The Hyundai Xcent is a compact, feature-rich and sophisticated sedan that is worth considering as a used car. But before you continue to buy, you must consider a few things.

Xcent is Hyundai’s first foray into the Indian car market under 4 meters when it was launched in 2014. Hyundai Motor updated its compact car at the beginning of 2017, revising the exterior styling, more functions and a more powerful diesel engine. This is the facelifted version you should try to buy because it is better equipped and more rounded than the Xcent before the facelift.

In terms of appearance, the Xcent facelift received the modern iconic chrome-plated “stacked” front grille, a new front bumper with integrated LED DRL, a new diamond-cut alloy (petrol version only), and a new wrap-around taillight , And a new rear bumper.

Hyundai has also improved the bump absorption and ride quality of the Xcent through the facelift. Xcent can easily overcome bad patches, and the sound insulation effect is also very good. Even the steering and handling of the facelift are better. The steering is lighter, the operation is smoother and more accurate. The chassis has enough grip at the corners.

Under the hood, the modified Xcent inherits the 83-horsepower 1.2-liter gasoline engine of the previous model. However, the diesel engine went from 1.1 liters to 1.2 liters, producing 75 horsepower (3 horsepower more than 1.1 liters). Both engines are equipped with a 5-speed manual transmission as standard, and gasoline can also be equipped with a 4-speed torque converter automatic device.

Hyundai claims that the gasoline engine’s fuel economy data is 20.14kpl when paired with a manual transmission, and 17.36kpl when paired with an automatic transmission. At the same time, diesel reportedly returned 25.4kpl. It is worth noting that Xcent also offers the option of compressed natural gas drive, but this only applies to the fleet market.

The Hyundai Xcent facelift introduced five decorative levels-E, E+, S, SX and SX(O). In terms of equipment, the top-spec Xcent SX(O) variant is equipped with a 7.0-inch touch screen infotainment system with voice recognition, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and MirrorLink, keyless entry with button start/stop, and automatic climate control , 15-inch diamond-cut alloy, power folding rearview mirror, rear parking sensor and rear parking camera. In terms of safety, the Xcent facelift is equipped with dual airbags as standard. However, ABS is only standard on the first two trim parts SX and SX(O).

It is important to find a higher specification variant, such as SX or SX(O), because it will be the most fully equipped and can help you see Xcent in the best way. However, if there are budget constraints, even the mid-level S variant can meet the needs of most buyers.

As always, the choice of engine actually depends on your usage. Gasoline will be ideal for those who commute mainly in the city, while if you often travel on the highway, thrifty and powerful diesel will be the first choice. The performance of these two engines is excellent, and quite refined.

Like all modern cars, the Xcent is a reliable car, with spare parts easily available and relatively cheap. In addition, Hyundai Motor has a huge service network nationwide, which will give buyers peace of mind.

Buyer, beware…

Clutch wear

Some Xcent manual owners face premature clutch wear in their cars. Check whether the clutch feels loose or slippery, as this is a sign of clutch wear. The new clutch and pressure plate will be a relatively expensive repair.

AC cooling

Some car owners complained that Xcent’s air-conditioning system was not sufficiently cooled. Before buying, it is best to check the AC cooling coil and compressor unit.

Suspension wear

During the test drive, check whether the suspension squeaks or crashes excessively on bad roads. This is a sign of wear of the suspension bushing and must be replaced.

Also worth knowing

Several Xcent gasoline car owners complained about poor fuel efficiency data, especially the automatic version. If fuel efficiency is high on your priority list, then it is best to choose the diesel-powered Xcent.

How much does it cost

5-70 lakh rupees

Depending on the variant and engine, buying a used Xcent at any price between 5 and 700,000 rupees represents a good value. Since this model has been discontinued, there is not much demand in the second-hand car market, so there is room for negotiation to reduce the price.