Hyundai Aura

Expert Review by Maxabout

Overview

Hyundai Aura is now available in India with BS6-compliant petrol and diesel engines. The vehicle exists in a range of variants and exciting colour schemes, with three engine and two gearbox options. The Aura is based on the Grand i10 Nios hatchback and is the second Hyundai car in the compact sedan segment.

Hyundai Aura Design and Style

Let's start with the contentious points, the design of the Aura takes some getting used to, especially when viewed from the rear or rear three-fourths. However, it quickly grows on you. If you see one at night, you'll notice the sharp LED elements in the tail lights. In isolation, the integrated lip on the boot looks quite nice. Hyundai could have done without the piano black chrome strip between the tail lights.

If you look at the Aura from the side, you'll notice that 80 per cent of the Nios is as it is. You'd notice the sloping roofline right away, but you'd probably reconsider the gloss black applique on the C-pillar.

The concept of 15-inch alloy wheels immediately appeals to you. The Nios' tyre size remains unchanged at 175/60 R15 and appears proportional to the overall size of the small sedan. Small details like the chrome door handles and shark fin antenna demonstrate attention to detail.

The hatch's smoked-out projector headlamps, contoured bonnet, sharp bumper, and projector fog lamps are all carried over. Look at the daytime running lamps for a quick hack. In contrast to the Nios, the compact sedan has two boomerang elements on each side. If you look closely, you'll notice that the grille has a honeycomb pattern rather than horizontal slats.

There is no denying that the Aura is nothing more than a Nios with a boot, but it appears premium and well-made. In terms of overall length and wheelbase, it compares favourably to its sub-4-metre competitors, but it is the narrowest in its class.

Hyundai Aura Engine and Gearbox

2023 Hyundai Aura compact sedan is available with three engines: 1.2-litre petrol, a 1.2-litre diesel, a 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol motor and a bi-fuel (petrol-CNG) variant is also available. Both 1.2-litre engines are available with a 5-speed AMT, while a 5-speed manual is standard across the board. Notably, no turbo-automatic or CNG-automatic combination is available.

A standard petrol engine is a 1.2-litre unit producing 83 hp of maximum power and a peak torque of 114 Nm, while the turbocharged unit produces 100 hp and 172 Nm of maximum output. The 1.2-litre engine is available with either a five-speed manual or a five-speed automated manual transmission, whereas the smaller petrol engine is only available with a manual five-speed transmission. It is the compact sedan segment's first turbocharged petrol engine. The Aura's diesel engine is the same as the Xcent's, a 1.2-litre four-cylinder producing 75 hp of maximum power and 190 Nm max torque.

Hyundai Aura Suspension, Brakes and Tyres

Hyundai has suspended the new Aura in the front with McPherson struts and in the rear with a coupled torsion beam axle. The Hyundai Aura's suspension doesn't sacrifice much in terms of comfort, but it feels noticeably better in terms of stability. When you hit an undulation, the rear end doesn't bounce around as much. The braking system is handled by disc brakes in the front and drum brakes in the rear. Hyundai has equipped the Aura with 15-inch alloy wheels wrapped in front 175/60 R15 Gunmetal Styled Wheel (S), 175/60 R15 Diamond Cut Alloy wheel (SX+), and rear 165/70 R14 (E MT & S MT), 175/60 R15 Diamond Cut Alloy wheel (SX+).

Interior of Hyundai Aura

Step inside the cabin, and there's not much to distinguish it from the Nios. The sedan is distinguished by a premium-looking copper/bronze-coloured insert on the dashboard (as opposed to off-white on the hatchback). The interior design is identical, right down to the honeycomb-like texture on the dashboard, door pad, and gear lever housing. Choose the Turbo variant, and you'll get the same colour scheme as the Nios Sportz Dual Tone variant: full black with red accents.

The seat has new upholstery as well, and we must commend the quality of the fabric used. They're perfect for Indian summers, and we'd choose them over leather/leatherette upholstery any day. The seats themselves provide excellent comfort and support for people of average build. The seats will feel narrow to those who are overweight or have broad shoulders. Except for the base-spec E, all variants have tilt-adjustable steering and a height-adjustable driver's seat; you'll have no trouble finding a comfortable position. On that note, Hyundai should have included a front armrest for those long road trips.

The knee room in the back seat is comparable to that of the hatchback. That is, a six-footer would have some extra space behind a six-foot-tall driver. Hyundai did not simply copy the rear seats from the Nios. The backrest angle on the Aura is relaxed. This, combined with semi-hard cushioning, results in an ideal seat for long periods of sitting. The Aura has lost 5 litres of boot space when compared to its predecessor. However, at 402-litres, the boot is one of the largest in its class.

Key Features and Tech of Hyundai Aura

With the Aura, Hyundai has spoiled the compact sedan buyer. Almost every nice-to-have feature you'd expect from a car at this price is included. You'd appreciate the fact that you don't have to go all the way to the top-spec to get a well-specced variant. If you're on a tight budget, the one above the base S variant includes power windows, a 2-DIN music system, rear AC vents, and electric mirror adjustment.

The fully loaded SX (O) variant packs a lot of firepowers. It has the same 8-inch touchscreen as the Nios and the same connectivity options. Hyundai has nailed the fundamentals here, it is easy to use and understand. You can control it with the steering wheel buttons or with Hyundai's 'iBlue' Bluetooth-based remote control app.

A wireless charger, automatic climate control, a reverse parking camera, and keyless entry and go are among the other features. In addition to the standard readouts, the instrument cluster includes a detailed 5.3-inch MID that displays a plethora of information such as door status, distance-to-empty, and average speed.

Any Aura variant comes standard with dual airbags, ABS with EBD, and ISOFIX child seat mounts. Except for the base-spec E variant, all variants include impact-sensing door unlock and speed-sensing door lock. Notably, Hyundai's Aura has not been crash-tested by an independent crash-testing organisation such as Global NCAP.

Top Speed and Mileage of Hyundai Aura

The top speed of the new Hyundai Aura is 155 km/h, and the Hyundai Aura mileage ranges from 20 to 25 km/l for petrol and diesel models. The petrol version achieves 20 to 21 km/l, the diesel version achieves 25 km/l, and the CNG version achieves 28 km/kg.

Hyundai Aura Colour Options

Hyundai offers the new Aura in 8 different colour options namely Polar White, Titan Grey, Typhoon Silver, Fiery Red, Vintage Brown, Typhoon Silver Turbo Pack, Fiery Red Turbo Pack, and Polar White Turbo Pack. E trim is available in Polar White and Titan Grey body colours only.

Hyundai Aura Competitors

Tata Tigor, Honda Amaze, Volkswagen Virtus, and Maruti DZire are some of the similar vehicles that rival the new Hyundai Aura in the Indian market.

Conclusion

Hyundai could have chosen to improve the rear-seat experience in the Aura, as Maruti Suzuki did with the Dzire. That would have also addressed the Aura's biggest flaws: width and rear-seat headroom. That's not to say the back seat isn't crowded. The baby sedan still seats four adults comfortably, and there's plenty of boot space.

It has a drivetrain to suit everyone: the casual user, the city commuter, the highway mile-muncher, and the adventurer. Yes, the turbo variant isn't your ticket to petrolhead heaven, but it'll put a smile on your face. Traditional Hyundai strengths, such as a long list of standard features, premium quality, and a well-built, well-finished cabin, are also present.