When the original Hyundai Santro arrived in India in 1998, it revolutionized the small car segment. It was an affordable hatchback that didn’t feel like a compromise, offering modern styling, spacious interiors, and refined driving dynamics. It quickly became known as “the people’s car,” cementing Hyundai’s presence in the Indian market.
After a brief hiatus and an unsuccessful comeback, Hyundai has now unveiled the 2025 Santro – a completely reimagined version that aims to recapture its original charm while catering to modern-day expectations. This isn’t just a nostalgic revival but a fresh take on what an entry-level family car should be in today’s evolving automotive landscape.
Table of Contents
Design
The 2025 Santro departs from its predecessors with a new design language called Sensuous Sportiness. Unlike the tall-boy stance of the original, this model balances style with practicality.
The front features Hyundai’s cascading grille, flanked by LED daytime running lights that create a unique light signature. The main headlamps are positioned lower on the bumper, giving the car a modern and sophisticated appeal. The hood has sharp creases, flowing seamlessly into the A-pillars, enhancing aerodynamics.
The side profile showcases a gently sloping roofline, ensuring sufficient rear headroom while adding a dynamic touch. A distinctive C-pillar design adds to its modern aesthetic, while 15-inch turbine-inspired alloy wheels on higher trims bring a premium feel.
At the rear, horizontal LED taillights make the car look wider, and a roof-mounted spoiler integrates the stop lamp, improving aerodynamics. The rear bumper features a blacked-out lower section, housing reflectors and a rear fog lamp on top trims.
Hyundai offers the 2025 Santro in six colors, including an exclusive Titan Gray Matte finish, previously reserved for premium Hyundai models.
Interior
Inside, the Santro feels more spacious than expected, with an open and airy cabin. Hyundai has used high-quality materials, including fabric inserts on the dashboard and door panels, making it feel premium despite its affordability.
The higher seating position gives drivers a better road view, while redesigned front seats offer improved support and bolstering. Rear passengers benefit from better legroom and a slightly higher seat position, ensuring comfort on long drives.
Technology takes center stage, with a 7-inch digital instrument cluster and an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system on base models, while top trims get a 10.25-inch display similar to Hyundai’s higher-end cars. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard, along with USB-C charging ports for both front and rear passengers.
The climate control system varies by trim, with manual air conditioning on base models and automatic climate control on higher variants. Hyundai has optimized the airflow for Indian climate conditions, ensuring effective cooling even in extreme heat.
The 310-liter boot space is one of the best in its segment, providing enough room for luggage, groceries, or weekend travel. Practical touches like large door pockets, a deep glovebox, and additional storage spaces further enhance usability.
Engine and Performance
The 2025 Santro introduces a 1.2-liter three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine from Hyundai’s Smartstream family. It produces 100 horsepower and 172 Nm of torque, making it one of the most powerful options in its segment.
The turbocharger prioritizes low-end power, ensuring smooth acceleration in city traffic. Peak torque is available from 1,500 to 4,000 rpm, making overtaking effortless.
Hyundai offers three transmission options: a 5-speed manual transmission for smooth gear shifts, a 5-speed AMT for refined shift logic and smoother gear changes, and a CVT that provides simulated gear shifts for a natural driving experience.
For the first time, the Santro also comes with a 48V mild-hybrid system on select variants. This system assists during acceleration, improves stop-start functionality, and enables coasting with the engine off, boosting fuel efficiency by 5-7 percent.
The fuel economy stands at 22 km per liter, making it an economical choice for city and highway driving.
Driving Experience
Built on Hyundai’s K1 platform, the Santro offers a stiffer body structure with lightweight materials for better performance and safety. The suspension features MacPherson struts at the front and a torsion beam at the rear, ensuring a smooth ride over rough roads without compromising handling.
The electric power steering has a quicker ratio, reducing effort while parking while maintaining stability at high speeds. The braking system includes ventilated front discs and rear drums, while top variants get solid rear discs, ensuring controlled braking in all conditions.
Ground clearance has been optimized to tackle Indian road conditions, handling speed breakers and potholes with ease.
Safety Features
Hyundai has made safety a priority in the 2025 Santro. All variants come standard with six airbags, electronic stability control, hill-start assist, and a tire pressure monitoring system. The braking system includes ABS with EBD for enhanced control.
Higher trims add autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning, and rear occupant alert, making it one of the safest cars in its class. A rearview camera is standard on mid-trim models, while the top-end variants feature a 360-degree camera, a first in this segment.
Connectivity and Smart Features
The 2025 Santro comes equipped with Hyundai’s Bluelink connected car technology, offering features such as remote engine start for automatic variants, climate preconditioning, vehicle tracking and geofencing, and over-the-air updates for infotainment and navigation.
Voice recognition is supported in multiple Indian languages, allowing users to control functions through voice commands. The digital key feature allows smartphone-based access to the car, eliminating the need for a physical key.
Price and Variants
The 2025 Hyundai Santro is priced competitively between ₹5.3 lakh and ₹8.5 lakh ex-showroom. Given the feature-loaded lineup and improved safety standards, this pricing positions the Santro as one of the most value-for-money hatchbacks in India.
Final Verdict
The 2025 Hyundai Santro successfully modernizes an iconic nameplate while staying true to its strengths – practicality, affordability, and fun-to-drive nature. With a powerful yet fuel-efficient engine, feature-rich interior, advanced safety tech, and stylish design, it is well-equipped to take on rivals like the Tata Tiago, Maruti Suzuki WagonR, and Renault Kwid.
By offering premium features at an entry-level price, the new Santro isn’t just a return – it’s a bold statement in the evolving small car segment.
FAQs
What is the mileage of the 2025 Hyundai Santro?
The new Hyundai Santro offers an impressive mileage of 22 km/l under standard test conditions.
Does the 2025 Santro come with a turbocharged engine?
Yes, it features a 1.2L turbocharged petrol engine producing 100 hp and 172 Nm torque.
What are the transmission options in the new Santro?
The Santro is available with a 5-speed manual, 5-speed AMT, and CVT gearbox options.
What safety features are available in the 2025 Hyundai Santro?
All variants come with six airbags, ABS with EBD, ESC, and hill-start assist.
What is the starting price of the Hyundai Santro 2025 model?
The new Santro starts at ₹5.3 lakh ex-showroom for the base variant.
