The compact sedan market in India is booming. The Maruti Dzire sold 1,97,685 units in the last 12 months – that’s more than most carmakers did with their whole model range combined – and for a brief moment, it was even the best-selling car in the country. The Amaze, meanwhile, is single-handedly responsible for kick-starting Honda’s big comeback, accounting for 63 percent of the company’s sales last year. It’s clear Indians love this type of car, and no amount of awkward styling or compromised boot space will deter them.
So it’s no wonder that Hyundai decided to jump on the bandwagon this year with the new Xcent. We were pretty impressed when we drove it, but how does it fare against the two established segment champs – the Dzire and the Amaze?