Hyundai Santro Xing

The Santro has come a long way in its ten-year lifespan. Hyundai has updated the Santro from time to time to keep it alive in the small-car segment. It was this very car that sparked off the ‘tall-boy’ design which went on to be quite a hit! The Santro underwent major plastic surgery in 2003 and now looks more European. It is more toothsome and will at least not offend anyone, if not please them. Fit and finish has always been of a high order but the Santro’s build quality does feel harsh. The rear of this Korean hatch is easy on the eyes and the tail lamps are youthful.

The interiors have been revised regularly. I still recall the car I drove in 1998 (the first lot of Santros). I disliked the pedal placement and where ever you looked, the cabin was grey, grey and then grey some more! Ten years on, things have changed for the better. The plastics seem to be of high quality, and although not ergonomically perfect, the dash layout is simple to comprehend and everything is within easy reach.  The tall-boy design means getting in and out of the car is a doddle and the high seating renders good visibility overall. The spacious cabin also allows for ample leg- and head-room and there’s enough space for four adults. The Santro is as well equipped as its rivals and the cubbyholes boost the practicality factor by a fair quotient. Seats offer modest comfort level but the rear is too upright and irritatingly bouncy over even slightly broken tarmac. Oh, and the throttle pedal is as irritatingly placed as ever!

The 1.1-litre, 64bhp engine is refined and obedient. It will do regular errands with ease but will dislike if you bury the pedal in the carpet. The gearshift is precise and pretty slick and even when stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic, working the gears is not an annoying job. There’s an automatic as well which further boosts ease of driving. The fuel efficiency is surprisingly not all that good and the Santro manages 11kpl in city and 16kpl on the highway. Handling is spot on when puttering around in the city which is enhanced by light and precise steering but on the highway the story takes on a horrifying nature. It dislikes going around bends and there’s quite a lot of body-roll which can make your hair stand on end, in fear. The ride quality is choppy at the rear and the Santro cannot hold a candle to cars like Palio and Indica.

Coming from the Hyundai stable, you cannot go wrong with the Santro. It has been one of the highest-selling cars in the country, and with good reason. It is a refined, reliable and efficient city-runabout which will take care of most of your needs. Though not really powerful, the Santro’s 1.1-litre motor is good enough to take care of city runs. The Santro is a practical, good value hatchback which is light on the pocket.