We bought our new Hyundai Getz GLS(1.3 liter) from Kothari Hyundai, Pune in March 2007. Our primary requirements were; we needed a premium hatchback vehicle that was spacious & comfortable to drive. Fuel economy although important, was not the only deciding factor in our case. After doing a lot of research the general inference was most vehicles in the premium hatchback range(e.g. Getz, Palio, Swift, Chevrolet U-VA, Ford Fusion etc.) gave anywhere from 10 kmpl to 14 kmpl(realistically) plus or minus a few kmpl, depending on ‘ideal driving conditions’. All said and done, for most, an automobile buying choice finally comes down to, pricing, fuel economy and to a certain extent brand association.
Since we are still adjusting to the chaotic driving on Pune roads, limited parking spaces, narrow two way undivided roads coupled with the on-going road constructions, traffic jams etc., we decided not to look at 3-box sedans, which would give us additional trunk space for a higher cost. Instead we decided to look at a premium hatchback, which would provide us all the creature comforts of a high-end 3-box sedan with a roomy interior and capability to park in tight spots.
We short-listed the Hyundai Getz and the Maruti Swift for a variety of reasons. Hyundai & Maruti both have good brand recognition and nationwide service centers. The Fiat Palio is a very good car, with a powerful & a robust Italian engine and is very spacious & comfortable to drive. Infact we know someone who owns one close to 4 years now, and are very happy with the Palio’s performance. But, the general feedback about the after sales service was not the most impressive. Chevrolet U-VA and Ford Fusion(hatchback) are relatively new players in the market, so we did not take a test drive on these 2 vehicles. We decided not to include the Tata Indica in our list, since it has established itself more of a’private taxi’ image as compared to a premium family hatchback.
We liked the Getz and the Swift both, and were confused. Hence, for our evaluation process, we considered our current needs. The factors we considered were:
(i) Plenty front & rear legroom [since, I am close to 6 ft. tall]
(ii) Comfortable back seat for 3 people
(iii) Decent trunk size(hatchback class), for occasional out-of-town weekend trips
(iv) Hatchback with premium features and good cabin space
The Getz matched all our specific needs very well. We have already taken a couple of weekend trips from Pune to Mumbai and back. The Getz performed well and is very quiet, with the air turned on and the windows rolled up. With a 1341 CC(1.3 liter) engine, the car pulled nicely during the uphill climb in the ghat section on full load. With proper gear shifting, the car had no trouble passing slower moving traffic. We did not calculate the fuel average precisely, but it would be safe to say we must have got around 10 to 11 kmpl. We’ve been told that after the first couple of services, the fuel average would improve. We still have to take our car in for the first service.
Conclusion:
We are very happy with the performance, riding comfort and the build quality of the Hyundai Getz. The Getz is a very nice and an impressive premium hatchback. The car handles well and is very responsive, both, in traffic and on open roads. It has a spacious cabin, decent size trunk(in the hatchback class) and gives a’big car’ feel, yet is very easy for parking in tight spots. The gear shifting is very smooth. Opening and closing the doors, the trunk and the door mirrors of the Getz, gives that rich heavy feel of a premium class vehicle. The interiors have a good feel, texture and finish.
As for Hyundai’s Customer Service, Kothari Hyundai’s Asst. Sales Manager, Manish, who we deal with, has been very professional, attentive, patient and most helpful in every instance during and after our vehicle purchasing process. With this, I have to say that we’ve had a very satisfying experience with Hyundai’s customer service as well as after sales service, till date.
Internet reviews were helpful; test drives were even more helpful. For us, when making the final decision to buy the Hyundai Getz GLS, it came down to test drives and fulfilling our specific requirements. The Getz meets all our requirements perfectly. Now that we’ve owned the Getz for a while, I can say with certainty that we really like it a lot.
UPDATE:
It has been close to 2 years now, since we bought our 1.3L Getz GLS. Thought I’d give an update now to my initial review.
The car has been amazing in terms of riding comfort and performance. Have not really measured the mileage, but should be getting around 12 - 14 kms/liter.
The boot space has not been disappointing either. And if ever required to haul large items from stores, I just pull the back seats down and get an immense floor space behind. The leg space for the front passengers is amazing too! I am close to 6 ft tall and normally push the front driver’s seat almost all the way back. Even with that, the legroom behind is sufficient. The back seat can easily fit 3 people comfortably. The gear box is very smooth and I can literally change gears with a figure tip. The A/C is very good and cools the car nicely. For long runs it is a pleasure to just put it is 5th gear and cruise along.
In summary, we made a good choice and are really happy we decided to purchase the Hyundai Getz 1.3L GLS.