Hyundai Verna Turbo vs VW Virtus GT: Battle Of The Performance Sedans!

In the latest edition of Zig performance report, we lineup the new Hyundai Verna Turbo and the Volkswagen Virtus GT. Both get fast and punchy 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engines and can plaster a smile on your face when behind the wheel. And in this report, we head out to find out which one is quicker to 100kmph and sips the least amount of fuel. 

So if you’re an enthusiast looking to buy a punch turbo-petrol sedan, this report is for you. Let’s get cracking. 

Spec Check 

On paper, it’s the Hyundai Verna that has the better specs, beating the Virtus with 10 extra horses and 3Nm additional torque. And while both models get a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic, the Verna also offers you a choice of a six-speed manual transmission. That said, Volkswagen has showcased the Virtus GT with a stick shift that’s set to be launched in June. 

But to keep things fair, we lineup the automatic variants of both models. Which one is quicker? Let’s find out:

Acceleration Test 

It’s light out and away we go! Both launch carefully off the line to persevere the dual clutch transmissions but it's the Verna that manages to inch ahead of Virtus. So making the most of the 10 extra horses, the Verna beats the Virtus by just over half a second as illustrated in the table below:

That said, it’s in-gear acceleration that matters in the real world. And with the Virtus’ slightly faster shifting DSG, the VW sedan managed to put in a better time, but once again, by the slightest of margin. Do note that in the real-world, you won’t be lacking for power with either of these cars. 

Also Check Out: Watch: Activating Certain Features In 2023 Hyundai Verna Using Hinglish Voice Commands

Fuel Efficiency Test 

Let’s be honest. Turbo-petrol engines are thirsty, especially when you drive them hard. However, the Volkswagen Virtus has a tech trick that helps it to deliver better fuel efficiency. It gets cylinder deactivation tech, shutting off half its cylinders while driving part throttle to deliver better fuel efficiency. 

Sadly that tech isn’t in the favour of the Virtus and in fact without it, the Virtus would have been even less fuel efficient. The Verna still manages to beat the Virtus, both in the city and highway. That said, it was a very close fight in terms of highway fuel efficiency as both models posted near identical figures. 

Price And Verdict 

In the confines of this test, it’s the Hyundai Verna that delivers better performance and fuel efficiency and wins this test. Do note that regardless of the car you pick, both the sedans offer a fun driving experience and you won’t be going wrong with either of them. We’ll be putting both the models through a detailed real-world comparison test, so stay tuned.