2023 Hyundai Aura Facelift Review: Is This The Best Subcompact Sedan?

Hyundai Motor India finally decided to upgrade its only subcompact sedan, the Hyundai Aura, with a nip and tuck. Let’s find out if it worked.

For many years, the subcompact sedan segment has been highly misunderstood as being a personal favourite among tour operators. But if you do your research well enough, you will know that these are some of the most practical, fuel-efficient, and budget-friendly cars. And to help make my case, I have the 2023 Hyundai Aura, launched about 3 years ago as a replacement for the Hyundai Xcent. Since then, not much has changed with the car; however, with the advent of newer and stricter emission norms, Hyundai Motor India finally decided to upgrade its only subcompact sedan with a nip and tuck. Let’s find out if it worked.

Exterior

There are things that I like and don’t like about the 2023 Hyundai Aura, so let’s start with the exterior design. My first impression is very positive, and I feel that the changes are a step in the right direction. It’s not too drastic but enough to give the car a more modern and up-to-date look. The fascia now gets a new grille with a more prominent chrome surround and a more angular shape. The headlamps have also been updated, with sleeker LED Daytime Running Lights (DRLs) in a new reverse L-shape that gives the car a more aggressive look, however, I feel that some might not consider it appealing enough. Everyone is free to opine, but the front feels nicely executed to me.

Moving to the side, the most significant change is the new alloy wheels. The base variant comes with 15-inch wheels, while the higher-spec models get 16-inch wheels and add a dash of sportiness to the overall aesthetics. At the rear, the taillights have been updated with new LED elements that give the car a more premium feel.

The rear bumper has also been revised, with a new design that adds to the car's sporty look. The overall shape remains unchanged, but these subtle tweaks give the 2023 Aura a more polished appearance.

Tech & Interior

The 2023 Hyundai Aura Facelift comes with a new dual-tone leatherette finish as a standard theme on all variants. The seats themselves are comfortable and offer good support, and there is plenty of space for both front and rear passengers. The overall interior design is well-executed, with a mix of soft-touch materials and glossy finishes that give the car a premium feel.

The Aura facelift also receives a new 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, which is available only with the SX and SX (O) trims while the lower versions miss out on this. The screen is positioned high up on the dashboard, making it easy to read and use while driving. The infotainment system also comes with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, with no wireless connectivity for these, and is offered only with the top-spec versions.

Even the wireless phone charger is part of the SX AMT trim and SX (O), and so is automatic climate control. Another significant upgrade is the addition of Hyundai's Blue Link-connected car technology.

Safety Features

In terms of safety, the 2023 Hyundai has added extra layers to secure the passengers inside by offering 6-airbags on top specs and 4 airbags on lower versions. The subcompact sedan also receives Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) now as a standard fitment, along with Hill-Start Assist and a rear parking camera with display on the higher trims. The car is also loaded with 30 plus safety features for the passenger’s well-being, however, it is not yet tested by the Global NCAP.

Engine & Transmission

Now with the update for 2023, Hyundai has also updated its engine options with the Aura, and this is where my biggest issue lies with the car because now you only have the 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine and a CNG option, so there’s no diesel and no turbo petrol options. This is exactly the case with the Grand i10 Nios but honestly, I would’ve rather preferred Hyundai retaining at least the diesel unit, just to keep things interesting.

Ride & Handling

In terms of the driving dynamics, the car is largely the same as before and so you don’t feel a lot of difference in its tuning, and even with the suspension setup. The engine is very nice and refined, so you don’t get to hear a lot of outside noise into the cabin, and I really like that. The grunt is clearly present from the naturally aspirated unit, and I really like that part of the car. But the issue here is that once you go over potholes in high speeds, you will feel those bumps and that is not the case at lower or even medium speeds. Not a dealbreaker but is felt, nonetheless.

Prices & Variants

Now here’s where you will see the real difference, the 2023 Hyundai Aura is offered in four variants- E, S, SX, and SX (O) and seven trims including the two CNG versions. However, there is only a single AMT version on offer while the competition like the Maruti Suzuki Dzire and even the Tata Tigor bring in 9 trims and 12 trims respectively including multiple automatics and CNG versions.

In this case, the Tata Tigor is the most affordable subcompact sedan in the segment and undercuts both the Hyundai Aura facelift and the Maruti Suzuki Dzire by a healthy margin.

Verdict

To sum it all up, the Hyundai Aura is a well-packaged product with a healthy list of equipment on offer, typical of Hyundai however, it is pricier than the Tata Tigor which commands a high Global NCAP safety rating while the Maruti Suzuki Dzire is highly-priced of the lot.

If you have budget constraints, then there’s no better alternative than the Tata Tigor. As a city commuter, though, the Hyundai Aura is not a bad option.

Photography By: Jitendra