Hyundai Verna and Volkswagen Virtus have strong 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engines, but which of them is quicker? We find out.
The Hyundai Verna and Volkswagen Virtus compete in the midsize sedan segment. Since both have potent turbo-petrol engines and a quick-shifting dual-clutch transmissions, we put them head-to-head to discover which one offers better performance in the real world.
- Virtus’ 1.5-litre turbo-petrol unit makes 150hp and 250Nm
- Verna’s turbocharged engine generates 160hp and 253Nm
- Virtus is 21kg heavier than Verna, which weighs 1,248kg
Hyundai Verna vs Volkswagen Virtus specifications
| Hyundai Verna vs Volkswagen Virtus specs | ||
|---|---|---|
| Virtus | Verna | |
| Engine | 1.5-litre turbo petrol | 1.5-litre turbo petrol |
| Power (hp) | 150 | 160 |
| Torque (Nm) | 250 | 253 |
| Transmission | 7-speed DSG | 7-speed DCT |
| Kerb weight (kg) | 1,269 | 1,248 |
| Power-to-weight | 118.2hp per tonne | 128.2hp per tonne |
| Torque-to-weight | 197Nm per tonne | 202Nm per tonne |
Under the hood, the Verna gets a 160hp, 253Nm 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. The Virtus also has a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox but is down in output by 10hp and 3Nm.
Verna is lighter than Virtus
Besides being more powerful, the 1,248kg Verna is also 21kg lighter than the Virtus, giving it higher power-to-weight and torque-to-weight ratios. Now, let’s see how quick they are in reaching the 100kph mark from a standstill.
Hyundai Verna vs Volkswagen Virtus 0-100kph times
| Hyundai Verna vs Volkswagen Virtus 0-100kph acceleration (seconds) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Speed (kph) | Verna | Virtus |
| 20 | 1.74 | 1.65 |
| 40 | 3.10 | 2.96 |
| 60 | 4.66 | 4.76 |
| 80 | 6.51 | 7.05 |
| 100 | 8.82 | 9.68 |
| 120 | 11.79 | 13.32 |
Off the line and till the 40kph mark, the Virtus held a slight lead of up to 0.14 seconds. By the time these cars attained 60kph, the Verna managed to overtake its rival and kept expanding its lead all the way up to 120kph. It achieved the 0-100kph sprint 0.86 seconds faster than the Volkswagen sedan and was 1.53 seconds quicker in reaching the 120kph mark.
Hyundai Verna vs Volkswagen Virtus in-gear acceleration
| Hyundai Verna vs Volkswagen Virtus in-gear acceleration | ||
|---|---|---|
| Speed (kph) | Verna | Virtus |
| 20-80 | 5.14 | 5.95 |
| 40-100 | 6.30 | 6.30 |
In our in-gear acceleration test, the Hyundai sedan completed the 20-80kph (third gear) run in 5.14 seconds, while the Virtus took slightly more at 5.95 seconds. Interestingly, the 40-100kph (fifth gear) time of 6.3 seconds was the same for both.
Autocar India’s testing standards
Before we conduct our performance tests, we check and maintain tyre pressures based on the manufacturer’s recommendation and ensure the car has a full tank of fuel. The car is then tested in a controlled environment with two people on board, and the data is collected via highly accurate GPS-based timing equipment.
Prices
With the 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine, the Volkswagen Virtus price range starts at Rs 17.60 lakh and goes up to Rs 19.40 lakh. The Hyundai Verna turbo-petrol variants cost between Rs 15 lakh and Rs 17.55 lakh.
ALL PRICES ARE EX-SHOWROOM, MUMBAI
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