Hyundai's answer to the Maruti Dzire and Honda Amaze is finally here, and we've just gotten behind the wheel. Here's our first impressions.
We’ve just been for a quick spin in the new Hyundai Xcent. For those of you not in the know, the Xcent is Hyundai’s new sub-four metre sedan that’s based on the Grand i10. That means it has its work cut out given that it is going up against the hugely successful (and competent) Maruti Dzire and the Honda Amaze.
Set your eyes on the Xcent and you know it looks right, certainly a lot nicer than a Dzire. There’s a nice sense of proportion to the
Hyundai – the roof flows smoothly into the boot and the short nose also helps balance out the design. If anything, it’s the simple tail-lights that make the rear look a bit plain, but it’s not too bad either. That the Xcent looks nice is no coincidence – Hyundai had a sedan in mind when it launched the Grand i10, the car the Xcent is based on. In fact, everything up to the B-pillar is identical to the hatchback, save for a bit of detailing.
Dimensionally, the Xcent shares the Grand i10’s 2,425mm wheelbase, which is longer than the Amaze and a hair’s breadth shorter than the Dzire’s. The Xcent isn’t as wide as its direct rivals – the 1,660mm width is narrower than the Amaze’s 1,680mm and the Dzire’s 1,695mm.