Hyundai Santro Facelift: The carmaker has re-launched new look Santra to boost its position in a cut-throat market like India’s for small cars with a feature-rich package delivering top-notch fuel economy.
This bolder and more aggressive appearance also expresses Hyundai’s latest thinking on the new aesthetic direction for the brand – giving the all-new Sonata an instinctive and distinctive look that is aimed at setting it apart from other saloons in the bracket.
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Hyundai Santro Facelift Evolution of design: Plain to Pretty
The most noticeable difference is the brand-new exterior design of the Santro which loses the boxy look of its predecessor in favour of a more modern design theme.
Up front of course there is the dramatic cascade grille flanked by sharper, more angular headlamps with integrated LED daytime running lights – a new feature in a segment which would have sneered at such decorations in the past.
The tall-boy design which gave the original Santro its unique identity is preserved, but with sharper character lines and optional 15-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels lending it a substantial road presence.
Around back are wraparound taillights and a thin chrome strip bridging them, both reminiscent of those on the more expensive Hyundais.
“We have created what we call ‘trickle-down premium’ for the New Santro,” says SangYup Lee, Head of Hyundai Global Design Center.
“Features and design gist previously available only on our higher-end models have been carefully re-imagined for this entry segment vehicle, making it attractive without sacrificing accessibility.”
Packaging and Colours Available in 7 colour options, including 2 new dual tone colours for a sportier look and the all new best-seller at our dealership: Sun rise Red with phantom black roof in pearlescent finish or alll new Diana Green with phantom black roof, the new Stylish Family car in town makes a definite style statement in the mid hatchback segment.
I was prepared for a commoner’s cabin upgrade and then struck some unexpected luxury.
The premium story carries through the interior with a totally new cabin that would be acceptable in vehicles from higher grades. The dashboard’s design leans more toward horizontal with upper surfaces treated in soft-touch materials, while satin chrome accents are used to promote a more luxury feel.
The center console is dominated by an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system that supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto – unimaginable tech at this price point a few short years ago.
It also adds Hyundai’s BlueLink telematics systems for remote systems of various vehicle functions, controlled via a smartphone app.
The top-spec Aura adds more premium goodies in the form of a semi-digital instrument cluster with a 4.2-inch color screen, auto climate control, a wireless charger, rear AC vents and a voice recognition system that understands contextual commands in several Indian languages – items you’ll expect in cars twice the price of the Aura.
“Today the low-budget buyer is more knowledgeable about high-end offerings,” says Tarun Garg, director of sales, marketing and service at Hyundai India.
Our extensive research (before designing the car) has revealed that our customers want a product of legacy which doesn’t compromise on technology and premiumness and the ‘new Santro’ is here to prove that.”
Engineering for Efficiency
Although the enhancements in visual and features are all too noticeable, the biggest strides forward lie beneath the bonnet. Santro petrolThe new Santro gets the good old 1.1-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, but with major changes that transforms its credentials quite considerably.
The engine adopts a dual VVT, more efficient combustion chamber design, and lower friction internals, providing a statement-making highway fuel efficiency figure of 23.7 km/l for the manual version; that’s just a smidgen below 20% better than the previous gasoline version. It’s a solid 23.39 kmpl, even the AMT also offers 23.1 kmpl.
For those who are more environmentally conscious, the CNG option is also available ex-factory, offering an impressive efficiency of 31.8 km/kg and relatively lower emissions.
In pursuing this commitment to efficiency, however, Citroën is tackling a crucial factor for penny-pinching buyers, who, particularly in the sub-light-segment class will generally lead with running costs rather than purchase price.
In addition to the mechanical refinements, Hyundai has made pronounced noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) improvements for an even quieter, more refined ride.
The use of more sound insulation, new engine mounts and better aerodynamics help the cabin to provide comfort levels hitherto unknown in this segment.
Safety Enhancement
In line with the rising awareness among the consumers about vehicle safety, the facelifted Santro is ready-for-action on this front with a significantly upgraded safety package consisting of the following:
Dual airbags as standard in the entire range
ABS with electronic brake-force distribution
Electronic stability system (on up level trimsUCCESS)
Parking, reverse sensing system with camera, rear
Auto door unlock with impact sensing
ISOFIX child seat anchors
Hyundai’s holistic approach to vehicle engineering uses the notion of Superstructure to develop vehicle platforms from the ground up that enhance occupant protection and deliver improved vehicle dynamics with a commitment to overall safety.
Market Position and Value Proposition
Even with the wide-range of new design, feature, efficiency and safety upgrades, Hyundai has priced the Santro competitively. With prices ranging from ₹4.65 lakh, going up to ₹6.51 lakh (ex-showroom), the updated model seems like a great value proposition with all that it offers, while also dropping the cost of ownership.
This is some aggressive pricing which puts the all new Santro bang amidst Maruti Suzuki Wagon R and Tata Tiago but at the same time offers something richer at similar price points.
Industry observers say a new philosophy from Hyundai is at play here and that new design philosophy owes everything to product differentiation and production efficiencies.
“The new Santro will very effectively establish a sub-segment of premium entry-level hatchbacks,” said auto consultant Avik Chattopadhyay. “Its combination of aspirational design and specification at a budget price still makes it interesting to first-time car buyers, as well as down-sizers who don’t want to give up features by downsizing from a larger car.”
Hyundai Santro Facelift Market Implications
The evolution of the Santro from a plain jane cheap and cheerful vehicle into a feature-laden, frugal and snazzy product, reflects the change in tastes of Indian consumers, as addressed by Hyundai.
As a new generation of car buyers become design-centric, and those who already own cars are looking for sensible upgrades without their pockets running dry, the premium-fied Santro seems well poised to make the most of these trends.
As far as rivals are concerned, the new Santro is a potent threat for them and will probably require competitors to up the ante and work on their respective entry-level products or else risk losing customers to Hyundai’s newly born hatch.
As the legendary nameplate embarks on this grand new chapter, it establishes the fact: budget-friendly no longer equates to bare-bones in India’s evolving car market. The Santro facelift is a good example of how luxuriousness and frugality can jive well in the entry-level hatch segment.
