It’s a title I luv to tease my friends owning a Santro. I had the experience of driving a fully loaded Santro and the Xing as well, belonging to my friends for quite a few kilometers.
Past 4 to 5 minutes of driving one realizes that, this is not the most driver friendly car. Compared to the WagonR, these vehicles do not offer a good driving position. The interiors smell of plastic. The fully loaded WagonR VX would be a better deal. The gear shift and suspension are pathetic. The old 800 was far better and so is my’97 Esteem VX. The vehicle does not give you much confidence on the highways as it rocks if a Volvo bus flies by. And braking although better than any of the Maruti’s at high speeds, it is not very assuring, a bit shaky I mean.
Once while playing cricket one of our not so well hit tennis ball landed up on an Accent bonnet. All of us could notice the tin bounce on impact and then to think of the Santro.? KIA Motors is the most widely sold car of Korean origin in S. E. Asia. Wish they were here to compete.
The air conditioning is good though. And seating for rest of the passengers is as comfortable as the WagonR.