Why would I buy it? Refinement Peppy performance Interior quality Why would I avoid it? Turbo engine no longer on offer Low rear seat What is it? 7.5 / 10 Right Front Three Quarter The Hyundai Aura was originally introduced as the successor to the Xcent sub-four metre sedan back in 2020. This time around, it has made a comeback in the facelifted avatar, along with a few feature updates and an engine that complies with the new BS6 Phase 2 emission norms. What all has changed though inside out? Let’s find out. Left Rear Three Quarter The front bumper has now been redesigned to accommodate a larger grille with a glossy black finish. The inverted L-shaped LED DRLs are positioned next to the air curtains on either side, while the Hyundai logo now sits slightly higher on the bumper, replete with a new eye-catchy finish. The rear of the model remains unchanged over its predecessor, while the side profile continues with 15-inch dual-tone alloy wheels. Is the cabin of the 2023 Aura any good? 7.5 / 10 Dashboard Step inside the refreshed Hyundai Aura and one would notice the familiar surroundings. It continues to sport the dual-tone theme, although the seat covers now get a new design. The dashboard and centre console are generously finished in a shade of brown, with the former even getting a textured finish in front of the co-passenger seat. Front Row Seats The driver's seat is height adjustable which makes it easier for both tall and short passengers to find a comfortable driving position. However, taller drivers might find it difficult to get into the most comfortable position possible because of the fixed headrests. Perhaps that's something Hyundai can add in the next-gen Aura. The centre console houses two cup holders and a small slot that can hold your smartphone or other nitty-gritties. Moving over to the second row, the seat height is marginally low which can become cumbersome during ingress and egress. What is convenient though, is the foldable armrest that gets dual cup holders. The front armrest also houses AC vents for the occupants at the rear, as well as a 12V outlet that can be used for multiple purposes. Infotainment System On the features front, the 2023 Hyundai Aura boasts of an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, voice recognition, TPMS, wireless charging pad, Type-C fast charging port, automatic climate control, cruise control, as well as a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear knob. Is the 2023 Aura nice to drive? 7 / 10 Left Front Three Quarter Going ahead, the 1.2-litre NA petrol engine will be the sole motor on offer in the Aura. This motor, which generates 82bhp and 114Nm of torque, now gets compliance for BS6 2.0 and Real Drive Emission (RDE) norms. Apart from a CNG version, customers can also pick their choice between a five-speed manual transmission and an AMT gearbox. Right Side View Driving the car is a smooth affair too, and the power delivery is linear on most occasions. The meaty range kicks in from just a shade above 2,500rpm, and continues to give that kick until it starts tapering off around 5,000rpm. Even then, the Aura manages to have a decent low-end torque, and pulling away after a speed breaker in third gear doesn’t’ result in any kind of lugging or knocking. Higher up the RPMs, the engine noise does end up filtering into the cabin, but that noise is also a tad bit sweet, and not bothersome as such. In our tests, the Aura managed to sprint from 0-60kmph in 5.33 seconds, while the 100kmph mark came up in 12.33 seconds. Left Rear Three Quarter The ride quality of the sedan is marginally on the stiffer side, although bad roads, undulations, and bumps are shrugged off rather easily at fairly moderate speeds. As the car gains momentum, a few rough surfaces do manage to make their presence felt, especially at the rear. The steering, like most Hyundai cars, is light to hold and easy to maneuver in city conditions, but the missing heft out on the open roads leaves you asking for more. Should you buy the 2023 Aura? 7.5 / 10 The 2023 Hyundai Aura then, comes off as a competitive package in the world of sub-four metre sedans. It gets class-leading features, has a refined engine with a fairly good performance for its segment, and could be one of the ideal choices as a family car, more so for intra-city runs. The design aspect is quite polarising, but that shouldn’t exactly be a deal breaker in our books. Right Rear Three Quarter There aren’t any other engine options to choose from, apart from the CNG variant. But with a starting price of Rs 6.30 lakh (ex-showroom), the Aura does make a compelling option to consider, if not shortlist right away. Chief rivals here include the Maruti Dzire, Tata Tigor, and Honda Amaze.

What is it? It’s been three years since the Hyundai Aura made its debut in the Indian market. It evolved as the elongated version of the Grand i10 Nios and now, Hyundai has given this compact sedan its first-ever update in the form of a facelift. What’s changed and what’s now? Let’s take a closer look. Front Bumper The changes to the exterior styling are subtle and most of them have been made to the facade. The 2023 Aura now gets revised bumpers with a larger and wider front grille with a gloss black mesh design. The LED DRLs too, have now been repositioned from the grille into the bumper replacing the circular fog lamps. And that’s pretty much all the changes the new Aura gets. The side profile and dimensions are unaltered and the 15-inch alloy wheels continue with the same design. The split tail lamps are adjoined by a chrome stripe and the ‘Aura’ lettering is affixed at the centre. Left Rear Three Quarter How is it on the inside? Inside, the overall layout and design of the cabin and the dashboard remain unchanged. The two-tone black and grey theme has been carried forward and the dashboard gets a brown honeycomb-like pattern at the centre. The front seats continue to have fixed headrests and the upholstery is grey in shade and a mix of fabric and leatherette material. Dashboard In the second row, the occupants get adequate back and thigh support along with AC vents, door pockets, and a centre armrest with cupholders. Since the dimensions remain similar to the earlier model, the overall space on offer is identical and seats two occupants comfortably and although it has a flat floor, taking a third passenger will be a squeeze due to limited shoulder support. What’s on the feature list? Being a Hyundai, the Aura was always a well-equipped sedan with plenty of comfort and safety features. Now, with the facelift, the list sees a revision with a bunch of new features being added to the mix. The Aura now gets footwell ambient lighting a wireless charging pad that sources its power from the 12-volt socket. USB Port/AUX/Power Socket/Wireless Charging Other inclusions are cruise control, a Type-C fast charging port and a revised design for the analogue instrument cluster which repositioned MID screen looks as compared to the older unit. It also ranks high on safety with a tyre pressure monitor and four airbags being offered as standard across the range and six airbags for the range-topping SX (O) variant. Front View Besides this, the Aura continues to be equipped with features such as an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, rear aircon vents, a cooled glovebox, automatic climate control, and a height-adjustable driver seat. What’s under the hood? Gone are the 1.0-litre turbo-petrol and 1.2-litre diesel engines that were previously offered with the outgoing version of the Aura. Instead, the compact sedan is now only offered with a single petrol engine along with a CNG alternative. Gear Shifter/Gear Shifter Stalk The 1.2-litre naturally-aspirated motor in its petrol guise puts out 82bhp and 114Nm of torque and comes mated to a five-speed manual and an AMT unit. Meanwhile, the same motor in its CNG version gets a lower output of 68bhp and 95Nm of peak torque. This, however, is offered only with a manual transmission. What about its pricing and rivals? The new Hyundai Aura is available in four variants – E, S, SX, and SX (O). With a premium of Rs 10,000 to Rs 30,000, the new Aura now has a starting price of Rs 6.30 lakh (ex-showroom). Meanwhile, the CNG version is offered only in S and SX trims that are priced at Rs 8.10 lakh and Rs 8.87 lakh, respectively. Front View As for its rivals, the Aura continues its competition with the likes of the Maruti Suzuki Dzire, Honda Amaze, and Tata Tigor. While the Amaze is presently the most expensive sedan in the segment with prices ranging from Rs 6.89 lakh to Rs 9.48 lakh, the Dzire and the Tigor have marginally lower starting prices of Rs 6.24 lakh and Rs 6.10 lakh, respectively.