Cartrade Comparison Test
The addition of new options in much loved sedan segment has always been welcomed by buyers. The fact is quite evident from the enthusiasm with which new versions of Toyota Etios and Hyundai Xcent were received by buyers. The sedans have been doing well for their makers lately and have been lauded for their performance and exclusive designing. While the Hyundai Xcent borrows the awesome power mill from i10, the Etios has been making its mark with DOHC and SOHC equipped power trains. There is much more to these cars when we compare them against each other. Let’s take a small tour through some major differences.
Design: Exteriors and Interiors
In terms of exterior design and styling, the Japanese automaker takes a clear edge over the Korean brand. When both cars practically take stance against each other, the difference can be noticed easily. While the Etios looks refreshed with new grille, revised headlights, and re-shaped fog lamps, the Xcent still carries the same features with is well-admired elegance. The Etios doesn’t allow you take your eyes off with its sharp curves and down-to-earth bonnet making it a class apart from others.
With respect to interiors, the Toyota Etios caters its buyers with long lieu of comfort and convenience features. It is bestowed with a 2-DIN stereo system with USB ports and Bluetooth connectivity. A new LCD screen can also be noticed over the dashboard that gives it an ultra-modern look. The Hyundai Xcent interiors too come filled with features up to gills which includes a 2-DIN audio system with internal memory of 1GB, rear AC vents and push button start. In terms of cabin space and size, Etios again scores a little more though Xcent balances this gap with some extra convenient features that are missing from the former despite high price range.
Performance
Toyota Etios and Hyundai Xcent are available with both petrol and diesel engine options in Indian automotive market. The Toyota Etios features a 1.5-litre DOHC gasoline and a 1.4-litre SOHC D-4D diesel engines. The petrol iteration of the sedan delivers power worth 88.83bhp against a peak torque of 132Nm. The diesel version, on other hand, produces 67.04bhp for 170Nm. Both mills integrate with a 5-speed maul transmission gearbox to ensure a mileage range of 16-23kmpl.
The Hyundai Xcent sprints around the town on 1.2-litre Kappa Dual VTVT gasoline and 1.1-litre U2 CRDi oil burner. The petrol version delivers an output of 88.77bhp for 170Nm torque. The diesel version of the same cranks out 71.01bhp for 180Nm. These engines pair up with 5-speed manual and 4-speed automatic gearboxes. The AT, however, has been installed only in the top end petrol variant of the sedan. The petrol version ensures a fuel efficiency of 19.1kmpl while the diesel one delivers 24.4kmpl mileage. The level of ride and comfort offered by both these sedans is decent. Drivability of the Xcent, however, has been lauded for smooth maneuvering over all kind of roads. The credit goes to its platform that it shares with the Grand i10.
Conclusion
Both Hyundai Xcent and Toyota Etios have been successful in proving their worth to their makers as well as buyers. The two have their own sets of pros and cons, so it would be unfair to conclude anyone better than the other. While Etios earns high admiration for its larger engine, power output, spacious cabin, and eye-catchy exteriors, Hyundai’s sedan is more affordable, offers more fuel efficiency, has more number of features, and comes with an excellent ride quality. The price range for this car extends from Rs.4.66 lakhs to Rs.7.38 lakhs which includes both diesel and petrol models. The price brackets for Toyota Etios, on the other hand, begin from Rs.5.74 lakhs and end at Rs.8.16 lakhs.
