Is that the new Santro?", inquired a gentleman at a traffic signal. You could see from his eyes that he was mighty impressed with what Hyundai has done with the new-gen offering. He insisted on seeing the car in detail and made me pull over. As soon as he got inside the car, it is the space and the features that impressed him. "Abhi kaafi modern lagta hai" (It feels more modern now).

 

 

 

 

My previous long-termer was the Hyundai Xcent and I was extremely happy with its stress-free ownership. Obviously, my expectations from the new-gen Santro are similar. We have the Sportz trim which is the top-spec AMT variant priced at Rs 5.46 lakh, ex-Mumbai. Compared to the Asta variant, this one misses out on passenger airbag and rear parking sensors with camera. However, the Asta variant, which is Rs 18,000 more expensive, can be opted with a manual transmission only.

 

 

 

 

Among the things that I have liked is the Diana Green shade that makes the Santro look more funky and modern with connectivity options such as CarPlay, Android Auto and Mirror Link, premium design of the dash, especially the AC vents and lastly the spacious cabin. Not to forget, the smooth 1.1-litre petrol engine paired with the AMT unit which is an absolute delight in the city. The only bit that I am not convinced about yet is the overall design of the Santro. It brings out mixed feelings, every time I see it. Perhaps, I will get to used to it. Also, I have decided to name it Bugsy. The inspiration is from its headlights and the roof design. Let's see how the Santro performs over the course of a year.

 

Acquired: Dec 2018     
Inducted at: 2,900km
Total mileage: 3,730km
Fuel: 66.4 litres
Economy: 12.5kmpl

Next update:

Can Hyundai's first-ever AMT unit maintain its cool in dense Mumbai traffic?

 

 

Hyundai Santro 2018

Price (Ex-Delhi) 
Starts Rs 3.9 Lakhs

Displacement
1086cc

Transmission
Manual

Max Power(ps)
59

Max Torque(Nm)
84.33

Mileage
-NA-

What do you'll like:

• Excellent quality & refinement. Truly impressive for this class of car
• Smart, practical & well-designed cabin with a chilling air-con & nice audio system
• 4-cylinder goodness in a segment full of 3-cylinders
• AMT with electric actuators is easily the best-in-class; this is the most sorted AMT in India
• Suspension offers a compliant ride & neutral handling
• Features such as the touchscreen head-unit, reversing camera, rear air-con & more
• Hyundai's fuss-free ownership experience & excellent after-sales service

Whatdo  you won't:

• Pricey! Top variants are undeniably expensive
• Quirky front-end styling will polarize opinions
• AMT unavailable in the Asta variant with dual airbags. Also, it’s not as smooth as a regular AT
• Missing equipment – no alloy wheels, a fixed steering position & useless rear headrests!
• Rear seat is better suited to 2 adults rather than 3
• After dealer discounts, the superior Grand i10’s price is too close

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8FHDI8GJIM