Sedans, these long-bodied low slung four-wheelers are the first image that comes to mind when someone says the word “car”. The rise of the SUV in recent years has put great pressure on the sedan market by questioning their practicality and dwindling their sales numbers.

But sedans do have their separate fan base. While there are people that love to sit high and look down to the road and maul over every bad section, there are also people who like to sit lower to the ground and speed through corners without the fear of flipping over. And just like how there are SUVs at every level, the manufacturers are also doing the same with the sedans.

Enter Aura, Hyundai’s replacement of the Xcent sedan that is poised to take over the entry-level sedan market. What kind of aura will the Aura give off while we take it for a demanding drive? Read on to find out.

Exterior

The Hyundai Aura is certainly a good looker much like its hatchback brother but doesn’t do a whole lot to differentiate itself from its sibling. Upfront you will see a design that looks smart and ready for business but also sharp, edgy, and ready for a sporty getaway. The chrome-encased front grille is finished with premium satin material and it showcases snazzy-looking twin boomerang daytime running lamps (DRL).

The headlights although halogen blend in perfectly with its angular aggressive design. Other elements on the front include circular fog lamps housed in triangular cladding and a large air dam that sits below the grille. The side profile indicates a coupe-like styling with solid wheel arches created by two character lines. The coupe element is further accentuated by a blacked-out C-pillar and a boot lip that is raised only slightly to complete the effect.

The rear of the Aura is equally handsome with the most prominent features being the boot lip that adds another styling feature to the car and the tail lamps which look especially cool with the LED strip that is present along its boundaries. The rear end is finished by the company logo in the center and a large AURA badging underneath it just like in the Hyundai Venue.

Interior

Let’s talk about the most important aspect of a sedan, the legroom. The Aura has an identical wheelbase of 2,450mm to the Nios hatchback. However, being a sedan, the Aura is naturally longer measuring in at 3,995mm, 190mm longer than the hatchback. The front passengers get maximum legroom of 1050mm, while the rear passengers have 885mm of legroom. All this means there is plenty of room to stretch the legs of all the passengers inside the Aura.

The dashboard and the interior are finished in black, and off-white. The elements on the dash get brownish copper trims with a 3D effect that instantly amplifies the look and feel of the cabin, the said trim is always the attention grabber when you are inside the Aura. The front seats come with adequate adjustment options and finding the perfect driving spot wouldn’t be a chore. The seat themselves provide good back and thigh support making you feel rested even after a long drive.

The seats in the rear also deliver great back and thigh support as well as side bolster support. The rear bench can also accommodate three passengers with surprising levels of comfort. The boot capacity of the Hyundai Aura is also a generous 402 liters. Road trips galore!

Okay let’s talk equipment, you are greeted with a large touchscreen infotainment screen. The main infotainment screen is responsive and fluid and also functions as a rearview monitor that provides a live feed from the rear camera. Other nifty equipment in the Aura include an Arkamys sound system with Hyundai iblue app connectivity and eco coating for the AC, the vents of which receive a circular aeroplane propeller type styling. Overall, the Aura features an interior that feels great and is one of the best in the segment.

Performance

The Hyundai Aura is powered by a 1.2-liter 4-cylinder MPI BS-6 petrol mated to a 5-speed manual transmission that makes 81 bhp and 113Nm of torque. While the numbers aren’t anything to be awestruck by the Aura pulls its weight just fine. The car builds up speed in a linear manner and reaches triple-digit speeds slowly but with ease. Overtakes too come with only a little effort and the car will cruise along happily at highway speeds.

The Hyundai Aura, although based on a hatchback, brings classic sedan handling to the table. The car sticks to the tarmac, and the steering while annoyingly light is actually precise. The Aura can turn in with haste and come out swinging making up for a really fun drive. Braking is taken care of by discs at the front and drums at the rear.

The bite could have been stronger but the car comes to a halt rather quickly making it a safer drive. The ride on the Aura is cushy… Like all Hyundais, you rarely feel the pots and bumps on the road as the suspension works overtime to absorb all the irregularities on the road only letting only large bumps filter into the cabin.

All this performance is backed up by a host of safety features. The Hyundai Aura comes with Front Dual Airbags, Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Rear Parking Sensor, an Emergency Stop Signal, and many more.

Verdict

The Hyundai Aura is for those sedan people looking for a great-looking car that can take them places in style. The interior comes loaded with tech and convenience & practical features. The drive on the Aura is nothing short of smooth and efficient, and you also get a lot of safety kits to back up the admirable performance it delivers.

Available in only one variant that gets all the goodies with a price tag that comes across as affordable, the Aura establishes itself as the perfect entry point into the sedan market whether for first-time drivers who are looking to get a sedan instead of the usual hatchback or a small SUV or older drivers who want a taste of a sedan without actually breaking the bank.