Upon its launch, the 2015 Verna will be made available in two petrol ( 1.4-litre & 1.6-litre) and two diesel ( 1.4-litre & 1.6-litre) options, and I will have you know that the 1.6-litre diesel unit is the most impressive of the lot. Despite being a diesel engine, it doesn't give you the clatter of a typical oil burner, and there is barely any noise in the cabin at almost all speeds - which, by the way, doesn't hold true for the Honda City. The engine has notable turbo lag up to 1, 800rpm, but it comes alive once you cross the 2, 000rpm mark. The car pulls really well after that, thanks to the 260Nm of peak torque, which is available from as low as 1, 900rpm. Just like the old model, the mid-range of this engine is quite punchy and overtaking is fun. Compared to the Honda City diesel, which runs out of breath after 140Km/h, the Verna 1.6 diesel feels so alive.
