Hyundai Eon (2012-2016)

The Hyundai Eon carries its fluidic design theme in a well-executed manner in the interior cabin as well. The dashboard’s design does not make Eon feel like an entry-level car if the very basic list of features is not taken into consideration.

The Eon has got a three-spoke steering wheel with silver accents on all the three spokes, which actually belongs to the older generation of Hyundai cars. However, it works here as the Eon is an entry-level offering. The three-pod analog instrument console looks nice with green lighting, with separate housings for all the data.

The waterfall-like center console is the best part of the entire interior cabin of the Hyundai Eon, which looks a bit premium with silver linings on its outer parts. However, the design for the single din music system mars the show a bit. The upper portion of the dashboard here has a cavity on the co-passenger side to store one’s small belongings, which is a nice touch here.

Since it’s an entry-level minicar, don’t expect the Eon to offer you loads of equipment on offer. It just covers up the basic features like front power windows, manual AC, tilt adjustable steering wheel and a single din music system.

The Hyundai Eon was one of the very first cars to bring some style statement to the otherwise boring segment of entry-level mini cars. The Eon shares its fluidic design philosophy with the bigger Hyundai offerings. However, the fact that the basic design has remained unchanged now for almost seven years is making the Eon feel too long in the tooth.

Starting from the front, the Hyundai Eon has got a smiley-like front grille, which gets a tilted-towards-upward chrome garnish. The sweptback headlamps with a big kink towards the upper edges, along with the hexagonal housing for the front grille, make the front of the Eon appear larger.

The side profile of the Hyundai Eon is the most striking angle to look at, with the profile being full of characteristic curves on the front fender, rear fender and the sharp curve running all the way from the headlamp to the tail lamp. The full wheel caps and body colored finish for door handles and rear view mirrors prevent the Eon to look basic.

At the rear, the Hyundai Eon’s majority of the highlight is taken away by the large tail lamps, which are nicely styled with a curve running in the middle of it. This curve extends all the way below the rear windshield, thus making the boot appear larger than what it is. The rear bumper has a high loading lip, which adds in some more visual appeal to the rear of the car.

Thanks to its small footprints, the Hyundai Eon makes for a perfect tool for driving within tight city traffic conditions. The Macpherson struts with coil springs at the front and a torsion beam with coil springs at the rear are setup on a slightly stiffer side to make the Eon agile and complement with its light steering. The 13-inch wheels, however, are a bit puny to look at, though they provide decent grip for city commuting. Another area where there is a scope of improvement is the rear seat space, for the Eon lacks sufficient amount of headroom and legroom given its compact dimensions. 

For the Eon, Hyundai has employed its smallest engine in its global lineup, which works well for a car of this size. The 814cc petrol powered engine of the Hyundai Eon is decent enough to produce a maximum power output of 56 PS and a peak torque output of 74 Nm. The three-cylinder engine lacks the refinement levels of the modern cars, given the fact that it is almost a seven year old engine with no changes even on the tuning part. However, it is silent enough to not sound gruff, with the engine delivering decent fuel efficiency figures in all driving cycles.

It is this particular aspect where the Hyundai Eon feels the most archaic, as the car lacks any of the modern safety features which are now taken for granted. The Eon even lacks the presence of front airbags and ABS, which is quite alarming given these two features are now a must to have ones. In the name of safety equipment, the Hyundai Eon comes with side impact bars, side repeaters, and seatbelts, and that’s it! It even lacks a central locking system, which makes it very basic.

With almost no changes in its entire lifetime, the Eon now feels a bit dated. And making the matters even worse is the fact that it seriously lacks a number of comfort and convenience features as well as safety equipment. However, for a car of this size and price, the Eon looks a bit upmarket and premium, courtesy its fluidic design in and out. The ride quality, as well as performance too, doesn’t provide an out of the box experience, however, they are decent enough to complement its city commuter appeal. All in all, the Eon just needs a bit more equipment to make it feel a value for money offering.