Hyundai Eon launched at Rs 2.69 lakh

Hyundai has launched its all-new baby hatch, the Eon, at a competitive price tag of Rs 2.69 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) for the base D-Lite variant.

The Eon has been launched in six variants: D-Lite, D-Lite (O), Era, Magna, Magna (O) and Sportz; designations similar to those of the company’s i10 and i20 models. All variants come with an efficient 814cc 55.2bhp, three-cylinder petrol engine, mated to a five-speed manual gearbox. And the company claims the Eon will return a segment-topping 21.1kpl (ARAI test conditions).

The base D-Lite model comes with 145/80 R12 tyres wrapped around silver-finish steel wheels with hub caps. It features an engine immobiliser and child locks, but only a driver’s side wing mirror (with manual internal adjust) and a single horn.

You still get the two-tone, beige-brown interior though, with semi-cloth seat trim and fixed headrests, front and rear. Other convenient bits are a single-piece folding rear bench, a cup-holder in the central console, internal boot and petrol tank release levers and digital trip- and odometers. The shift indicator light for the manual transmission is a handy feature too.

A heater with a four-speed blower comes as standard in the D-Lite, and it is upgraded to an air-conditioner on the D-Lite (O), which is priced at Rs 2.91 lakh. The additional AC is the only difference between the two variants.

Upgrading to the Era variant – retailing at Rs 3.12 lakh – nets you goodies like electric power steering, body-coloured bumpers, silver central console trim, tinted windows and a shade band on the windscreen.

Moving up to the Magna ups the tyre size to 155/70 R13 – still steel, but this time with full wheel covers. Visibility is improved with the added passenger-side ORVM and there’s now the convenience of powered front windows, tilt-adjustable steering and central locking. The Magna is priced at Rs 3.36 lakh.

The door trims are now moulded, with full-size arm-rests and map pockets at the front, and if you opt for the Magna (O) pack, which is Rs 10,000 dearer, you also get a CD audio system with two front speakers, USB and AUX-in, as well as a rear parcel shelf.

The top-of-the-line Sportz variant, at Rs 3.71 lakh, has a host of big-car features over and above what the Magna (O) offers – driver airbag, keyless entry, front fog lamps, body-coloured mirrors and door handles, and metallic finish on the steering wheel.

Hyundai Motors has invested around Rs 900 crore in the development of the Eon and has set an annual sales target of around 1.5 lakh units.