In India, the Hyundai Santro is a well-known brand. The tall boy styling, big cabin, and strong engine made this family car an instant hit when it was first debuted in September 1998. In addition, the South Korean automaker has signed Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan as a brand ambassador. This strategy contributed to the Hyundai Santro becoming a household name in the country.
The Santro has had various modifications over the years, and after abandoning the first-generation model in 2014, the firm released the second-generation model in 2018. While the new-generation Santro had a positive response at first, sales have fallen over time. So, the Hyundai Santro has been phased out once more! Here’s the background behind India’s first and most popular ‘Tall Boy’ family automobiles, which have been sweeping the nation since 1998.
Here are five reasons why the new Santro failed to live up to its reputation in the Indian automobile industry.
Design
The Santro Xing had the xing in its exterior design, while the current Santro didn’t. The latest Santro didn’t have the same length, height, or width as the Santro Xing, and although being broader and having a little longer wheelbase, it wasn’t exactly a tallboy design as the Santro Xing. Even though the Maruti WagonR has undergone multiple changes over the years, it has maintained its tallboy design philosophy.
Competitors
Let’s face it, when Santro was first introduced in following years, it did not have to contend with the vast range of competitors that the current Santro did. While the small-car class continues to boost market volume, it isn’t about to challenge the Maruti 800s and Alto in the next years. The Renault Kwid, Tata Tiago, and even the S-Presso all compete for space. Then, at least in base forms, sub-compact SUVs like the Renault Kwid and Nissan Magnite made their debuts at similar price points. Options make a client king, and in this empire, survival of the fittest is typically the case.
Engine
Other aspects such as size, features, and the price one must pay for the car may be more important to the Santro buyer than engine specs. However, the latest Santro was still available with a 1.1-liter petrol engine that produced 67 horsepower, which was 5 horsepower higher than the previous model. Santro was never a car for enthusiasts, but a little more enjoyment in terms of driving characteristics would have been a welcome addition to its resume. While the engine was fuel-efficient, there was little gain in terms of mileage, with an ARAI-certified figure of 20.3 km.
Maintenance costs
Hyundai cars are inexpensive to maintain, and this is still true today. However, while the new Santro was likewise reasonably priced to maintain, Maruti’s competitors remained the most cost-effective.
Value of resale
The Santro has always had a strong second-hand market, but this may not be the case with the most recent model. With new-car sales dropping, there was little demand for the vehicle even in the used-car market, further dampening emotions for the model.
