Excellent first car. Review on Hyundai Santro Xing eRLX

I bought a new Santro Xing eRLX in December, 2005. I have been driving cars since the last 8 to 9 years, mostly my dad's M800, but this is my very own first car. My initial budget was 3.5 lakhs. Since my anticipated running is 5000-6000 km per year, I was not interested in a diesel car. I shortlisted the Alto, Zen, WagonR, Santro & Indica V2 Petrol. M800 was out of contention as I found it too common & outdated. It has become somewhat like the Ambys & Fiats in mid-1980s when M800 was introduced. After test driving Alto, I found that pick-up is a problem with AC on and it is not comfortable for rear passengers. Zen, though a good car, has become outdated and there was some talk about it being phased out. Wagon R is an excellent car but I just did not like the boxy looks. Indica V2 Petrol was not recommended by any of my friends/colleagues as it gives a very low mileage and resale value is low. So finally, after comparing specifications, pros & cons etc, I finally decided to buy a Santro. I chose the XL variant with power steering, front power windows & manual central locking (my budget had to be increased marginally). Now, after 2 months, I feel that I made the right choice. Of course, it has a few negative points, but the positives far outweigh the negatives. Pros: 1. Smooth, silent & responsive engine. If windows are closed, I cannot even make out if it is on. 2. Decent pick-up which is not affected much even when the AC is switched on. 3. The high seating position reduces the glare from headlights of oncoming vehicles during night. I also get a good view of the road. 4. Getting in & out of the car is very comfortable compared to M800/Alto/Zen. 5. Very good mileage. I get 19-20 kmpl on highways & 14-15 kmpl in city (with AC switched on intermittently as & when required). 6. Silent cabin which manages to seal off most of the outside noise when windows are closed. 7. Large boot space which accomodates all our luggage. 8. Double folding rear seats. You can create extra boot space if required. 9. 3 adults (of average built) can comfortably seat in the rear seat. 10. Superb handling/maneouverability in city traffic. Stable on highways. Cons: 1. I can feel vibrations in gear shift lever in all gear positions & at all speeds. Although the vibrations are not heard but only felt whenever I place my hand on the lever, it is irritating. 2. Ride quality is not good on bad potholed roads probably due to hard rear suspensions. 3. Body is made from thin gauge sheet and a even small blow can cause dent. Safety is a concern. 4. Sales & service network is limited to only major cities & towns. For servicing or in case of any problem, I have to go to the dealer/authorised service station located 100 km away. Maruti, on the other hand, has an extensive service network covering even smaller towns. 5. AC is efficient but not as good as Alto. I can confidently say that this is an excellent first car for those who are bored of M800 and looking for a bigger, better & more powerful car. I understand that it is too soon to make a sound judgement in just 2 months so I will post my feedback again after 6 months.

24-Aug-06

Well, here I am again after 6 months. I have been to Mt. Abu, Ahmedabad & Baroda in my car and never faced any problem whatsoever. However, I have one regret - Hyundai does not have any dealer or authorised service centre in Jamnagar. The nearest is in Rajkot, which is more than 100 km away. Even for availing free service, I have to travel more than 200 km (to & fro) besides taking a day off from work. Maruti, on the other hand, has 1 dealer and 2 authorised service centres in Jamnagar.