Hyundai Xcent review, test drive

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.

Published on Mar 28, 2014 03:03:00 AM

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Hyundai Xcent

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.

At 407 litres, the boot is the largest in its class.

The big difference though is when you step inside the Hyundai. The dashboard is shared with the Grand i10 and that means the quality is good, the design is appealing and it is easy to use. It is a big step up over the Amaze’s quirky dash and at the least, a match for the Dzire’s interiors.

There are small additions to the Xcent’s cabin over the Grand i10’s — the cubbyhole under the centre console gets a closeable lid and it also features automatic climate control. The front seats, also from the Grand i10, are very comfortable, while the rear seat gets the same amount of space as the hatch. Rear-seat comfort is good and the seat back angle is a bit more reclined than the Grand i10’s. There is enough space to stretch your legs and you can easily fit four large adults inside. The fifth passenger, sat in the middle on the rear bench, is in for a bit of a squeeze, but for short journeys, this shouldn't be too much of a problem. The wide opening doors also make getting in and out of the back really easy. The adjustable headrests and a rear centre armrest do enhance comfort as well. The 407-litre boot is also the largest in this class.

Start the 1.1-litre three-cylinder diesel and you get a few vibes at idle. Things smoothen out as you rev it a bit. There is some lag at low revs -- it isn’t as responsive off the block as the much bigger engine in the Amaze and doesn’t have the punch of the Dzire’s engine either. In the Xcent, the mid-range is where you should be as it is where the engine feels the strongest. Post that, the power flattens out and there’s not much point revving the engine to its redline. Hyundai says that a few tweaks to the ECU and a new electronically controlled wastegate (for the turbocharger) bump up power by 1bhp and 2.1kgm of torque over the Grand i10. This difference isn’t immediately apparent. As for refinement, you do get some diesel patter from the engine bay, but it is nowhere near as vocal as the i-DTEC engine in the Amaze. Hyundai claims an ARAI tested 24.4kpl.