Despite being stylistically challenged when it was launched, the Santro was a big success. Over the years a bigger, more powerful engine and a comprehensive face-lift has consolidated the Santro's position as the best-seller in this segment, but is it really the best of this lot?

DESIGN & ENGINEERING
A SUCCESSFUL FACE-LIFT INCREASES APPEAL AND PRACTICALITY
The styling changes have made a genuine difference. The car's length has been stretched slightly, and there's a new face and rear which give the Santro a less comical look. The large headlamps, new bumpers and stylish tail-lamps have made all the difference.
The rather amphibian proportions still remain though and the 'tall boy' look is still very evident. Though the Santro has a 'tinny' feel, fit and finish is about the best in this class.

INTERIORS, SPACE & EQUIPMENT
WELL-MADE AND USER-FRIENDLY INTERIOR
The interiors have been tidied up and made more practical. There's more storage space with additional bins and an enlarged boot which is at least useable now, if not the most spacious in the class. The quality of the interior plastics, switchgear and seat fabrics is as good as ever and feels a notch above the others.
The Santro's height makes it easy to get in and out of, especially from the rear seat, which is particularly tall. The new mirrors are excellent, and combined with the large windows and high seating position, make for excellent all-round visibility. Legroom and width are however not too good, and it is clearly cramped compared to the Santro's bigger rivals. Other drawbacks include overly firm seats, and a poorly positioned throttle pedal.

ENGINE & PERFORMANCE
ADEQUATE FOR THE CITY, UNDERPOWERED FOR THE HIGHWAY
The Santro's 1.1-litre engine is smooth and well-balanced and manages to disguise somewhat the car's lack of punch. The decent low-end torque and good throttle response make it a good city commuter. There's adequate urge when you start off and it will happily amble along at speeds of 70-80kph. But push the engine to its redline and it soon runs out of puff. This long-stroke engine doesn't have the rev-happy nature of the Zen and feels best at low revs. On the highway, the large frontal area and small engine mean that high-speed cruising is a struggle. The gear lever, though not ideally placed, has a slick shift and the other controls like the throttle, clutch and brakes are easy to operate too.

RIDE & HANDLING
HIGHLY MANOEUVRABLE, BUT SUFFERS FROM BUMPY RIDE
Hyundai hasn't really cracked chassis dynamics yet, and this shows in the Xing. Handling is just about satisfactory — the car feels nimble through traffic, but show it a corner and it begins to lose its nerve. The ride, however, is the biggest thumbs-down: it always feels harsh and unsettled, particularly at the rear. Low-speed ride is acceptable, but it steadily worsens the faster you go. The steering feels well-weighted and quite accurate, specially when compared to the EPS system on the Marutis.
Clearly, this is a car which feels best in the cut and thrust of city traffic.

FUEL EFFICIENCY
REASONABLE IN THE CITY, AND GETS BETTER ON THE HIGHWAY
The Santro returned fuel consumption figures of 10.3kpl in the city and 16.3kpl on the highway, which is about average for this class. The low-end torque and short gearing allow you to drive it very frugally in the city and if you have a really light foot you will be rewarded.

BUYING & OWNING
OWNERSHIP IS USUALLY CHEAP AND PROBLEM-FREE
There's really very little to fault here: the Rs 3.46 lakh asking price is perfectly reasonable, running costs are low, and Hyundai dealers have always performed well. Though the Santro doesn't feel as tough as the Palio, spare parts and servicing costs are on the low side, and combined with decent fuel economy make for a very easy car to live with, especially since it is known to be extremely reliable as well.