Comparison: Hyundai Verna vs Volkswagen Virtus

Sedans are almost on the verge of extinction throughout the world, thanks to SUVs and their dominance over the market. More and more buyers prefer these high-riders instead of a good old low-riding sedan for various reasons. India is also a prominent market where SUVs have risen to fame and is currently the most favoured body style. Despite this, a handful of carmakers are still offering sedans in India, but these might as well be our last chance to buy a new sedan that doesn’t cost more than 40 lakh. 

One such car is the Volkswagen Virtus, a stylish sedan that has created quite some hype and interest among buyers, even hardcore SUV fanatics. The Virtus packs a choice of powerful engines, looks smashing, and is by far the most dedicated attempt to save the sedan body style. It is delivering good numbers for Volkswagen and is a hard car to ignore if you’re looking for a sedan. However, with the Virtus gaining popularity, Hyundai has launched the latest iteration of its popular sedan, the Verna. The 2023 Verna is nothing like its predecessors or the Volkswagen Virtus. It is a radically styled sedan that is packed to the brim with class-leading features. This is where a Hyundai Verna vs Volkswagen Virtus comparison becomes necessary to see which one comes out ahead on top when we pitch them on paper.

 Let’s find out which of these sedans brings the most to the table and is the best sedan to buy today:  

Hyundai Verna vs Volkswagen Virtus: Dimensions

When we compare both sedans with respect to overall dimensions, the Volkswagen Virtus is the longest car here at 4561mm and it also sits the highest at 1507mm. But that’s about it. In every other parameter, be it width, ground clearance, or wheelbase, the Hyundai Verna takes the top spot here in this comparison. Moreover, the 2023 Verna also offers the most boot space at 528 litres and since it has a longer wheelbase, it will also offer better rear seat space here. So, looking at the big picture, when it comes to dimensions, the Hyundai Verna is the clear winner in this comparison. 

Hyundai Verna vs Volkswagen Virtus: Engine & Transmission

Both these sedans are closely matched when it comes to the engine and transmission options. Both Hyundai and Volkswagen used to offer some of the best diesel engines in India but since the BS6 norms kicked in, both carmakers have pulled the plug on their diesels. So the Virtus and the Verna are only offered with petrol engines. The 2023 Verna comes with a 1.5-litre petrol engine, in both naturally aspirated and turbocharged guise. Meanwhile, the Volkswagen Virtus deploys a 1.0-litre turbo petrol and 1.5-litre turbo petrol. 

In terms of output, the Virtus develops 115PS/150PS and 178 Nm/250 Nm from both engines while the Verna produces 115PS/160PS and 144 Nm/253 Nm. The figures are close but the Verna offers the most power (160bhp) from its 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine. Moving on to the gearbox option, both sedans offer a dual-clutch automatic as well as a conventional manual. The Virtus also offers a 6-speed automatic along with its 1.0-litre version while the Verna offers the choice of a CVT. As for the fuel economy, Verna takes the lead here but the margin is not at all substantial enough to influence the decision. 

Since both these sedans are closer than we imagined, it comes down to a test drive to pick the right sedan based on how it delivers these numbers on the road and in real conditions. 

Hyundai Verna vs Volkswagen Virtus: Features & Comfort

On paper, it does look like the 2023 Verna and the Virtus are equal. But looking at the full features list reveals that the Hyundai edges ahead by offering some nifty features that are also segment-first. The Volkswagen Virtus is a well-loaded sedan with all the essential features such as a sunroof, digital driver display, 10-inch touchscreen, ventilated seats, TPMS, digital driver display, etc. But the Verna takes the lead here by offering kit like heated and ventilated seats, connected car features, an 8-speaker Bose sound system, 64-color ambient lighting, etc. It is safe to say that the 2023 Hyundai Verna is the car to buy if you want the most feature-loaded sedan in this segment.

Hyundai Verna vs Volkswagen Virtus: Safety Features

The Hyundai Verna is yet to be tested for crashworthiness. But Volkswagen Virus was recently crash tested by GNCAP and well, it scored a full 5 stars for safety making it inch ahead in this comparison. However, they have both covered all the bases by offering essential safety features including 6 airbags. The 2023 Verna offers ADAS features such as forward-collision warning, blind-spot alert, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise control – all of these are missing from the Volkswagen Virtus. The Verna and the Virtus are identical in terms of safety features and it is the ADAS that separates both these sedans in terms of features.

Hyundai Verna vs Volkswagen Virtus: Price Comparison

The 2023 Hyundai Verna is priced from Rs 10.90 lakh to Rs 17.38 lakh while the Volkswagen Virtus is priced from Rs 11.32 lakh to Rs 18.57 lakh. Just by looking at the starting and ending price, it is clear that Hyundai has priced the 2023 Verna aggressively undercutting all its rivals and the Volkswagen Virtus. It is almost Rs 1 lakh cheaper when you look at the pricing of the range-topping variants. The same can also be said for most variants and despite the variant of choice, the Verna is the more affordable sedan here without any doubt.

But, please note that these are introductory launch prices for the Hyundai Verna. This pricing was revealed at the launch that happened recently, and it is a common strategy used by most manufacturers to attract the maximum number of buyers in the initial launch phase.

Summary

The Volkswagen Virtus is a handsome sedan that has a lot going for it. It offers punchy engine options and good ride and handling balance making it a fun-to-drive car. The Virtus is the safest car here, and also offers the most modern features, missing out on only a rare few features which are not deal-breakers. In an ideal scenario, the Volkswagen is the perfect sedan and the right car to rekindle our love for sedans and a stark reminder of why we love them. 

But for 2023, Hyundai has brought in a solid sedan that does everything the Virtus does while being more affordable. Furthermore, the Verna offers more equipment, and despite all this, it undercuts the Volkswagen Virtus when it comes to pricing. Clearly, at this point, it is hard to not recommend the 2023 Hyundai Verna over the Volkswagen Virtus.