Hyundai Xcent Facelift To Be Launched Tomorrow

• Will get the updated 1.2-litre diesel engine
• Will get exterior cosmetic updates, new front & rear bumper
• Dual airbags will be standard, ABS will not be

Overview

Hyundai entered the high-volume sub-4m sedan segment in India in 2014 with the Xcent. The Xcent is a booted version of the Hyundai Grand i10, and its prices start from Rs 5.45 lakh and go up to Rs 8.13 lakh. It currently gets a 1.2-litre petrol engine and a 1.1-litre diesel engine. The Xcent competes with other sub-4m sedans like the Maruti Suzuki Swift DZire, Honda Amaze, Ford Aspire, Volkswagen Ameo and Tata Tigor.

Hyundai Xcent facelift – What is expected

1. Improved diesel engine

The biggest change in the Xcent facelift will be the updated diesel engine, which will be the 1.2-litre 3-cylinder unit that now powers the Grand i10 diesel. Hyundai has reworked their 1.1-litre 3-cylinder diesel engine and has increased its cubic capacity. The carmaker has also managed to improve the power and torque ratings for the engine. The 1.2-litre diesel engine makes 75PS and 190Nm. The power-torque figures for the 1.1-litre diesel engine-equipped Xcent are 72PS and 180Nm. We've driven the 1.2-litre diesel engine-powered Grand i10 and the increase in power and torque is instantly noticeable. The petrol engine, on the other hand, will remain the same. It produces max power of 83PS and peak torque of 114Nm.

2. Cosmetic updates - New front & rear bumpers, two-part tail-lamps

The Xcent facelift will get a redesigned front and rear. The current Xcent gets the same face as the pre-facelift Grand i10. But Hyundai has worked to make the sedan and the hatchback look distinct now. While the headlamps will retain the same design, the front bumper of the Xcent facelift will not get the small upper grille. Instead, it will get the new hexagonal grille with horizontal slats and chrome finish on its perimeter. The Xcent facelift will also get DRLs placed around the fog lamp housing. The fog lamp housing will also differently designed compared to the Grand i10.

There will be no major changes on the side. The rear will get two-part tail lamps and a new bumper with reflectors connected via a black strip, much like the fog lamps at the front will be connected. The Xcent facelift will also get a shark fin-type antenna and a thick chrome strip on the boot. The interiors are expected to remain the same.

3. Feature updates – ABS not as standard now, new infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

The Xcent facelift is expected to get the 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto that is now available on the Grand i10. Hyundai's Alternator Management System (AMS) tech is also expected to come as standard on the Xcent now. It charges the battery when the car is decelerating or when the engine has the power to spare, which helps in improving fuel efficiency.

Hyundai will also offer dual airbags as standard on the Xcent facelift; the Xcent currently gets only one airbag as standard. However, ABS may not make it to the list of standard features, which is surprising because the Xcent comes with ABS fitted from the base variant.  

Prices

The prices of the current Xcent are as follows:

Hyundai is expected to make some changes to the variant line-up. However, the entry-level prices might remain as is, or may even come down, something that Hyundai did when it launched the Grand i10 facelift. On the top-end though, the prices may go up, with some additional equipment over the current Xcent.

Hyundai Xcent Competitors - Prices

Current Segment Standings

Keeping in mind the sales of the first quarter of 2017, the Hyundai Xcent finishes at the third spot after the Maruti Suzuki DZire and Honda Amaze. Tata recently launched its third compact sedan in India, the Tigor, in March and it managed to replace the Xcent to take the third spot in the same month. Hyundai will be expecting to surpass the Amaze and Tigor and take the second spot after the launch of the updated Xcent

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