Full Circle

New Times. New Car. New Tech. Old Name.

- Kartik Ware

Going back to your roots is always a tricky exercise. Usually, a lot of time has passed, and in that time things have moved on quite a bit. Plus there is the added weight of expectations, especially if the past has been a successful one. And that is where the new Hyundai Santro comes in, reviving the name which made Hyundai’s fortunes in India, but in an all-new package in keeping with present-day expectations.

When the first Santro came to India, times were simpler; people didn’t want much more than economical purchase and running costs, reliability and space. And these, the Santro delivered, and added a whole new level of refinement to the mix. Today, though, Indian car buyers have evolved, though not in the sense that everyone wants rear-wheel drive and limited-slip differentials. Instead, in addition to what the old Santro offered, we want our cars to pair with our phones and be as premium in look and feel as possible, even if the car is question is an entry-level one. And this, the new Santro manages to do pretty well.

Yes, there is a touchscreen display that becomes an extension of your smartphone which will no doubt be an attraction for a lot of people in this segment. But before that, there’s the exterior to look at. Designing a small car is anything but easy; the first Santro was a Korean tall-boy assault on Indian senses which was vastly mitigated with the Santro Xing. The new one, though, is nothing like its ancestors. It’s in keeping with Hyundai’s contemporary design philosophy, and manages to look distinctive even with its small size.