Once the car that was synonymous with the brand , the Santro nameplate makes a comeback on the new entry hatch from Hyundai, with many new features and upgrades.

HYUNDAI SANTRO 2019 BACK IN AN ALL NEW AVATAR

Hyundai has brought in the Santro in an all-new avatar, with many mechanical and highlighting changes. It is also very upmarket now and comes with features that are usually found in cars a segment above.

The new Hyundai Santro is a bit shorter than the older car, but it is wider now. It continues to have a tall-boy stance but honestly, looks a bit peculiar especially from the front. The rear of the Santro is relatively better looking while the side profile has a pleasant design. The headlamps look like the units that were found on the old i10 while the grille is just too big. The fog lamps have been positioned just below the headlamps. The rear bumper comes with a black applique which hides some bulk and keeps the rear design away from monotony. The vehicle doesn’t get alloy wheels on any variant, instead it comes with 14-inch steel rims.

Talking about the power and performance, the 2019 Hyundai Santro is offered with a 1.1-liter Epsilon engine. The engine is a 4-cylinder petrol unit producing 69 PS and 99 Nm. What’s immediately noticeable is how while driving, it remains fairly silent for most part and gets vocal only at higher RPMs. For a blend of city and highway driving, this engine is very good and offers nice drivability. As per the company, the mileage of 2019 Hyundai Santro delivers 15-18 kmpl in real world conditions. 

Going into the interiors, the dashboard gets a very nice design which is very well laid out and user friendly. There’s a dual tone colour theme with black and beige colors. The regular black/beige theme interiors get champagne gold accents which also lend a premium appeal. The steering wheel is good to hold but the Hyundai logo on the wheel is blacked out and there’s no chrome badging. The instrument cluster is also simple and convenient to use. Furthermore, you will see when entering the cabin is the 7-inch infotainment system with a touchscreen that gets features like FM, Voice Commands, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Bluetooth connectivity. However, it misses out on navigation. The sound quality from the speakers is quite good and most customers won’t really feel the need for an upgrade. The Santro comes with manual AC, with rear AC vents and cooling performance is brilliant. It also comes with a reverse camera which adds convenience, even though the car is quite small and without the need for a camera. The power window switches are positioned below the gear lever and while the positioning is still fine, the sad part is that the switches aren’t backlit hence you may have some trouble using them in the dark. Overall, I feel the vehicle is equipped with the standard gadgets and technology inside.

The driving position is set high, with no height adjustment for the driver’s seat. In fact, even the steering wheel doesn’t get tilt adjust. Nevertheless, the seating position is good for this car because the large glass area enables excellent outward visibility. The front seats are good on comfort, they offer good support too. Same is the case with the rear seat which is high on comfort. However, the backrest angle at the rear is slightly more reclined than what you’d normally expect. 

The rear door opens up to disclose the boot which is not large but limited. However, it has been shaped nicely and that helps keep bags easily. Other features you will notice inside include are that all 4 doors come with large bottle holders along with space to keep small things. The centre console also houses a storage space where you can keep your mobile phone, wallet, etc. The glovebox is medium in size. The Santro doesn’t get a smart key, it gets a regular key with lock/unlock buttons integrated. It doesn’t get a boot unlock button though, so if you want to open the boot you need to pull the lever inside the cabin or insert the key in the boot lid lock because the boot lid doesn’t get a button. With other features including dual front airbags and Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), it is safe to say that the Hyundai has certainly made sure driving this new model is safe.

All in all, the 2019 Hyundai Santro is a very impressive package offering a lot. It may not look the part, but it is very practical and comfortable, offering a lot of features which the customers will like.


Specifications
Engine: 1086cc, 4-Cyl, Petrol
Power: 69 PS @ 5500 RPM (Petrol), 
Torque: 99 Nm @ 4500 RPM, 84 Nm @ 4500 RPM

Transmission: 5-Speed MT/AMT

Fuel Consumption: 15-18 km/l (Petrol), 
Fuel Type: Petrol

Suspension: McPherson Strut (Front), Coupled Torsion Beam (Rear)

Tyre Size: 165/70/14
Brakes: Disc (Front), Drum (Rear), ABS
Safety: 2-Airbags, ABS