Hyundai South Africa has confirmed that the Santro, a budget entry-level competitor to the Suzuki Celerio, Renault Kwid and Datsun GO is coming to SA during the first half of 2019 sporting a familiar nameplate.
The Santro, which has recently been previewed for the Indian market, is expected to arrive locally during the early clutches of next year, sporting the familiar Atos badge.
While it will slot in below Hyundai’s Grand i10, and undoubtedly be significantly more affordable, the marque has not skimped on the equipment levels of the Santro / Atos.
Road testers reported that for the Indian market, the little Hyundai will feature a 7” touchscreen infotainment system, while on the safety front it has anti-lock brakes (ABS) and electronic brake force distribution (EBD) while a driver’s airbag is also fitted as a standard safety feature.
A reversing camera is available as an optional extra, though.
The city car is powered by a 1.1-litre naturally aspirated engine that produces 51 kW and 99 Nm of turning power which is mated to a five-speed manual or, like the Renault Kwid AMT, an automated manual (AMT) gearbox.
Estimated pricing for the SA market has not yet been revealed.
Report by DRIVEN EDITORIAL | Images © HYUNDAI INTERNATIONAL
