Hyundai unveils Aura sedan, takes the fight to Dzire, Tigor and Amaze  

Hyundai Motor India seems to be making a big step in the compact sedan segment, with the unveil of the Aura. The new compact sedan is slated to go on sale beside, or should we say, as a more premium offering when compared to the Xcent.

With the Aura, Hyundai has come up with a design that though very similar to the Grand i10 Nios, is still distinctive. The boot, far from being an afterthought, flows nicely with the overall design. Next, the blacked-out C-pillars and spoiler on the boot give it a sporty vibe. Moving to the rear, and the new wrap-around taillights, along the strip of chrome that seems to connect them, give it a more ‘grown-up’ and premium air. The dimensions, though largely unchanged from the Grand i10 Nios (except for a 10mm growth in overall length) are marginally narrower and taller (by 55mm and 5mm respectively) than the Maruti Suzuki Dzire.

But far from just a superficial upgrade, Hyundai is said to have given it a once-over, with the Aura being constructed on what Hyundai calls an Advanced Ring Structure, allowing for increased stiffness, more responsiveness and a quieter ride. This is supplemented with stiffer springs with improved damping that better contains body roll when turning at high speeds. This attention to detail continues within, as the instrument cluster boasts a 5.3-inch digital speedometer and multi-information display along with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system that is equipped with both Android Auto and Apple Carplay. Now you may think that has become de regueur for the class. But then the Aura flashes its trump card of wireless charging, a first-in-class feature!

Moving on now to the Aura on the…well… move, and we get a wide variety of choices in the engine department. On offer is a BS6-compliant 1.2-litre petrol (making 82bhp and 113Nm) or a 1.2-litre diesel (making 74bhp and 190Nm) as well as a turbo-petrol (making 99bhp and 171Nm). Now, while the naturally-aspirated engines (both petrol and diesel) get the option of either a manual or an auto ’box, the turbo-petrol gets only a manual. But speaking of automatic gearboxes, Hyundai has come up with impressive innovation, called the Smart Auto AMT. This uses an electronic actuator (instead of a hydraulic actuator), which, the brand claims, will give the Aura both a faster gear shift along with a smoother shift action as well as increased overall durability.

Prices for the Hyundai Aura have not been announced, though bookings are set to open on January 3, 2020. Speaking of prices, we expect it to rival the Maruti Suzuki Dzire and Tata Tigor, except for the 1-litre turbo-petrol variant which might come at somewhat of a premium.