Mind blowing diesel. Review on Hyundai Verna

Test drove the Verna today. Started with the diesel version.

I visited the Sanjay Hyundai located on the mumbai pune highway. The service was pretty OK. The salesman barely knew anything about the product.

Inquired about the prices -830000 on road fo the diesel version. Decided to test drive one, The looks are nice, with a decent paint quality. Entering the car was a big task for me - not that ergonomic positioning of the seats. The overall appearance of the interiors seemed to be way behind the quality. I was surprised that the diesel version had a lot of options cut down with respect to the petrol version , a major turndown. I was surprised to see that ABS and airbags and the climate control are not a standard feature !! . Here is the list of the items that are omitted from the petrol version.

Alloy Wheels

Wood grain interiors

Illuminated Glove Box

Vanity Mirror with cover - Driver Side

Seat back pockets

Seat Back Hook

Leather Wrapped Steering Wheel

Leather Wrapped Gear Shift Knob

Adjustable Rear Headrest - 3 nos

Front seat Center Armrest

Dual height Adjustable Driver Seat

Luggage Net

Automatic Climate Control

Electrically Adjustable Rear View Mirror

Front map lamps with Sun glass holder

Height Adjustable Front Seat Belts

2 DIN Music system with MP3

4 Speakers

Front Tweeters

Key less entry with theft deterrent system

RR Disc brakes

ABS - Optional

The drive --- The engine is very slient and one of the BEST I have ever driven, if anything that makes me go ahead and buy the vehicle is the engine, rest is all a compromise. The vehicle is pretty smooth and drives well on the 1st and 2nd gears at about 1800 rpm, cross the 2000 rpm and the HELL breaks LOOSE, the 110 horses are in action. you zoom past the 100 kmph mark in just as little as 11 seconds. The brakes are very effective. The steering is pretty loose,made me nervous for the high speed drive. AC is effective and so is the visibiliy.

Over all a nice engine --WITHOUT all the goodies mentioned above. I have thought about a 100 times is it WORTH to spend 8.3 lakhs for the (non abs) version, my answer is NO. Wait till mid 2007 , ford is launching their diesl version with a 112 bhp. Prices will be matched, and so will thefeatures.

Got down, and went ahead to drive teh petrol version, Interiors are nice, but still you keep thinking -- why are the hyundaians a step behind the hondas in interiors.

Started the machine, revved it hard, it had no punch as the diesel ,and felt thirsty for more power. My mind was still reeling under the diesel power I had experienced. The drive was pretty nice, with the suspension well tuned for the indian "roads" , I did not feel the potholes disturb my drive. The gearbox was little notchy , I decided to stretch teh muscles of teh 103 horses, the pick was good for teh petrol version , the vehicle I drove began to misfire after 2600 rpm, I was surprised to see this happening with a new car :( . AC was effective , did not feel te loss of power as I turned it on. The petrol version has 185 mm tires ..10 mm more than teh diesel , this gave it a much needed luxurious drive. The drive ended with a feeling which I can say ---

Nothing special in comparison with the other cars was seen in the Verna.

Here is the update ,

I purchased my Verna CRDi with ABS from Kothari Hyundai 849000 on road, got only the floor mattings FREE !!! As I mentioned earlier the engine was a bomb. One of the most refined diesel engines every driven. Drove around 600 kms, got a mileage of 18 kmpl. The engine is still running-in , I am expecting a increase of 1 kmpl in mileage after 2000 kms.

I tried calling the HYUNDAI support by email to get a arm rest fitted , but no response from them. After all they have sold the vehicle. Now "WHO CARES" is the attitude !!! Anyways .. that is the kind of response you will get from any of the dealers. So not a big deal. But I am having a nice time driving the car!!

I have fitted in a cd player pioneer 5850,leather seat covers, autocop and got the teflon coating done , afterwards.

Regards

Dhananjay

9922542828