Sharp
Edged
Fighter

One
glance
at
the
2023
Hyundai
Verna
shows
you
just
how
much
the
sedan
has
changed
from
its
previous
iteration.
The
sixth-gen
Verna
has
ditched
the
curves
of
its
predecessor
and
has
instead
adopted
a
sharp
and
edgy
look
that
looks
ready
to
slice
through
its
rivals.

The
2023
Verna
adopts
Hyundai’s
Sensuous
Sportiness
design
language
that
we’ve
seen
in
the
Korean
carmaker’s
SUVs
like
the
Alcazar,
Tucson
and
the
recently
launched
Ioniq
5
EV.
The
transformation
of
the
new
Verna
thanks
to
this
sporty
new
take
on
design
is
as
dramatic
if
not
more
than
what
we
saw
on
Hyundai
SUVs.
The
new
Verna
is
edgy
and
loud
and
looks
like
it
came
from
a
time
a
few
decades
into
the
future.

This
edgy
new
design
is
best
viewed
at
the
front
of
the
sixth-gen
Hyundai
Verna.
Like
its
SUV
siblings,
the
new
Verna
sports
a
split
headlight
design
and
the
front
end
of
the
sedan
is
dominated
by
the
connected
LED
daytime
running
light
strip
that
runs
across
its
width.

The
actual
headlights
and
cornering
lights
are
seen
lower
down
on
the
front
end
of
the
car
and
flank
the
upper
edges
of
the
blacked-out
parametric
grille
that
is
now
a
signature
design
piece
for
new
Hyundai
cars.

Turbo
petrol
variants
feature
a
smaller
horizontal
air
intake
above
the
parametric
grille
and
the
Hyundai
badge
can
be
seen
on
the
bonnet
which
features
a
few
raised
lines
that
increase
the
sporty
nature
of
the
new
Verna.

Switch
over
the
sides
of
the
new
Verna
and
your
eyes
are
drawn
toward
the
fastback-style
roof
of
the
sedan.
The
new
Verna
rides
on
either
15
or
16-inch
wheels
depending
on
the
variant
chosen
which
also
determines
whether
they
are
finished
in
silver
or
black.

Also
seen
are
quite
a
few
Z-shaped
character
lines
which
add
to
the
sporty
nature
of
the
2023
Hyundai
Verna.
There
is
also
quite
a
bit
of
chrome
around
the
windows
which
is
also
seen
on
the
door
handles.

Switch
to
the
rear
of
the
new
Verna
and
the
fastback-style
roof
smoothly
flows
into
the
boot.
The
connected
LED
taillights
feature
an
embedded
Verna
logo
and
look
rather
futuristic.

Above
the
taillights
sits
the
large
Hyundai
logo
while
the
variant
badging
can
be
found
on
the
lower
right
side
of
the
boot
lid.
The
rear
bumper
also
features
a
patterned
segment
that
adds
to
the
premium
look
of
the
2023
Hyundai
Verna.

The
spring-loaded
boot
lid
of
the
Verna
opens
up
to
allow
access
to
a
large
528-litre
boot
which
gobbles
up
all
you’ll
need
for
weekend
road
trips
with
ease.

Step
inside
the
new
Hyundai
Verna
and
you’ll
be
greeted
by
a
rather
minimalistic
interior
which
gives
the
new
sedan
a
rather
premium
look.

While
the
Verna
variants
equipped
with
the
naturally
aspirated
engine
get
a
dual-tone
theme,
the
versions
with
the
new
turbo-petrol
engine
feature
a
more
sporty
black
theme
with
a
host
of
red
accents
on
the
dash
and
doors.

The
layered
dash
is
dominated
by
a
pair
of
10.25-inch
displays.
The
one
behind
the
steering
wheel
acts
as
a
display
for
the
instrumentation.
The
other
display
is
a
touchscreen
unit
for
the
infotainment
system
that
supports
both
Android
Auto
and
Apple
Car
Play
and
acts
as
a
hub
for
Hyundai’s
Bluelink
connected
car
features.

