Being irrefutably the strongest contender, in the Indian auto market, which could possibly give a tough fight to the ever rising power of India's largest car maker Maruti Suzuki, the Korean auto giant Hyundai Motor is back with maximum coerce. Hyundai has entered the auto market, not just with its smallest and cheapest offering till date, but also, with a car that would possibly emerge as its most successful product in the small car segment.
However, the new compact car, EON, is believed to be meagrely cheaper than the Santro car, but the latest production aims to unsettle the firm position of Maruti Alto, the highest selling car in India. It would be interesting to see whether Hyundai's 4 years of sheer dedication towards producing EON, brings the highly expected laurel for the company.
On comparing Hyundai Eon with Maruti Alto, one can realise that being an absolutely fresh car serves as a great advantage for EON. Moreover, the exteriors represent the car maker’s new fluidic concept design that was first showcased through Verna earlier this year.
The swept back-clear headlamps, the two-tonne grille and the half moon-shaped tail lamps prove that the small car has been greatly inspired by i10, i20 and Verna, however, the body parts are much smaller. Its dimensions are a spitting image of other cars in the segment, albeit, the car is comparatively wider.
The interior look of the car is undoubtedly the most well-defined one in the segment. The quality of plastic being used, the assembling and finishing, speaks volume and outperforms in terms of technology too. The top-end Sportz variant features an integrated 2-Din music system, and driver side airbags. It is important to note that, although, the boot space is large, the rear seat comfort does not completely satisfy the user. Moreover, the comparatively small windows at the back are another big drawback carried by the car. The seats are comfortable and offer decent thigh support, an aspect that is often compromised for providing leg space.
EON is supported by an all-new 3-cylinder 814cc engine that produces a maximum of 56 bhp of power and 76 Nm of peak torque. However, On the face of it, the car seems to have been produced for use in the city and has not concentrated on the speed quotient much. The 3-cylinder engine is also stated to have reduced noise and vibrations. However, the handling offered by the car is exemplary and ensures a smooth drive even at high speeds.
With a mileage figure of 21.1 kmpl, as certified by Automotive Research Association Of India, EON surpasses the Alto K10 by being more fuel efficient. Moreover, the car is undoubtedly the most fuel-economical entry-level car in the country besides the Nano.
As a matter of fact, the EON is at least Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 40,000 more expensive than the Alto. Also, the decently packed top-end variant of the car costs around Rs. 4 lacs and the base variant without an AC and power steering forces EON to take a back seat.
