Hyundai Xcent 2014-2016 1.1 CRDi S

Xcent 2014-2016 1.1 CRDi S Review

Hyundai is having a great year in India owing to its strategic product planning and now, it is stealing the crowd from Maruti Suzuki. Previously, this company was only famous for making hatchbacks in our country, but this custom has now been broken as it has entered in the compact sedan segment with Xcent. Based on grand i10, this runabout is one of the successful launches in the Indian car bazaar. It has embarked on the road in total of 13 variants, wherein Hyundai Xcent 1.1 CRDI S is a touch above the base trim. What can truly engage your eyesight is its modest design philosophy on the outside, which includes a chrome grille, body colored door mirrors and wraparound tail lamps. In terms of boot, there is a lot of space for luggage that makes it perfect for a family road trip. Interiors also leave a lasting impression on the buyers with dual tone color scheme, blue interior illumination and metal finished door handles. Rear AC vents, glove box cooling and electrically adjustable outside mirrors are available to enhance the comfort for passengers. In context of safety features, it is bestowed with a few advanced aspects, including ABS, central locking, and day/night rear view mirror. Power comes from a 1.1-litre CRDI diesel engine under the hood with a DOHC valve configuration. All these impressive cosmetic and mechanical features make this vehicle competitive in sub 4 meter segment to give direct competition to the likes of Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire and Honda Amaze.

Exteriors:

Taking inspiration from the i10 hatchback, this model renders stylish aspects for the customers with a newly added boot. The car maker has done a good job in order to get more attention from the enthusiasts when compared to earlier model. For instance, its sporty boot lid is adorned with chrome garnish, centralized company emblem and is flanked by a couple of wraparound tail lights to make the rear end stunning. Its face looks modern with chrome inserted grille, placed between sweptback headlights. Just below this, there is a large hexagonal air dam for better engine cooling and a pair of fog lamps. Both of these cosmetics are integrated with body colored bumper. Side profile has a good appeal with 14 inch steel wheels covered in 165/65 tubeless radials. Outside door mirrors come with turn indicators. Other features stand as waistline moulding, B-pillar blackout and micro roof antenna.

Interiors:

Despite having a noisy engine, its cabin is fairly silent owing to the use of good quality insulation materials. Based on beige and black key color combination, it can tempt you with well cushioned seats that wear finest fabrics. Door handles inside get metal treatment, while gear knob and parking lever tip are finished in chrome. The rear seat headrests come with adjustable facility, but its front ones are fixed that could have been improved as it can get a little irritating at times for the occupants with different height. Foldable armrests are provided at the rear that can be accessed to store your beverages as well. Map pockets are allotted to all four doors which is a useful addition. Passengers' entertainment aspect has been taken care of as it gets a 2 DIN integrated audio system with a total of four speakers, CD, MP3 player, 1 GB internal memory, Bluetooth connectivity, Aux-in and USB ports.

Engine and Performance:

Powering this trim is a 1.1-litre U2 CRDI diesel engine, which has been refined to offer better performance when compared to i10. It comes with a turbocharger in order to be much more precise and to deliver about 13 percent extra torque, resulting in 180Nm @ 1750 to 2500rpm. It produces a maximum power of 71bhp at 4000rpm that is quite good in its range. There is a DOHC valve configuration that includes 3 cylinders with a displacement capacity of 1120cc. This mill is skillfully mated to a 5-speed manual transmission in context of transferring the output equally to its front wheels. The power churned by this machine is more than enough to return a blissful drive on the highway with a fuel efficiency of 24.4 Kmpl, while it comes down to 18.9 Kmpl within the city. It can be smoothly accelerated from zero to 100 Kmph in 18.6 seconds before touching a top speed of 156 Kmph which is decent.

Braking and Handling:

MacPherson struts are fitted perpendicularly at the front axle coupled with torsion beam suspension at its rear. Gas filled shock absorbers are equipped with both axles to enhance the driving experience. These features are truly capable in dealing with all kinds of irregularities on the road with ease. A minimum turning radius of about 4.7-meters bestows an easy drive for you in the crowded area. The front wheels have disc brakes in order to maintain the overheating nature of drums paired to its rear ones. Antilock Braking System (ABS) is added to prevent wheel lock up under hard braking conditions.

Comfort Features:

It is loaded with several interesting comfy aspects, comprising of manual air conditioning with heater, passenger vanity mirror, luggage lamp and outside mirrors along with electric adjusting as well as folding function. There is a glove box cooling at the front in order to keep your beverages chilled. Apart from this, you can have a comfortable driving experience with adaptable seat, automatically controlled power window and motor driven power steering which comes with tilt adjusting facility. The power sockets are offered in both rows to charge your daily gadgets. Rear passengers get dedicated AC vent, which has been equipped in the middle. Its large speedometer has tachometer in the left to show you the RPM and warnings regarding driver seat belt, low fuel, gear shift and door ajar. There is also an integrated multi information display in reference of making you aware of average speed and distance of the vehicle. The most noteworthy feature for this model is that it comes with dedicated control switches for Bluetooth call connectivity and audio volume on its multifunctional steering wheel. Total 407-litres of luggage can be kept in its boot compartment and the same can also be increased by folding rear seats.

Safety Features:

In terms of safety, it is packed with ABS, rear defogger, centrally mounted fuel tank, day and night inside rear view mirror. Keyless entry which comes with a folding key helps in accessing its doors from outside, while central locking locks and unlocks all doors simultaneously. An engine immobilizer is also available to prevent any unauthorized person to access it. This variant includes rear parking sensors in order to make the driver aware of any kind of obstacles while reversing.

Pros:

1. Exterior looks quite stylish.

2. Engine performance is good.

Cons:

1. Absence of ESB is a drawback.

2. Seat belt height adjustment is missing.