Hyundai Eon review, test drive

    Hyundai is gunning for the Alto with the Eon. How good is it?

    Published on Dec 05, 2011 05:17:00 PM

    81,979 Views

    Make : Hyundai
    Model : Eon

    The Eon is the latest recipient of Hyundai’s ‘Fluidic Sculpture’ design language and comes with a level of styling flair not seen before (nor even expected) at the bottom of the car pyramid. Few expensive cars, let alone budget ones, have the eyeball-grabbing appeal of the Eon.

    The baby Hyundai’s lines are distinctive, though the hexagonal front grille and swept-back headlamps do link it to other models in Hyundai’s range. The triangular fog lights, neatly recessed low down in the bumper, look really attractive. Even the stubby bonnet gets ridges on either side that rise sharply to meet the A pillar. An interesting design element is the front bumper, which flows into the large and stylised front wheel arches.

    There is no shortage of style strokes on the sides either. A bold waistline that originates behind the headlights and kinks up to the taillight looks really unique. An arc-shaped line at the bottom of the doors is another of the Eon’s umpteen light-catching details. If there is an area where we feel Hyundai should really have toned down the styling, it’s the wheel arches, which are too pronounced and make the wheels look a tad small. And we’re talking about the top model here, which comes with 13-inch wheels. The 12-inchers on the base models will look positively puny. The rear end has a relatively short overhang and features smart crescent-shaped taillights. Build quality is superb for a car at this end of the spectrum. The tight panel gaps and overall fit and finish point belong to a car in a higher class and the flap-type door handles are the only place where you feel Hyundai has skimped.

    Developing the car completely from scratch would have made it impossible for Hyundai to meet
    the Eon’s tough cost targets, so a fair bit of the underpinnings are shared with Hyundai’s original
    car for the masses, the tall-boy Santro. The 2380mm wheelbase is common and the suspension uses the same MacPherson strut front and torsion beam rear layout. Braking is via a combination of front discs and rear drums and ABS, not surprisingly, is absent from the features list on any trim. However, the top-spec Sportz variant we tested does get a driver-side airbag, making the Eon the cheapest car in India to come with this essential safety kit. Impact protection also includes a square-shaped radiator support panel, reinforced floor panel and door
    side-impact beams. However, since the Eon will not be sold in Europe or other developed markets; we doubt it meets international standards of crash-worthiness.

    Hyundai Cars

    Copyright (c) Autocar India. All rights reserved.

    Comments
    ×
    img

    No comments yet. Be the first to comment.

    Ask Autocar Anything about Car and Bike Buying and Maintenance Advices
    Need an expert opinion on your car and bike related queries?
    Ask Now
    Search By Car Price
    Poll of the month

    The Creta will be the third Hyundai N-Line model in India. Should more mass-market brands have sporty sub-brands?

    Yes, it's something special for enthusiasts

     

    18.33%

    Yes, but only if there is increased performance

     

    44.43%

    No, it's just a gimmick to increase the price

     

    29.41%

    It doesn't always work; just look at Tata JTP

     

    7.83%

    Total Votes : 1571
    Sign up for our newsletter

    Get all the latest updates from the automobile universe