Hyundai Santro : In a gut-punching delivery to the Indian car market, Hyundai will bring back its well-loved Santro.
Now this ultimate “people’s car” will be making its grand return, and stealing the hearts of America buyers on a budget once again.
Without wasting much time further, let us take a look into why this rebirth is so special and what to expect from the new version of Hyundai Santro.
Hyundai Santro A Legacy Reclaimed
Introduced in India way back in 1998, the Hyundai Santro was instantly dubbed “the people’s car”, thanks to it being a relatively affordable and reliable option with a rather big interior for its compact size.
It did not serve as mere transportation, the Santro was the vehicle through which a millions of Indian families made their foray into car ownership, representing the ascent into modern living.
The Santro had a cult following, and when it was discontinued in 2014, many loyal customers were left with broken hearts.
It was fun, whimsical and delightful when it existed — and now that such an experience is on the verge of coming back to life, there definitely exists a hint of nostalgia alongside heart racing excitement.
But don’t get us wrong — this isn’t strictly a nostalgia trip. Hyundai’s modern take on the Santro needs to tick new boxes that today’s fastidious car buyers expect.
New Santro — What’s New in the Hyundai Santro?
Design: Familiar Yet Fresh
While the old Santro was a tall-boy, so to speak, this one is more of an upright coupe with some modern flair.
The exterior packs bolder lines and a smoother, more aerodynamic silhouette to make a modern appearance but one that is still unmistakably Santro.
The signature cascade grille, a hallmark of the modern Hyundai design era, dominates the front end and is flanked by swept-back headlamps that help dress up the car’s more aggressive stance.
Large Interior: The Tardis Effect
Climb inside and the new Santro still promises space efficiency. Inside it feels surprisingly spacious, especially given its small exterior dimensions.
Even taller occupants will find plenty of headroom and legroom, thanks to clever packaging and intelligent design.
The trunk space has been further improved, providing plenty of space for a family weekender or a large grocery shop.
Performance and Economy: The Ultimate Combination
The new Santro is likely to come with a reworked 1.1-litre petrol engine under the hood.
The powerplant is tuned for sprightly performance combined with good fuel economy, which is essential for the intended market.
Initial reports hint that the motor can be paired with a 5-speed manual transmission and/or an AMT (Automated Manual Transmission) option, thus making it amenable to age-old drivers as well as those who drive in cities but want the leisure of a city-friendly automatic.
Technology: Budget-Friendly Does Not Mean Bottom Of The Barrel
The technology department is one of the areas where the new Santro has been updated quite substantially.
Hyundai realised that modern features are expected even by budget buyers and they have delivered. The top-end variants are likely to feature:
Smart phone coupled 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system
Rear parking sensors and a reverse camera
Audio Control car Steering Mounted
Electrically adjustable ORVMs
A digital instrument cluster
Delivering a premium feel to the affordable Santro, these features were once restricted for higher priced vehicles.
All-New Hyundai Santro: Safety Comes First
Sandip Singh, Director of Sales and Marketing at Hyundai Motor India Ltd, said: “Safety has been one of the key focus area in development of new Santro.
At this price point, the latter still represents a zero-cost auto safety option — a commitment that Hyundai takes seriously. Standard safety tech should consist of:
Dual front airbags
ABS with EBD
ISOFIX child seat anchors
Speed-sensing auto door locks
Automatic door unlocking upon sensing impact
This suite of safety focus is set to make the all-new Santro among the safest in its segment.
How it impacted the Market : Hyundai Santro
Santro is all set to spice up the entry-level hatchback segment in India.
And here: An alert goes off in a part of the market that has been relatively quiet for years on end all of a sudden.
The Santro’s arrival is being anticipated and competitors are busy updating their offerings.
The Santro is not just another model for Hyundai.
This is a well thought-out step to take the first-timer car buyer segment — an important segment for the Indian automotive scenario.
Hyundai is hoping to replicate the success of the original Santro by giving Indian car buyers an affordable way to experience some nostalgia while also benefiting from modern-day features.
Michael W. Dike in Automotive News: Hyundai Santro Pricing Strategy 20% lesser than Maruti Wagon R and just above Maruti Alto, Accessibility is the key
Though no official pricing has been revealed yet, car-months expect the new Santro to be highly competitively priced.
Prices should start at around ₹3.5 lakhs for the base variant, and go all the way up to an estimated ₹5.5 lakhs (ex-showroom) for the top-end model.
Considering this pricing strategy, it lies well within the first car price range for a number of Indian families or two wheeler upgraders.
Hyundai may even come with some lucrative financing options for the Santro, such as a low down payment and long loan tenure to cater to its target market segment.
Does The Hyundai Santro Set A New Benchmark For The Competition?
Needless to say, the new Santro will raise the bar in terms of what customers can expect from an entry-level hatchback.
With its feature list and nostalgic appeal, the new Santro is likely to set a high bar for its contemporaries, such as the Maruti Suzuki WagonR, Tata Tiago as well as Datsun Go.
It’s a win-win for consumers, however; it means competition and we’re just going to see nothing but better offerings as manufacturers fight over market share.
Production & Availability of the Hyundai Santro
Hyundai is preparing to roll out the car nationally from their recently inaugurated Chennai plant.
The demand has positive signs and the company is reportedly strengthening its production capacity to meet all demands.
To start with, the new Santro will be offered across Hyundai’s expansive dealership network in India, but a gradual rollout will ensure that the eagerly awaited model makes it to even smaller towns and cities.
Santro Experience — The Road Ahead: Issues and Opportunities
The Santro’s return is certainly an exciting development, but we do face a challenge or two.
Well, you see, the automotive landscape has shifted quite a bit since the original Santro made its debut.
Modern day buyers are more knowledgeable, have higher requirements than ever and conscious on budget with options available even in low price range.
Hyundai will have to walk a thin line between nostalgia and modernity, affordability and features, in order for the new Santro to appeal.
They will also have to comply with progressively stricter emission norms and safety regulations, without raising the cost of the car too much.
But those challenges also make opportunities. Positioning the new Santro as an affordable car that is also stylish and feature-rich could give Hyundai a big slice of the entry level car pie, if done right.
Apart from making the Santro a mass brand, Hyundai needs to be perceived as a company that understands its customers and Indian market well.
Conclusion: The Return of the Peoples Car (Hndai Santro
The Hyundai Santro comes back, but its far more than just the return of a hatch; it is a an update to the whole idea of what a ‘people’s car’ means in India.
Now coming back to the new avatar – the Santro will be bringing with it a combination of affordability and practicality that made it such a correction name.
The excitement is building ahead of the launch date. Can the new Santro live up to its predecessor’s legacy?
Is there a way to woo a fresh generation of car buyers while still appealing to the nostalgia of its original fans? Only time will tell.
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So, one thing is for sure — the Santro has certainly revived some vibes in the ₹3.54 lakh to ₹6 lakh (old pricing) band of automobiles in India.
It speaks to timelessness of a good, reasonably priced car, and reminds us that the best way to navigate the future is by pausing to look back.
For several Indians, the Santro was not just a car but a dream come true. To that end, Hyundai is giving driving enthusiasts a chance to relive that dream, albeit with a new generation-ready update.
The new Santro is coming and millions of Indians who placed their mobility hopes on a four-wheeled symbol of rolling freedom are looking to get behind the wheel.
The people’s car is here again to pen the next part of India’s automotive tale.
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