From the side, you wouldn’t be able to tell that this Verna is any different from its precursor; which isn’t a criticism, because why change something that looks that good? The only discernible difference is the headlamps which stretch so far back across the face of the car that you can see them even when standing lengthways to it. The changes crop up again when it comes to the posterior of the car. The alterations here are a lot more subtle. The tail-lamps have been freshened up to match the wrap-around styling of the headlamps, the bumper has been underlined in black, and the reflectors have been made a lot beefier to add to the car’s edginess. If you’re looking for those signature twin exhausts, you’re in for a disappointment, because Hyundai have gone for a concealed exhaust set-up.
If you’ve travelled extensively in the original Fluidic, the inside of the 4S will seem mighty familiar. Again Hyundai have stuck to the if-it-ain’t-broke-don’t-fix-it philosophy, and the interior stays as premium as ever. This means that the two-tone dash, that high level of fit-and-finish and those swanky leather seats are all maintained. As are the seats, this results in front seats that lack in the thigh support department, a problem that doesn’t transfer to the rear seats, though. The front passenger seat now features an ‘Ergo lever’, allowing the passenger sitting in the rear to adjust the front seat for optimal leg-room without going to any trouble. The driver’s seat now comes with a height adjuster too, which is always a pro for people who are a little too gangly for the standard fare of C-segment car. Hyundai have chosen to provide a fixed rear headrest in this version of the Verna, as opposed to the adjustable one in its previous iteration, which is regretful.
Gadgetry has ever been the hallmark of Hyundai cars, and the Verna sticks to its guns in terms of an audio set-up with Bluetooth, USB, and auxiliary connectivity, six speakers, steering-mounted controls, and a cooled glove-box, etc. Curiously, however, there is no rear a-c vent in this new Verna – a feature very much present in the newest of the smaller Hyundais. Safety-wise, Hyundai have taken the very welcome step of making ABS standard across the board, and retained the six-airbag set-up for the top-end variant. The Korean auto-makers have also introduced a new feature – impact-sensing auto door unlock, making it easier to exit the vehicle in the event of a crash and potentially prevent the lock from jamming up.
