Hyundai drop the i10 and bring back the Atos

A fan of small affordable hatchbacks, I grabbed the keys and spent some time behind the wheel to find out if it will compete within the segment. Since the Korean brand made its appearance in South Africa, Hyundai has competed within the entry-level hatchback segment and successfully so. With the previous generation Atos selling 45 000 units from 2005 to 2013, it is no wonder why Hyundai opted to bring back the popular name. The new model which is built in India will provide for a competitively priced first car or an ideal option for those wanting to scale down their lifestyle. The Atos is now built on the 63% more rigid K1 platform which will be featuring in both affordable Hyundai and Kia products and will result in better crash safety, sharper steering responses and lower vibration-induced noise levels.

Exterior

The new Atos is fitted with a large “smiling” grille up front while on the side you will find a stylistic crease featuring on the body panels just behind the 14-inch wheels. The Atos will be available in a variety of colours including Acid Yellow, Polar White, Titan Grey, Fiery Red, Typhoon Silver and Alpha Blue. On closer inspection, the exterior paint quality and fitment is of a high standard and resembles that of the more premium offerings in the Hyundai family. Although stylish, the exterior does remain understated but when you move inside, things change.

Interior

A feature I found very nice in the Atos was the 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The system was intuitive and allowed for music being played from the USB port and Bluetooth. The multifunction steering wheel, allow you to change tracks, adjust the volume and answer calls effortlessly. Also, the system is Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatible should you want to navigate using your favourite app or stream music from your phone. Both front occupants will enjoy electric windows and airbags as standard while at the back the Atos includes ISOFIX child seat attachments. Overall the vehicle is quite spacious on the interior with the high roofline resulting in more headroom.

Motivation

Under the bonnet there is a 1.1-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine mated to a five-speed manual gearbox. This combination produces 52 kW and develops 99 N.m of torque. This sees an estimated range of 700km to be achieved from the 35-litre petrol tank. Hyundai claims a combined fuel consumption figure of 5.7L/100km and was easily attained during our test. Highway commuting saw that figure reduced to 4.9L/100km while congested city driving returned around 6.1L/100km.

Verdict

Upon arrival at the office, the Atos instantly drew attention from both the older and younger colleagues with positive sentiments given to the exterior styling and eager enquires about the fuel consumption. With the ever-increasing of petrol prices, more and more South Africans are considering downscaling their daily drivers to something stylish, simple and frugal, and while the Atos tick all of those boxes, the Renault Kwid and Datsun Go also manages to do so. The Atos, unlike its French competitor, instils confidence driving at highway speeds as it feels more “planted” on the asphalt and remains unhindered by strong crosswinds. The little motor performs well in an urban environment but seems sluggish when tasked with getting up to highway speeds or overtaking.

Except for the multifunction steering wheel, similar features can be found in the Datsun Go and Renault Kwid although the overall finish of the interior in the Hyundai gives the impression of sturdier and more durable construction. The Atos does not only present an alternative to the segment, in my opinion, it surpasses the competition.

Warranty

The Hyundai Atos comes with a seven-year/200 000km warranty and a one-year/15 000km service plan as standard.

Price

Hyundai Atos 1.1 Motion MT – R159 900