I have completed 10, 000 km over the past year with my Getz GVS in Mumbai. It is my second car after Maruti 800.
The crucial aspect of the car is the space inside. It is extremely spacious - more than some of the 3-box sedans like Ikon, Esteem. It is also very comfortable inside - both the front & rear seats. 3 persons can be quite comfortable in the rear. Leg space is very good for both front & rear passengers. The boot is also quite adequate for a nuclear family going on a 3-4 day outing.
It is also very comfortable to drive - with easy gear shift, foot rest next to the clutch pedal, high seating and balanced power steering. Also it is not too big for city use & can be parked easily. The ride quality is also good & only severe bumps / potholes are felt through. Noise & vibration is minimal inside the cabin & the engine is very, very smooth. However, pickup is moderate & needs downshifting to generate enough power to overtake on the highway. It is also not very reassuring while driving up the hills. Petrol consumption averages between 9.5 to 10.5 in city traffic conditions. Hyundai service is good & efficient although I’ve not yet experienced out-of-warranty services.
The drawbacks are.(1) dark grey interiors - both plastics & upholstery - especially compared to the bright beige interiors of the newer cars, (2) inadequate back & thigh support for long drives and(3)very little storage in the dashboard. The steering also begins to vibrate at high speeds over 120 kmph on the expressway.
Overall it is a very good spacious vehicle for the family under city driving conditions.
*Update: 3.5 years; 38, 000km.:
*Getz continues to be an excellent city commuter. In fact, the consumption has improved over the years to about 11 kmpl on an average. With the underpowered 1.2 L engine on i20, Getz 1.3L may still be a better choice for most.
2 issues faced so far.
1) Steering wheel vibratons increased alarmingly at about 30, 000km. I learnt that this was due to uneven tyre wear. I had to get the tyres replaced. I changed from the OEM Goodyear to Bridgestone & the problem disappeared.
2) At 35, 000km, the buttery smooth gearshift began giving trouble. The shift was sticky, as if the gear lever was getting jammed. Diagnosis proved to be elusive, despite a couple of visits to the service station. Clutch bleeding was ineffective. Finally, it was diagnosed as a fault in the cylinder linked to the clutch, jamming of the clutch cable & wearing of the gear bushes. The cylinder was replaced under extended warranty & clutch cable overhauled. Gear shift has now improved noticeably & is almost back to original levels. Perhaps a little more attention in the service station after driving for some more time will restore it fully.
Lack of a headrest on rear seats proves to be a problem for passengers on long drives. Unfortunately there is no provision to even get one fitted.