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Agony
aunt
Can’t decide
between the Fiat Palio 1.2 and the Hyundai Santro? We play matchmaker.
Text and photos:
Parameswaran
 For
some years now, I have been very friendly with my neighbour, Santro. She
also seems to be interested in me, and though she is not exactly good
looking, till recently, I thought she understood my needs and would make
a good partner. I was planning to propose to her and make her mine, but
suddenly, another girl, Palio, came into my neighbourhood. She is extremely
beautiful and has swept me off my feet. Though we don’t know each
other very well, I think she is interested in me too. I am extremely confused.
Which one should I go for? Please help.
– Anon
Well, Anon, yours is not the first letter of this kind we have received.
We wish the matter was as easy as printing one of the two names you have
mentioned, but we think you need to examine what exactly you seek in a
partner and what you can offer her in return. Most importantly, it’s
also vital to comprehend whether this matches her expectations and abilities
too. Sit back as we point you in the right direction and the right car.
Remember, the decision is ultimately yours to make, so read on carefully!
Let’s take two comparative models of the Fiat Palio 1.2, the ELX
and the Hyundai Santro, the LS, keeping in mind the similarities in the
features available. While both offer air con, power steering, central
locking, a rear wash/wipe, remote boot and fuel flap releases and body
coloured bumpers as standard, the Santro LS comes with power windows for
only the front passengers vis-à-vis the Palio ELX’s controls
for all four windows. This Palio also offers a rear defogger in addition
to the features found on the Santro. In both, a stereo system will have
to be fitted in as an extra. Price tags? The Santro LS will set you back
Rs 3,91,574 (3,96,000 for colours other than white or black), while the
Palio will lighten the bank account by Rs 3,99,000 ( both prices ex-showroom
Mumbai). Now that we have the contenders’ credentials established
clearly, let’s begin.
Which one hogs the limelight?
The Hyundai Santro has been around for about three years now. Yes, when
it was new on the market, it definitely drew more eyeballs than the Palio
does today, but that is more due to its out of the world styling than
sheer good looks. While it’s not a bad-looker in profile or from
behind, its goldfish-like face definitely does not win it a nomination
for the Ms Universe stakes. But that hasn’t stopped people from buying
the Santro by the thousands... or keeping goldfish as pets, right? Check
out the new Santro at the showrooms now – since March this year,
minor detailing changes have freshened up this little car. Clear lens
head lamps, re-styled tail lamps, new upholstery and some more... but
all this still doesn’t add up to a new car.
Your neighbours have seen the Santro all over the place, and probably
own one themselves... so you’re not going to get the attention you
think you deserve as you park your new car prominently at home. But if,
on the other hand, you prefer to be understated and want to blend in with
the innocuous John Smiths of this world, you couldn’t be wiser than
to choose a Santro. Just a tip – if anonymity is the name of the
game, don’t choose that ocularly aggressive shade that goes by the
misleadingly cute name of ‘Tweety
yellow.’
The Palio has been in the offing for quite a few years now. If it had
been introduced now sporting the same I.DE.A-designed face as the Siena
and the Weekend (which share its platform), it probably wouldn’t
have attracted half as much attention as the Santro does now. Built around
a more traditionally proportioned body-style than the tall-boy Santro,
the Palio, with its re-styled (and extremely gorgeous, we have to add,
pant, pant...) Giugiaro exterior definitely gets eyeball priority over
the Korean, much like Baywatch scores above KBC. Yes, those come-hither
clear-lens headlamps, all those curves in the right places and a cutesy
rear end make this Italian quite a looker. The Palio attracts the questions,
all those envious looks and sighs, even shaking the Santro owner into
questioning his decision.
Sinful looks? The Palio. Quiet presence? The Santro.
Which one is more inhabitable?
How old are you? If you are well into middle age and arthritic aches and
pains, the Santro is the obvious choice. That’s because its tall
boy configuration allows you to step from the sidewalk into the car and
directly into the seat without flexing your body too much. Getting in
and out of the lower Palio means bending a little and then sinking into
your seat, something that demands a fairer share of youth and a supple
body. The Palio is fine if you have to get in and out occasionally (read,
it’s your neighbour’s car), but if you have to go through the
process repeatedly, day after day (read, it’s yours), that’s
going to be a bit tougher than with a Santro. The counterpoint? Bigger
built people will appreciate the Palio for the shoulder room it offers
– it’s quite a bit wider inside than the Santro, you see. Ride
quality is class-leading stuff in the Italian, and that means those bone-jarring
potholes will be ironed out with contemptuous ease. The Santro is sprung
a lot stiffer to compensate its dynamics for its height, and that means
those rutted roads are going to be a lot more telling on body and soul.
The equation is simple – if you live where dirt tracks go by the
name of roads, the Palio is going to make the going smooth for you. If,
on the other hand, you are blessed with silky smooth tarmac, the Santro
will glide you to wherever you choose... and allow you to get in and alight
with the slightest of effort.
