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When launched in August last year, the Hyundai Verna was met with a keen enthusiasm from the market. It was a much-needed upgrade to the mid-sized saloon, and Hyundai had clearly done a good job. A proof of that is the rather impressive sales performance — of over 25,800 units in India and over 11,800 units abroad, at the time of publishing. But it’s not just that, the car has also won 25 awards from various publications including Motoring World’s Car of the Year 2018 and Indian Car of the Year 2018.

The car is currently available in a variety of engine choices: a 1.4-litre petrol, 1.6-litre petrol, and a 1.6-litre diesel. Both 1.6-litre units can be specified with either a manual or a conventional-AT gearbox. The new platform makes the Verna much more enjoyable to drive than before, and it manages to hide its size well on the move. The long list of features — some optional — includes six airbags, sunroof, ventilated seats, touchscreen audio system, projector headlamps, dual-tone interior, gesture-controlled boot lid, etc. And if you ask me, it also has the best pedal placement if you’re a fan of heel and toeing. That with a responsive engine and improved body control make the Verna quite a fun-to-drive car. Prices start at Rs 7.8 lakh onwards for the petrol version, and Rs 9.5 lakh onwards for the diesel. Both are ex-showroom.

HMIL’s MD and CEO, Y K Koo said, “The Next Gen Verna is a game changer product and highlights Hyundai’s achievements in developing cutting-edge technology that encompasses exceptional engineering and design. We are honoured as the Verna has won 25 awards from eminent media houses including the Indian Car of the Year (ICOTY 2018). We thank our customers and channel partners for the Verna’s success in India and world markets. Winning prestigious awards are testament to our commitment to continuously bring in world-class products with innovation and futuristic technology to Indian market.”

Read more about the Hyundai Verna in our review by clicking here.