This is the first time I'm driving an automatic.(I own a Maruti 800 and a Daewoo Cielo.)
I would describe only the things that I noted at first glance. For any detailed review, pls refer to car mags / sites.
Didn't know that automatics are so convenient to drive. There is a big effort reduction in not having to use clutch/gear. Just turn the ignition, change to'drive' mode and press the accelerator - pretty much simple.
Not intended for racing - You would not be able to down shift and overtake to quench your ego. You can floor the pedal to get some effect of down shifting, though.
Test drive model was Santro AT XL(Only one automatic model is available for Santro). Dealer: Hilton Hyundai, Eenchakkal, Trivandrum, Kerala
- Gears:
Internally Santro-AT has'3+ overdrive' gears forward. Wagon R has only 3 internal forward gears. Still Wagon-R has slightly better mileage I guess.
If you need overdrive(the highest gear) in the Santro AT, you need to press a button on the Gear stick. You cannot keep the Overdrive'on' all the time, as the car would tend to keep changing back and forth from 3rd gear to overdrive on'tense' situations such as climbing a slope.
For a gear change, you need to keep a button on the gear stick pressed while moving the Gear stick forward or back. The Gear stick is not supposed to move without pressing this button(to prevent accidental change from'Nuetral' to'Drive'), but my test drive car was an exception.
Apart from'Park', 'Neutral' and'Drive' on the gear stick, there are 2 other modes, '2' and'L'. They are intended for slopes for more power - couldn't test in these modes as the test drive was on level ground.
- Power steering:
Quite effortless for a small car. Steering assist is Hydraulic, which should eat into 1 or 2% of mileage.(Wagon-R has electric power assist).
- Power Windows:
Power windows only in front. If they want cost cutting, I would prefer front manual window and rear power window.(You can anyway reach the two front windows from driver's seat).
No driver side lock for the passenger power window.
To my question "What would happen if the passenger window, which is being rolled up using the passenger switch, is at the same time rolled down using the driver side switch", the reply was "Please try it Sir". I didn't try it. I was at the dealer for a test drive - replacing some one else's expensive powerwindow motor didn't sound a good idea.
- Headlamp leveller:
Eenables you to point your lights at the road when Calvins coming opposite donot dip their lights. Convenient.
5. Ceiling Brake light:
Brake light at top of rear windshield gives more visibility to truck drivers behind you. Nice standard feature.
- Brake lamps:
Two brake bulbs on each side. Good safety feature - incase one bulb on the side brake lamp burns out, you would have the other bulb working till you reach the work shop.(Driving with one brake light is as dangerous as driving with a single head lamp).
- Braking:
Brakes have enough bite for a small car. Depends on your speed, though.
8. Seating Capacity:
'3-seat belts at rear' is just a marketing gimmick. Expect comfortable travelling only for 2 at the rear.
After you fold the'seat-back' of the rear seat, even the'seat-base' can be lifted and folded towards center, liberating lot of space. One drawback is that you cannot fold part of the back seat. Even my'Maruti 800' has a spit-folding rear seat.
9. Tires:
Some batches of Santro come with Bridgestone tires, other with MRF - We are not given a choice. Customer is not king all the time!
MRF tires are notorious for transmitting accurate info about potholes wirelessly to your brains.(Santro is any way generally more bumpy than the Indica.)
- Mileage/Maintenance:
Forget about the salesman's mileage figures. Expect a small reduction in mileage compared to the manual.
(Sales manager has promised 2 phone numbers of Santro-automatic owners. I need to call them up to get some idea of mileage and maintenance. The sales manager hasn't called up till now.
I contacted a Santro-AT owner through a friend. He's getting 11 km/Litre.)
- Rear visibility:
Could have done better.
The rear seats/head rests positioned high; Small rear wind screen and wide pillar further limits reverse visibility.
12. Placing of Pedals:
Accelerator/brake pedals could have been placed more toward the right.
But you would get used to this soon.
Clutch foot rest of the manual is retained, but doesn't serve any purpose, like the human appendix).
- Interior:
Very basic interior. Dashboard has cheap plastic look.
No vanity mirror for the passenger.
Seats wide, but feel like hard wood. My Maruti 800 seats are softer.
- Exterior:
This model doesn't have body colored bumper/rearview mirror.
The passenger side outside rearview mirror is standard - good.
- Windshield washer:
Has only one washer nozzle in the front.
Other cars have two water nozzles to squirt water on the dry windscreen before using the wiper(More water ensures less scratches on the wind shield)
16. Warranty:
Dealer couldn't provide a list of parts that are NOT covered under warranty.
(Other than what is specified in the manual, the dealer cannot give any other written warranty. They don't have a user manual - I'm told that only a service center would have it). Dealer is also not aware of any rust warranty. They just claim "Don't worry sir, rust won't be there".
This is the most dangerous part for customers.
You need to be clear about what would be covered before you buy the car. If your car is a'lemon'(geek's term for a defective car), you need to know when to beg or assert.
In some cases, the car door has rusted from inside(ok, only 1 in 500 cars), resulting in big holes on the door. This was turned down by a Delhi dealer saying "You wash your car too much". Pls search for'Rust' in:
https://complaintsboard.com/complaints/hyundai-santro-xing-c2582.html
Several Santros had their engine Crank Shafts broken at less than 30 thousand kilometers within 3 years - customers are fighting with the manufacturer for getting it fixed free of cost. Wondering why we need to worry? Fixing broken Crank Shaft would cost 35 thousand rupees. Pls refer https://mouthshut.com/review/Hyundai_Santro_Xing_eRLX-124926-1.html
https://complaintsboard.com/complaints/hyundai-santro-xing-c2582.html
https://team-bhp.com/forum/long-term-ownership-reports/23551-hyundai-santro-xing-crankshaft-engine-repair-failure-only-26000-kms-2-1-2years.html
Waiting for test drive of Wagon-R automatic, to compare power, pick-up, and features.
PLEASE RATE THIS REVIEW!
