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HomeFeatured ArticlesRemembering the Hyundai Eon | An Entry-Level Hatchback by Hyundai

Remembering the Hyundai Eon | An Entry-Level Hatchback by Hyundai

Entry-level hatchbacks have laid the foundations of the most celebrated car manufacturers in India. In a country like India where attaining utility on a budget is of utmost priority, small hatchbacks fit in perfectly. They are easy to manoeuvre, practical to live with and the best bang for your buck. Hyundai is a great example of how a company which started off with an entry-level hatchback in India has leapt forth into becoming a numero uno of car manufacturers. Having legendary small hatchbacks under its belts like the Santro and i10, Hyundai decided to take a page out of its own book and develop another compact hatch for the Indian masses. Hyundai Eon was launched for the Indian masses!

A Brief History

Hyundai EON Advertisement
Hyundai EON Advertisement

It was the year 2011 and the Santro was starting to show its age. On the other hand, the Hyundai i10 was being compared with the big boys in the hatchback segment. Hence, there was a void that needed to be filled and that void was a hatchback in the below 1000cc category. Hence on October 13th 2011, Hyundai launched the Eon to become the company’s entry-level offering sitting below the i10 and the Santro Xing. The Eon’s sole mission was to take on the undisputed champion of the 800cc segment, the Maruti Alto.

Hyundai Eon | Dimensions

Compact yet spacious proportions are key for developing a compact hatchback especially when you’re up against the best. Hyundai seemed to hit the mark with the Eon. Comparing to its arch-rival the Alto, Hyundai Eon has a similar length, 75mm wider and 40mm taller. The Eon also has a bigger wheelbase than the Alto. Such dimensions meant that the Eon was a perfect rival for the Alto. 

Dimensions

Specs⇓ Hyundai Eon
Length (mm) 3,495
Width (mm) 1,550
Height (mm) 1,500
Wheelbase (mm) 2,380
Ground Clearance (mm) 170

Hyundai Eon | Design

Hyundai Eon Front Profile
Front Profile

The Hyundai Eon is based on Hyundai’s ‘fluidic design’ philosophy. This meant that unlike the convention boxy hatchbacks, the Eon had a lot of stuff going around both the outside and inside. Eon wasn’t a box craved out to make a car, it had sharp & angular elements, character lines, a tall boy design and a well laid out interior which was never seen in the segment before the Eon. So all in all, as far as design is concerned, the Eon swooped in like a whiff of fresh air. 

Features and Comfort

Hyundai Eon Era Plus Interior
Hyundai Eon Era Plus Interior

Well if you know cars, then you don’t expect too many features from an ‘entry hatch’. So if that is to be considered, the Eon was a shocker back in the day. Compared to the Alto, the Eon had a lot more to offer. Hyundai Eon came with a dual-tone interior, integrated audio system, keyless entry and these were segment-first features back in the day. Also, the Quality of the plastics used in the Eon’s cabin was a surprise for a car its value.

Hyundai Eon | Engine Specifications

Hyundai Eon 0.8L Engine
0.8L Engine

The sole purpose of the Eon was to enter the 800cc category. Hence the Eon came equipped with 814cc SOHC 3-cylinder petrol engine making 55hp and 76.5Nm of torque mated to a five-speed manual transmission. Compared to the Alto 800’s 46hp the Eon’s power figures were respectable enough. 

Hyundai Eon | Safety, the Achilles heel for the Eon

The Eon was from a time when manufacturers top priorities were not to make the cars safe for the Indian roads, especially for the small hatchback segment. Similar was the case with the Eon, the base trim variants of the Eon had no airbags as they were optional for the top-spec trims.

Hyundai Eon: Global NCAP Rating
Hyundai Eon: Global NCAP Rating

As a result, in the crash tests conducted by the Global NCAP, the Eon received a rating of ‘zero’ for adult occupancy and got two stars in the child occupant category. The Eon is one of the most worst rated cars by Global NCAP for India. 

Where is the Hyundai Eon now?

Hyundai Eon Side View
Hyundai Eon Side View

As per the BNVSAP rules that were mandated for all cars sold in India post 1st April 2019, all cars must come equipped with ABS, driver airbag, rear parking sensor and seatbelt reminder as standard. Hyundai didn’t update the Eon with all these fundamental safety features which meant the Eon was no longer suitable for selling in India. The final nail in the coffin for the Eon was the BS6 norms kicking in from April 2020. 

On account of all these norms and Hyundai’s incapability to make the Eon comply with meant, Hyundai decided to silently discontinue the Eon in 2019.  

What are your views on the hatchback? Was it a good car? Let us know in the comments section below.

Check this out: 10 Reasons Why India is in Love with Hyundai Cars!

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Vaibhav Arora
Vaibhav Arorahttps://gomechanic.in/blog
Content Developer at GoMechanic | Auto Journalist | Been a car guy ever since i remember opening my eyes | Golden Age for cars is long gone | Guilty of hooning out on the streets |

21 COMMENTS

    • Hi Golu,

      It might have been a good car in some aspects but when it came to safety, Hyundai Eon was not at all safe. It scored a 0-star rating at the Global NCAP crash test. This is what led to the discontinuation of the Eon as the company was not in favour of keeping an unsafe vehicle running on the roads. Stay tuned!

  1. Eon is good car with storng build quality, space and performance as comapre to other segments of Maruti and Renault and Nissan

    If we look the crash rating than swift has even 2star rating which is the most liked and selling car in India

    Eon has excellent weight and engine combination

    Airbags are already installed for driver seat in top model but EBS and BSVI and Santro reentry discountined eon car, Hope for updated eon soon

  2. Should relaunch by same model.Its a good car.If company relaunch by same name Eon by a new model same result will happen as Santro.

  3. I am still driving EON and find it great value for money and going by the requirements, it checks all the boxes. Maybe it’s not safe as per GNCAP but got me I feel safe inside. I have also driven the new Santro and trust me I was disappointed.
    But with Eon I am still a proud member of the hyundai family.

  4. Definitely a great car in the segment and even best when compared to rest hatchbacks. I drove 1865kms in 28 hours with small breaks in between. Greater performance.

    • Eon is a superb car that drives great and handling is superb been using mine since 2013, mine still runs like it did back then, only glitch is the ground clearance. Cabin design and space are pretty good though suspension is on the softer side but handling is never an issue, it’s the best small car without any doubt

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