Gen-X 2014 Hyundai Xcent

Does Hyundai have the competitive zing that they need to root itself into the Bangladeshi market with the sub-compact 2014 Xcent? The car is fairly cut and dry. The mini-sedan concept is really taking the car scene by storm, especially in the South Asian countries where oil prices are anything but low. The Xcent is adopted from the hugely popular i10 hatchback that sold like hot bread when it came out. Hyundai hopes to extend its legacy of reliability, fuel efficiency, and competitive prices with the new guy on the block.

The car was made of everything I normally dislike. It had a high center of balance and  tiny wheels, but you know what? Once on the driver's seat none of that mattered much.

Considering how tiny the engine is, the Xcent was quick. I maneuvered between big rigs and long buses with finesse. The 1.2 Kappa Petrol engine (with 82 horsepower and 114 Nm of torque) offered sufficient acceleration and the climb to 100 was surprisingly swift. Surprising because the car carried four passengers, with myself weighing as much as two people. The instant torque at my disposal wasn't a lot, but the power to weight ratio made all the difference. In Bashundhara I made a reverse climb over a steep incline and the engine didn't struggle. All throughout the ride, the bumps on the roads were soaked and the car maintained composure over all kinds of city terrain. Cabin noises didn't surface. I drove over potholes and crevices hoping to make the door-panels creek and the dashboard rattle. Again, I was surprised. However, I had a big issue with the steering on this car. The power steering was very vague. It didn't respond as swiftly as you would expect, and it was jittery to a certain extent.

Hyundai packed the interior with a ton of surprises. The air-con was very good, and the car has ducts in the rear so back seat passengers won't pester their chauffer to turn up the air-con. No other car in this class, for this kind of money, will provide that. Factory installed auxiliary and USB ports give you the option of plugging in your phone, whilst charging it at the same time. The seats were firm and the driver has an RPM meter. Did I mention all options were automatic? The transmission, window controls, side view mirrors, along with the air-conditioning unit has digital controls. Quality stuff considering how this is a budget sedan. All audio and channel controls are conveniently placed on the steering wheel to ensure you don't take your eyes off the road to change the tunes. The coolest part of the car is the holographic rear camera that pops up on the rear view mirror every time you put the gear into reverse.

The design is not a big issue in this range of cars, but overall, the Xcent is thoroughly modern enough to compensate for the slightly stubby dimensions of the car. Short front and rear overhangs are a result of the hatchback platform the Xcent is based on, but the pared back front end and compact rear make the car a decent looker. It won't be winning any design awards, but good looks aren't the only thign this car needs to worry about as a selling point.

The car comes in two variants; the 1.1 diesel engine, and the 1.2 Kappa Petrol engine, but we only get the 1.2 petrol version on sale here. While standard versions come with a five-speed manual transmission standard, our test car had a peppy four-speed automatic option. I would prefer the automatic even though the new manuals are ridiculously smooth to drive. This is no weekend-only car either. The petrol engine will give you great return on the money you have to spend on oil; almost 19 kilometers per liter in city drive.

Who should drive this? Well obviously we're looking at a daily-driver family car. And I would buy this for my family. You'd be able to take the kids to school, haul in the week's groceries, finish up everyday chores, go all around Dhaka city, pick up the wife from her workplace, and still have plenty of fun doing all of that. If the company I work for gave me this car to drive, I would get used to the convenience and ease of use quite fast.

Is it worth my money?

Yes. A brand new car, which I can drive with ease, on the same expense as a CNG driven car, packed full of Korean goodies and tech? Absolutely! For young company executives and for new families this car would serve like a faithful canine.

SPECS

2014 Hyundai Xcent

Engine: 1.2 liter Kappa petrol engine, DOHC, Dual VTVT (82 horsepower and 114 Nm of torque).
Transmission: 4 speed automatic (as tested); 5 speed manual standard; front wheel drive.
Wheels and tyres: 15 inch wheels with 185/70R tyres.
Brakes: Ventilated disc brakes front, drum brakes rear, ABS, EBD.
Features: Holographic rear park assist; integrated stereo system with USB, aux, Bluetooth, and steering mounted controls; headlight height adjuster; push stop/start button; dual airbags; rear armrest with cupholders; automatic air-conditioning unit with rear AC vents; 6 available body colours.
Price: Starts from 18.50 lakh taka (with 1 year/20,000 km warranty and 4 free after sales service). For details, contact Hyundai Motors Bangladesh Ltd.