When it comes to interiors quality, the Korean wins. The quality of fit
and finish outclasses the somewhat make-it-cheap fare in the Italian,
and that means a youthful (and quirky) facia will greet you as you step
into the car, combined with cheery upholstery. The Santro’s air-con
system tries better and more silently to keep the sun’s heat out
while its high-position seats allows for a panoramic view outside. That
makes for a travelling experience that’s less claustrophobic than
in the Palio. Want to check this last statement out? Try crawling through
metro traffic jams in both and you’ll quickly agree with us. Bad
roads? The Palio. Tired bones? The Santro.
Which one is better to drive?
Yes, these cars are more often than not self-driven, and the question
in turn is what you expect of the car. Do you want a machine that will
clock better performance timings? Do you need one that is driveable and
can manage third gear crawls in traffic? Or do you look for a highway
cruiser, with unruffled speed in its portfolio? What about overall handling
dynamics? While we have exhaustively road tested the Palio and the Santro
in our previous issues, let’s take a quick look at the key performance
characteristics of both again.
First, a look at the two powertrains on offer. The Palio 1.2 ELX comes
with Fiat’s proven, 8-valve, 1242 CC MPFI mill with 72 generous peak
bhp on tap at 6000 rpm and 10.4 kgm of maximum torque at 3250 rpm. It
manages 0 to 60 kph in 6.05 seconds, the run to 100 kph in 15.49 seconds,
and a top speed of 148 kph. A 0 to 100 to 0 blast takes 21.37 seconds,
while the mid range acceleration run, from 80 to 120 kph in third gear,
clocks in at 13.86 seconds. Yes, the Palio’s powertrain is extremely
comfortable in traffic, managing to hold 25 kph crawls in third gear without
stalling, and with reserves of torque even at those low revs to pull away
with a dab of the accelerator pedal. Fuel economy? About 11 kpl with the
air con in city traffic, 13 on the highway.
But this engine is more at home on the highways, and if you want a vehicle
that will take on slow moving truckies and speedier four-wheelers at one
go, this is it. And oh yes, gearshifts are compliant too, if not exactly
free-flow. While challenging a series of fast, twisty loops this car will
reveal its class-leading handling quality and can prove to be extremely
entertaining for the spirited driver. Remember this is a hatchback though,
and treat winding roads with more respect than the Palio wants to.
The Santro’s turn now to be put under the powertrain microscope.
This hatch’s 12-valve, 999 CC MPFI mill has 55 top horses coursing
through at 5500 rpm, with 8.4 kgm of torque churning out at 2500 low rpm.
With a run to 60 kph in 8.19 seconds, it goes on to achieve 100 kph in
18.12 seconds and a top whack of 140 kph. A 0 to 100 to 0 run brings up
a 22.37 seconds figure, while mid-range punch between 80 to 120 kph is
served up in 19.98 seconds. Yes, in every performance parameter, the Santro
falls a few steps behind the bigger engined Palio, but that is to be expected.
It sips fuel slower though, with 12 kpl in the city with the air con and
14 on the highway.
What you get in the Hyundai’s powertrain is silky smooth performance
with undemanding time behind the wheel and if required, providing popcorn-loads
of fun in the urban jungle. Gearshifts are sporty short-throw affairs.
An effortless power steering system and a tighter turning radius (4.4
metres versus the Palio’s 5.1 metres), combined with the vehicle’s
more compact length and width dimensions truly makes dealing with clogged
traffic a revelation. Don’t expect this tall boy to be well planted
around speedy corners though,
you’re better off in the Italian stallion if you want to hoist the
speedo needle and throw the steering wheel around. Highway blasts? The
Palio. Choking traffic? The Santro.
Which one makes ownership hassle-free?
While the Fiat Siena has been on our roads for about three years now,
there haven’t been too many problems with it as an automotive package.
That will be the case with the Palio too, considering that the two share
most crucial components. What has till date lost Fiat ground in the market
is indifferent after-sales service. Right now, measures are being taken
to support the Fiat owner with the right level of backup, especially considering
the importance of the Palio to the manufacturer’s success in India.
Over 55 dealers and 100 authorised service centres are now accessible
throughout the country, while plans are to ramp up the number to 150 service
centres by the end of next year. Spare parts have also become competitive
in pricing, thanks mainly to the efforts made to indigenise the Palio.
What’s Hyundai’s part of the deal? Firstly, the Santro has proven
itself as a reliable car. Strict quality measures were taken when it was
launched in India; for a virtually unknown auto maker to make an good
impression on the buying public, Hyundai understood the need for a strong
launch product. These measures are still in operation today, and that
is what makes them the second largest car-maker in the country. Over 105
dealers and authorised service centres make for a pro-active after-sales
service backup, while more outlets are on their way. Spare parts are readily
available at these centres and are competitively priced too.
Service with a smile? The Santro... and hopefully soon, the Palio too.
Which car should you make yours?
 If
there is one car in the hatchback segment that has won our unswerving
recommendation over the last three years, it is the Santro. After all,
it was voted as Business Standard Motoring Car Of The Year 1999, and not
without good reason. It still remains one of our favourite cars but if
you want a machine that is newer on the block and is a more complete overall
package, look no further than the Palio 1.2. At its price, it offers comfortable
seating for five, reasonable fuel economy, class-leading ride and handling
qualities as also ample performance. So to end this with two words that
are exclusive to us and our readers, happy
motoring!
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