Hyundai has launched the updated Verna in India. Though the launch itself was rather unceremonious, the 2026 Verna addresses a lot of complaints that the pre-facelift model accrued. However, Hyundai has missed out on some opportunities for the Verna facelift, and even deleted a few features. Below, we’ve outlined everything the 2026 Hyundai Verna gets right, and the areas where there’s scope for improvement.
Exterior design
Hits
Among the most lambasted aspects of the pre-facelift Verna was its fascia, which featured a full-width LED light bar up top, below which sat the main headlight units and a wide grille.
The Verna facelift sports a fully redesigned front bumper that lends it a mini Sonata look, replete with Y-shaped elements, a hexagonal grille, and larger headlight clusters; the headlights themselves have been upgraded to dual-projector LEDs. Those who are fans of the Sonata’s design will likely take to the updated Verna’s fascia much better.
Other styling tweaks on the 2026 Verna comprise new alloy wheel designs and a revised rear bumper with a silver shroud and a diffuser-like centre section, which looks sportier than that of the prior model. However, the twin-ridge spoiler should be an optional accessory since it interrupts the flow of the Verna’s sleek fastback-like roofline.
Misses
Many have brought up the fact that the front LED light bar has been carried over to the Verna facelift as is. While changing the split-headlight design to a more conventional setup isn’t impossible, it likely required a lot more time and resources, and thereby seemed unfeasible to Hyundai for a mid-lifecycle facelift.
Still, Hyundai could’ve used a slick single-piece light bar instead of retaining the segmented layout. Sequential indicators within the front and rear light bars would’ve made for a cleaner look too, instead of the simplistic halogen units. In fact, the Creta, Alcazar, and even the Venue get sequential indicators. Notably, Hyundai does not offer cornering lights with the 2026 Verna, even though the feature was available in the prior model.
The Hyundai badge up front could’ve also been made smaller or relocated, as the current placement looks a bit off. Like the prior Verna, there’s no N-Line variant on offer, which would go a long way towards making the sedan look sportier.
Interior and features
Hits
Inside, the Verna facelift gets two updates that significantly up the premium feel: a three-spoke flat-bottomed steering wheel and a fully-digital 10.25-inch driver’s display.
While the pre-facelift model did come with a 10.25-inch driver’s display, it was a part-digital unit borrowed from the old Venue and didn’t befit the Verna’s price point. The updated Verna borrows the top-spec Creta’s driver’s display, which looks much nicer and is more detailed.
The prior Verna was equipped with a two-spoke steering wheel that many didn’t find very visually appealing. The Verna facelift’s three-spoke flat-bottomed steering wheel looks sportier and more premium. Instead of the Hyundai emblem, the steering wheel now features the 4-dot Morse symbol for ‘H’.
Depending on the variant, the 2026 Verna’s equipment list is bolstered with a 360-degree camera, a blind-spot monitor, a powered co-driver seat, a memory function for the powered driver seat, a Boss mode, a built-in dashcam, and 7 airbags.
Misses
Hyundai has binned a couple of creature comforts for the Verna facelift, most notably heated front seats. The pre-facelift Verna was the only mass-market car that offered heated seats, which are very useful if you live in colder regions. Now, the only Hyundai car currently available in India that gets heated seats is the Ioniq 5, which costs north of Rs 46 lakh.
The other big omission is the cabin air purifier, an especially important feature in this era of skyrocketing AQIs. Hyundai removing the heated front seats is somewhat understandable, but the cabin air purifier should’ve been retained for the 2026 Verna.
Price and variants
Hits
The 2026 Verna gets a rejigged variant line-up and simplified nomenclature, with the trim levels now designated HX2, HX4, HX6, HX6+, HX8, and HX10. Moreover, pricing for the entry-level trims isn’t all that high compared to those of the pre-facelift Verna.
Misses
Prices for the petrol-CVT variants of the 2026 Verna start at Rs 14.4 lakh, which is Rs 1.25 lakh more expensive than the outgoing model. The top-spec Verna HX10 Petrol CVT costs Rs 17.15 lakh – an increase of Rs 1.32 lakh.
The turbo-petrol line-up of the Verna facelift has also been truncated from five variants to just three. It doesn’t end there, though, as the price of the Verna turbo-petrol now starts at Rs 16.28 lakh – a Rs 1.76 lakh hike over the pre-facelift Verna – and tops off at Rs 18.25 lakh, which is Rs 1.27 lakh pricier. If you’re looking to buy the turbo-petrol DCT, its starting price has shot up by a whopping Rs 2.88 lakh.
2026 Hyundai Verna price list (in Rs, lakh) | ||||
| Variant | Petrol MT | Petrol CVT | Turbo-petrol MT | Turbo-petrol DCT |
| HX2 | 10.98 | – | – | – |
| HX4 | 12.25 | – | – | – |
| HX6 | 13.19 | 14.40 | – | – |
| HX6+ | 13.81 | 15.02 | – | – |
| HX8 | 14.88 | 16.09 | 16.28 | 17.62 |
| HX10 | – | 17.15 | – | 18.25 |
Moreover, Hyundai now offers only one turbo-petrol MT variant of the Verna, and it’s the one-below-top HX8 trim. Therefore, buyers will be locked out of features like a centre-side airbag, 360-degree camera, powered co-driver seat, Boss mode, and 10.25-inch fully-digital driver’s display. The same holds true for the NA petrol MT version of the updated Verna.
Overall, the 2026 Verna incorporates several great changes and feature additions, and remains one of the most feature-packed and refined midsize sedans on sale. Hopefully, Hyundai will expand the Verna’s turbo-petrol line-up to make the enthusiast-focused powertrain more affordable.
All prices are ex-showroom, India.
