I bought my Verna CRDI SX, on the 2nd of July 2007. I wanted to drive the car around for a couple of thousand kilometers before sharing my experiences. This is why it took me so long to write my review.
The initial facts which prompted me to be a proud owner of such a fantastic car are :
The exhuberant acceleration, which unless told is difficult to judge whether you are driving a world class Diesel or Petrol version.
The chilling Air-Conditioner, with an Automatic Climate Control.
The mileage, keeping into consideration the ever increasing cost of petrol. My car delievers 14+ average on the congested Delhi roads and 18+ on the highways.
The road grip, when driving at high speeds of 120 km/h+, there is a sense of stability.
And of course, the vast network of service centres of Hyundai, and the cost effective spares.
I was driving the Ford Ikon 1.6 ZXI, when I finalized on the Verna CRDI. The Ford required frequent repairs and the parts were made on the moon, making them far too expensive. The mileage too, was very poor at 7-8 km/litre in the city. The service back-up was also very poor.
I had test driven the Honda City GXI, the Ford Fiesta, and the Maruti SX4, all contenders for the ownership of my new car. The Honda lost on the car’s power , just 78 bhp and the road grip. The car didn’t feel sturdy. The Ford didn’t appeal, probably due to the fact of my previous ownership of the car of the same company. I guess this was a case of " once bitten twice shy". The SX4 was ready to offer everything, usually available on a lower D segment car. The engine of the SX4 lags significantly when the air-con is operated. The car also gives an SUV feel. And of course, as with all Maruti cars, significance is never given to the finishing and long lasting of the dashboard and its components.
In comparison, the Verna CRDI SX, with beige interiors and plain vanilla looks wins hands down. The engine is very responsive with very less noise. I am satisfied with the extenal looks. The headlights could have been brighter. For, a cost of 8.8 lacs on road, I think leather upholstery on the seats and a CD changer could have been added. The arm rest on the driver seat is very welcoming and comfortable, especially for the long drives. So, if you drive for work or leisure above 2000km/month, the escalating fuel price pinches you, the extreme power and acceleration adds to your adrenaline rush and you need to travel safe and comfortable, then VERNA CRDI SX with FATC, keyless entry, Kenwood Music System is the car for you.