I BOUGHT MY HYUNDAI SANTRO IN MID 1999 WITH SOME APPREHENSION . I HAD SET MY MIND ON AN UNO DIESEL BUT I JUST THOUGHT WHY NOT TRY THE SANTRO ...I HATED ITS LOOKS N DESIGN BUT I CHANGED MY MIND ONCE I CHECKED OUT THE INTERIORS WITH THE UNO. AND WUT A GREAT DECISION I MADE OF BUYING THE SANTRO..
ITS BEEN 2 YEARS AND 6 MONTHS , I DONT HAVE A SINGLE COMPLAINT AGAINST MY SANTRO. ITS BEEN ABSOLUTELY FAITHFUL PROVIDING ME OF ABSOLUTE PEACE OF MIND.
EXTERIORS
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THERE IS JUST ONE WORD TO DESCRIBE IT - UGLY. BUT THE FACT THAT THIS TALL BOY HAS BECOME INDIA’S MOST SELLING CAR IN THE SMALL CAR SEGMENT PROVES IT ISNT THAT BAD LOOKING AFTER ALL AND ONCE INSIDE , LIKE PEOPLE SAY , DRIVERS DONT HAVE TO LOOK AT THE CAR.
INTERIORS
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FLOWING DASHBOARD WITH RETRO ROUND STYLE AC AIR VENTS AND PETAL SHAPED INSTRUMENT CONSOLE LOOKS DIFFERENT . INFACT LOOKING BACK I THINK HYUNDAI DESIGNED THIS CAR TO LOOK DIFFERENT , BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE.
ANYWAYS THE PLASTIC USED IS OF GOOD QUALITY AND DOSENT FEEL CHEAP AND THE SWITCH GEAR MATERIAL IS TOP QUALITY.
SEATS PROVIDE ADEQUATE SUPPORT AND THE FABRIC COVERING IS OF GOOD MATERIAL AND DOSENT LOOK OUT OF PLACE.
SPACE IS A BIT CRAMPED IN THE REAR BUT THE TALL BOY DESIGN LETS OUT MORE SPACE ON TOP ..NOT THAT MUCH OF A GOOD IDEA IN INDIA WHERE WE DONT HAVE A LOT OF TALL PEOPLE.
THE BOOT SPACE ADEQUATE FOR A FAMILY OF 4 IN A CITY.
ENGINE
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SOMETIMES I HAVE TO STARIN HARD TO LISTEN TO THE ENGINE NOISE TO MAKE SURE ITS RUNNING..THE ENGINE IS THAT SOFT . IT PURRS QUITE SMOOTHLY AND HAS A GREAT LOW END TORQUE THAT MAKES IT GREAT TO DRIVE IN THE CITY WHERE U GET STUCK ALL THE WHILE AND THE BEAUTIFUL AND PRECISE GEARSHIFT IS A DELIGHT BUT SPEED UPTO MORE THAN 100 KMPH AND THE CAR LOSES STEAM . IT IS NOT A DRIVERS CAR BUT A SENSIBLE DRIVERS CAR.
FUEL EFFICIENCY
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I GET 14 KMPH WITH THE AC IN THE CITY AND ANYTHING BETWEEN 20-22 KMPH ON THE HIGHWAY . MIND YOU I HAVE MAG WHEELS AND FATTER 175/60 PROFILE TYRES , WHICH BESIDES GIVING ME GREAT GRIP , GIVE THE CAR A CHUNKY N A BETTER LOOK TOO.
AND LAST BUT NOT THE LEAST , THE GUYS AT HYUNDAI GOT IT ABSOLUTELY RIGHT WHEN THEY DECIDED TO SET UP THEIR DEALERS BEFORE RELEASING THE CAR IN THE MARKET AND HYUNDAI BOASTS OF ONE OF THE BEST DEALER NETWORKS IN INDIA...SECOND TO MARUTI.
I WOULD STRONGLY ADVICE THE SANTRO TO ALL SENSIBLE PEOPLE WHO ARE LOOKING FOR A CAR THAT GETS THEM AROUND TOWN IN ABSOLUTE COMFORT WITH GOOD FUEL EFFICIENCY AND NO COMPLAINTS.
AND THE BEST PART IS THE DRIVERS POSITION..HIGH N MAJESTIC GIVING A GREAT COMMANDING VIEW OF THE SURROUNDINGS , MAKES U FEEL IN ABSOLUTE CONTROL.