The Hyundai Xcent Will Live On As A Fleet Car

• Hyundai to launch Aura by early next year, but the Xcent will not be discontinued.
• The current Xcent with BS4-compliant engines can only be sold until March 2020.
• The company is likely to offer lower trim levels of the Xcent to fleet buyers.

Hyundai is currently testing the Aura, a sub-4 metre sedan which will eventually replace the Xcent in the lineup. But sources have reported that the company has plans to continue the Xcent model line, though it will only be available for fleet buyers. This means that Hyundai will have to update the Xcent with BS6-compliant engines and give it a redesign to make it compliant with the recently enforced pedestrian safety norms. The updated car is expected to be visually similar to the current model but is likely to be priced higher than the Rs 5.81 lakh starting price of the current Xcent. Hyundai is expected to sell lower-spec variants only. 

The Hyundai Aura is based on the Grand i10 Nios hatchback which was launched in India on 20 August 2019. It is expected to get BS6-compliant 1.2-litre petrol and diesel engines. We have seen upmarket features like LED taillamps on test mules. Compared with the Xcent, the Aura is expected to get the Nios’ LED headlamps and daytime running lights (DRLs), dimpled and light-coloured dashboard layout, and 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. 

Interior changes are likely to be minimum for the Xcent to keep costs low. New pedestrian safety regulations were enforced from this October, so the Xcent’s front fascia will have to be made softer to comply with the new norms. 

But why would Hyundai spend its money on upgrading the Xcent? Our sources say its because Maruti Suzuki plans to discontinue the diesel version of the Dzire compact sedan, so the Xcent diesel will have little competition in its segment. 

The Hyundai Xcent competes with compact sedans like the Tata Tigor, Honda Amaze, Maruti Dzire, Tata Zest, Volkswagen Ameo, and the Ford Figo Aspire. The current-gen Hyundai sub-4-metre sedan costs between Rs 5.81 to 8.75 lakh. Engine upgrades and updated crash safety components are likely to drive the price of the Xcent up for fleet buyers. Higher trim levels will be discontinued.  

Source: Autocar India