Hyundai Eon: Improvements we would like to see

Eons ago (no pun intended), Hyundai came up with the idea of making a small car that will eventually replace the ageing Santro. The Hyundai car which had extensive tests conducted on it was going to face the mighty Suzuki Alto. This was a car which was one of the highest selling units in the country and anything going up against it was supposed to have high value for money, a tad more space, and spades of reliability. The Eon when launched was priced higher than the Alto, however, here in the Philippines, it is one of the most affordable cars around. The reliability too is rock solid. However, it stumps us as to why did Hyundai didn't update the car in all these seven years whereas the competition has had something or the other up its sleeves. Which makes us put on our thinking hats. What if we were to redesign the next-gen Eon? What will be the features we will want to see in it.

Here is a compilation of our imagination and hope Hyundai takes notice of it.

Change ‘em looks

The Eon should now get the cascading grille which is a signature of the Hyundai cars nowadays. This will make it look more in line with the fresher crop of vehicles from the Korean carmaker’s stables. In the same vein, how about bigger 14-inch wheels and alloys to go along with it. Let the side profile remain more or less the same but move the door handles to the C-pillars. A single LED strip, at the rear, should liven up things. Of course, new bumpers are a given both at the front and back. Speaking of which, the front can also make do with LED DRLs.

 

Spice up the cabin

To be fair, the Hyundai Eon currently has one of the best cabins in its segment. However, since we are in the mood to hack, saw and replace everything, let's start afresh. How about beige for the cabin. This will brighten up things vastly. The instrument cluster will have a new white backlight whereas the meters will have a digital read-out in the middle with lot more information than provided by the current unit. The AC vents will be circular now and there will be a lot more of storage space in the cabin including a tray which can be placed below the front passenger seat.

The dashboard should include a touchscreen vivid entertainment screen that will also host Android Auto at least. We don’t expect those using iPhones to own a car which will cost Php 5,000,00. Or Hyundai doesn’t think so (insert any smiley you think will be appropriate). The steering wheel can have Bluetooth calling facility integrated into them whereas the ORVMs can be electronically adjusted from inside. Hyundai can also add a monochromatic mirror too. AC vents for the rear seat passengers can also be added here.

Rev it properly

 

Come on. You got to agree that the 800cc engine is underpowered. Bring in the 1.0-litre motor that promises 69 PS of power. It will gel well with the new looks of the car. An improved 5-speed manual transmission as well as, the convenience of an automatic should be there. How about the 4-speed torque converter from the i10? As more and more of us embrace the automatic transmission here, Hyundai can’t afford to have that base covered. Believe it or not, the bigger 1.0-litre motor too gives a better fuel efficiency than the 800cc 3-pot does.

Go to match the show, eh!

Handle with care

While at it, Hyundai can definitely tune the suspension to be more pliant over bad roads. The current one is a tad bouncy when there are no passengers in the cabin. Hyundai can definitely help dial in less rebound. The handling is acceptable as of now and things can’t be improved too much there. The NVH can also be reduced by putting in sound deadening materials under the hood or more sound absorbing materials in the cabin.

We will definitely want Hyundai to dial in some heaviness to that vague electrically assisted steering. Even at high speeds, it simply refuses to weigh up and this can cause a concern for those who love driving.

Dig deep into the parts bin

Add a couple of spoilers, graphics, red stitching to the seats, side skirts, roof rails, and LED projector lights. Mix them well with a bigger 84 PS 1.2-litre motor and you have a proper Japanese Kei car that will not look out of place on our streets. This can be a one-off and since Hyundai has many of its existing cars that have these parts, sourcing them will not be an issue either. Of course, there will be a premium here and there may not be many takers out there but still, it will project Hyundai’s sporty character especially since they now have an ‘N’ division too.

Wishful thinking

Here is the catch. While we can dream all that we want to, the word is out on the street. Hyundai is set to silently replace the Eon with a similar sized hatchback which is currently codenamed as AH2. This car will have more features, a bigger motor, and will be launched in the country soon. It is currently undergoing testing and from what we hear, will be in the showrooms in a few months from now. Looks like the dream Eon we charted out is already being made!