New Hyundai Verna Automatic VGT SX diesel

Hyundai announced a bunch of new variants and six new colours for its sedan the Hyundai Verna.

Photo: Hyundai Verna new variants launched in India

The interesting new variant among the four is the new Verna Automatic. Automatic transmission cars are still a rarity in India at the lower end of the sedan segment. The recently launched all-new Honda City offers an automatic transmission in its top end version. Hyundai’s automatic Verna VGT SX is the first diesel automatic car in this segment.

If there is a slight dampener, it is the fact that the Hyundai Verna’s automatic box features a four-speed, not a five speed transmission.

Automatic transmission has rarely made an appearance in India. While owners of automatic transmission cars have loved them, their slightly higher prices and slightly lower fuel economy has kept cost-conscious buyers away.

However, as the market has matured, there has been a renewed interest in automatic transmission cars among customers in crowded cities. Automatic cars make driving less of a chore in stop-and-go traffic, and owners of automatic transmission cars have always been evangelists for the same. recently Mahindra also launched an automatic version of the Scorpio which has been well-received.

Probably Hyundai feels that the market is now ready for automatic transmission cars, and hence the Verna VGT SX.

The Hyundai Verna VGT SX is powered by a 1500 cc diesel engine with a power output of 110 bhp at 4000 rpm, and a maximum torque of 24 kgm at 1900-2750 rpm.

Diesel engines are normally torquier than petrol engines, and combined with an automatic transmission, there is potential for the Verna automatic to be extremely smooth. However, how the car actually performs on the road, we would have to wait for the road tests to come in.

Other changes for the new automatic Verna, as well as for the other variants introduced, are slightly different styling than the earlier versions, electric outside rear view mirrors, a bit of chrome garnish here and there, better fabric in the interior, and a new upgraded 2 DIN 4-speaker, 2-tweeter music system.

Hyundai new Verna models and prices

Model    Ex-Showroom Prices (Rs.)
Hyundai Verna 1.6 VTVT    637700
Hyundai Verna 1.6 SX VTVT    712500
Hyundai Verna 1.5 CRDi VGT    752200
Hyundai Verna 1.5 SX CRDi VGT    802100
Hyundai Verna 1.5 SX CRDi VGT AT    865350

All prices ex-showroom Delhi.