The
infotainment
setup
is
connected
to
an
8-unit
Bose
surround
sound
system
(7
speakers
and
a
subwoofer)
which
will
make
bass
heads
around
the
country
bounce
about
in
their
seats
as
their
tunes
drop
the
beat.

Underneath
the
infotainment
display
and
the
vents
below
it
sits
the
controls
for
the
automatic
climate
control
system
that
features
three
different
modes
–
low,
medium
and
high.
There
is
also
another
button
on
this
setup
which
when
pressed
allows
you
to
control
the
functions
of
either
the
climate
control
setup
or
the
infotainment
system,
which
we
found
to
be
a
rather
clever
touch.

The
cabin
itself
is
rather
spacious
and
there
is
more
than
enough
room
for
even
the
taller
personalities
to
sit
quite
comfortably
at
the
rear
which
is
thanks
to
the
new
Verna’s
extended
wheelbase
(70mm
longer
than
its
predecessor).

The
seats
themselves
feature
leatherette
upholstery
and
offer
ample
support.
The
front
seats
are
both
heated
and
ventilated
and
the
powered
driver’s
seat
along
with
the
tilt
and
telescopic
adjustment
for
the
steering
allows
those
in
control
to
find
the
perfect
driving
position
with
ease.

Other
features
on
the
new
Verna
include
a
large,
electrically
operated
panoramic
sunroof,
ambient
lighting
with
64
different
colour
options,
a
cooled
glovebox,
and
leatherette
wraps
for
the
two-spoke
steering
wheel
and
gear
lever.

In
terms
of
safety
features,
the
2023
Hyundai
Verna
comes
packed
with
a
boatload
of
kit
to
keep
those
inside
safe
including
6
airbags,
ABS,
EBD,
VSM,
Traction
Control,
TPMS
and
ISOFIX
along
with
an
array
of
ADAS
features
like
Adaptive
Cruise
Control,
Lane
Keep
Assist,
High-Beam
Assist,
Rear
Cross-Traffic
Alert,
Rear
Cross-Traffic
Collision-Avoidance
Assist
among
others.

2023
Hyundai
Verna
Specs
&
Dimensions
–
A
Larger
Cutting
Edge

The
2023
Hyundai
Verna
is
a
lot
larger
than
its
predecessor.
The
new
Verna
sedan
is
4,535mm
long,
1,765mm
wide
and
1,475mm
tall.
The
wheelbase
of
the
new
Verna
is
2,670mm
long.
The
new
Verna
offers
170m
of
ground
clearance
which
is
more
than
adequate
for
our
roads.

The
new
2023
Verna
is
95mm
longer
and
36mm
wider
than
the
car
it
replaces
and
it
features
a
70mm
longer
wheelbase.

The
new
Hyundai
Verna
is
offered
up
with
two
petrol
engine
options,
both
displacing
1.5
litres
each.
The
naturally
aspirated
engine
is
something
previous
Verna
owners
will
be
very
familiar
with.
The
engine
produces
113bhp
and
144Nm
of
peak
torque
and
comes
paired
with
either
a
6-speed
manual
gearbox
or
Hyundai’s
Intelligent
Variable
Transmission
(automatic).

The
second
engine
option
is
the
newer
1.5-litre
turbocharged
petrol
engine
which
pushes
out
158bhp
and
253Nm
of
peak
torque.
The
engine
is
paired
with
either
a
6-speed
manual
gearbox
or
a
7-speed
DCT
automatic.

As
stated
earlier,
the
new
2023
Verna
rides
on
either
15
or
16-inch
wheels
that
are
shod
with
185/65
R15
and
205/55
R16
tyres
respectively.
The
new
Hyundai
Verna
features
a
McPherson
strut
with
a
coil
spring
setup
at
the
front
while
the
rear
end
features
a
coupled
torsion
beam
axle.

