New Hyundai Santro: Variants Explained

Hyundai has finally resurrected the Santro nameplate in India. Based on a new platform, the tallboy has transformed into a properly modern hatchback. With prices starting from Rs 3.90 lakh and going up to Rs 5.65 lakh (ex-showroom pan-India), the new Santro is aimed at filling the void left after its predecessor was retired in early 2015.

It’s offered in five variants - D-lite, Era, Magna, Sportz and Asta - two fuel options and two transmission options. Powering the new 2018 Santro is a 1.1-litre, 4-cylinder engine that makes 68PS/99Nm (petrol) and 58PS/84Nm (CNG). While the 5-speed AMT is only available with the petrol engine and is limited to the Magna and Sportz variants, the CNG, on the other hand, is just paired with a manual gearbox and also limited to the Magna and Sportz variants.

With a host of variants and trims on offer (a total of nine to be precise), the 2018 Santro has quite a lot on offer. It packs in quite a lot of kit, including a touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a reverse camera, rear-AC vents as well as steering-mounted audio controls on the top-of-the-line Asta variant.

On the other hand, it also skimps on certain basic features such as a passenger airbag on lower variants and air conditioning on the base variant. Since its launch, the new Santro has been the talk of the town, but how does it really stack up against its competition and is it still a great value proposition like the original tallboy used to be? Let’s delve a little deeper and find out.  

Santro D-lite petrol-MT (Rs 3.90 lakh)

The new Hyundai Santro is all about premium packaging in a compact hatchback guise. However, this variant is far away from being premium as it misses out on basics such as an AC or even power windows. It does get bare minimum essentials such as an electric power steering, an instrument cluster with gear shift indicator, dual trip meter, driver airbag, low fuel warning and foldable rear seats. But If you have a tight budget, we’d recommend you look elsewhere like the recently updated Datsun GO ‘A’ variant, which is priced at par and offers better safety kit such as passenger airbag and front power windows. The D-lite could have been more affordable and given it skimps on basic safety features, we wouldn’t recommend it.

Santro Era petrol-MT (Rs 4.25 lakh)

The Era petrol variant is a very unique proposition. What it gets is a segment-first rear AC vent and is apt for those who like being chauffeured around but are on a tight budget. It has a roomy cabin and backseat, and ample leg room for average sized adults. But if you are looking to drive the Santro on your own, you would miss out on basic creature comforts such as an audio unit and electrically adjustable outside rearview mirrors (ORVMs) which you’d find on the Wagon R VXI petrol, a car priced almost at par with the Santro Era.

Santro Magna petrol-MT/petrol-AMT/CNG-MT (Rs 4.58-5.24 lakh)

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The Magna petrol is the most-affordable Santro variant available with the all-new Diana Green exterior colour scheme. Opting for this exterior paint shade gets you an all-black interior with green seatbelts and green accents around the AC vents and gear lever that add a certain zing to the Santro’s appeal. But despite paying a hefty premium over the base variant, you still do not get a passenger airbag, which is sadly reserved only for the top-spec Asta. However, it gets rear power windows, day/night IRVM and a 2-din audio system when compared to the Santro Era.  

In petrol-manual guise, it is still overpriced for what it offers over the previous variant with a premium of Rs 35,000.

The same holds true for the CNG variant as well. Despite paying an additional premium of Rs 1.01 lakh over the Santro Era, you only get a handful of features like front speakers and steering-mounted audio controls.

Although the Magna is the entry-level AMT variant, it is priced at a premium of Rs 62,000 over the corresponding manual variant, which is quite a lot for the convenience of automated gear shifts.  If we were to recommend the Santro Magna, we’d say pick the one with the AMT or get it in the Diana Green colour.

Santro Sportz petrol-MT/petrol-AMT/CNG-MT (Rs 5.00-5.64 lakh)

Keeping in tradition with most Hyundai hatchbacks, the Sportz variant of the Santro offers the most bang for your buck. It has plenty of features and options on offer. Not only do you get bigger 14-inch steel wheels with covers and turn indicators on the ORVMs, but it also comes equipped with a rear defogger, electrically adjustable ORVMs, keyless entry and AC with eco coating technology which is claimed to improve the air quality inside the cabin.

Hyundai’s 7-inch touchscreen infotainment unit with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, MirrorLink and smartphone navigation also makes a debut on the Sportz variant and makes the cabin much more appealing than the variants priced below it.

You also get the options of AMT and CNG on the Sportz trim along with speed-sensing door locks and a height-adjustable driver seat. For those driving themselves, the Santro Sportz variant makes the most sense and given a long list of creature comforts on board for the price, it is the easiest variant to recommend.  

Santro Asta petrol-MT (5.46 lakh)

The top-spec Asta variant of the new Santro comes with a slightly hefty price tag, but it’s also fully loaded with all the bells and whistles you can wish for in a compact hatchback. However, since it’s the only variant with dual front airbags and front seatbelts with load limiters, we would recommend this variant to anyone considering a Santro. In terms of convenience, the Asta gets a rear parking camera with sensors along with speed- and impact-sensing door locks for additional safety over and above the Sportz variant. The Asta is still pricey and because of the premium, it even competes in a segment above with the likes of the Maruti Suzuki Swift and the Ford Figo.

All in all, the new Santro has evolved into a more premium offering over the outgoing model. While it does pack in a lot of features on the top variants, it also skimps on a few essential safety features like dual front airbags as standard. Hope we have given you a clearer picture of what the new Santro has to offer. Which is your favourite Santro variant and would you buy it? Do let us know in the comments below.