The
new
Verna’s
braking
duties
are
handled
by
discs
at
the
front
and
drums
at
the
rear
except
for
the
top-spec
turbo
DCT
model
which
gets
disc
brakes
all
around.

2023
Hyundai
Verna
Driving
Impressions
–
Soft
Turbo
Scimitar

We
got
behind
the
wheel
of
the
new
Verna
with
the
1.5-litre
turbocharged
engine
that
has
been
recently
seen
on
the
new
Alcazar
SUV.
This
turbocharged
engine,
claims
Hyundai,
is
the
most
powerful
in
its
class.

Under
the
bonnet
of
the
Verna,
the
engine
features
a
tiny
bit
of
lag
but
once
spooled
up
delivers
quite
a
bit
of
mid
and
top-end
grunt
that
propels
you
triple
digits
in
no
time
at
all.

For
the
enthusiasts,
this
engine
is
best
paired
up
with
a
6-speed
manual
gearbox
which
features
short
throws
and
paired
with
a
smooth
and
light
clutch
is
quite
easy
to
use
even
in
stop-and-go
traffic.

For
those
looking
for
a
good
mix
of
comfort
and
fun,
the
DCT
is
the
option
to
go
for.
The
7-speed
dual-clutch
box
is
a
slick
shifter
and
will
easily
go
down
a
few
gears
in
quick
succession
if
you
get
a
bit
heavy
with
your
right
foot.
And
it
also
allows
you
to
shift
through
the
gears
manually
with
the
steering-mounted
paddle
shifters.

The
new
Verna
comes
with
three
driving
modes
–
Eco,
Normal
and
Sport.
A
button
next
to
the
gearstick
allows
you
to
switch
between
the
three
options.

Eco
is
best
left
for
the
hypermilers
willing
to
put
up
with
a
slightly
lazy
throttle
response
while
Sport
is
for
those
who
prefer
to
sprint
to
wherever
they
want
to
go
and
don’t
care
about
the
fuel
bills.
For
the
City,
we
would
recommend ‘Normal’ as
it
allows
for
a
good
mix
of
both
extremes.

The
steering
of
the
Verna
is
properly
weighted
–
neither
too
light
nor
too
heavy
–
and
responds
quickly
to
your
inputs.
Switching
lanes
is
effortless
and
the
blind
spot
monitoring
system
keeps
an
eye
out
for
any
lurkers
hiding
behind.

However,
don’t
go
chasing
corners
with
the
Verna
as
the
soft
suspension
setup
means
that
you
experience
quite
a
bit
of
body
roll
when
you
push
it
around
a
bend.

While
the
softer
setup
is
good
for
traversing
over
the
bumps
and
ruts
(which
the
Verna
does
without
much
fuss),
a
slightly
stiffer
setup
would
have
made
the
new
sedan
a
better
all-rounder.
Oh
well,
we
can
always
wait
for
the
N-Line
for
a
bit
more
fun.

Final
Thoughts
On
The
2023
Hyundai
Verna
–
Not
For
the
SUV
Sheeple

The
2023
Hyundai
Verna
looks
like
it
dropped
off
from
the
future
to
give
the
sedan
the
kick
up
the
rear
end
it
needs
to
combat
the
menace
of
the
SUVs.
As
an
overall
package,
the
sixth-gen
Hyundai
Verna
ticks
off
all
the
boxes,
though
enthusiastic
drivers
will
have
to
wait
for
a
future
N-Line
(please
do
it,
Hyundai)
version.

So
if
the
SUV
is
not
your
cup
of
tea
and
you
want
something
that
will
make
heads
turn
wherever
you
go,
the
2023
Hyundai
Verna
with
its
starting
price
of
Rs
10.99
lakh
(ex-showroom),
may
just
be
what
the
doctor
ordered
for
you.

Source