Hyundai’s new Santa Cruz model is a mid-size scooter with a rather neat design that should come as no surprise considering the automaker’s reputation for producing cars with funky looks. The Santa Cruz looks almost identical to its bigger brother, Hyundai Kona, which was introduced in late 2017. The name “Santa Cruz” comes from the motorbike company that Hyundai bought in 1988 and merged with its car division in 1998. In this case, the company has rebranded its scooters under the Hyundai brand, as opposed to simply naming them after the famous models. The new model will be sold in markets like Japan and South Korea under a different name and could be sold here as well when it arrives here sometime next year (2020). However, given how its competitors have already received their updated versions by then, we expect it to be offered by a number of local auto dealerships under this new variant’s brand name at first before being replaced by another version later on once the auto industry catches up with these upcoming models.
Hyundai Santa Cruz Price in India
While the Santa Cruz is a “new” model in its home market of South Korea, it’s actually been on sale for a couple of years now in other markets. We’re talking about Singapore and India specifically, where the scooter has been on sale since 2017. The price of the scooter in these markets, however, was a little higher than the Japanese model’s starting price. At the time, the Santa Cruz was sold in Singapore at S$ 5,995 (INR 3,2 lacs) while in India it was available for a price of INR 2.87 lacs. Given that it was a relatively new model in these markets and that the price difference was substantial, we expected the Santa Cruz to be sold here in India at a slightly lower price, around INR 2.5 lacs, or $370 less. We were right about the price, but not the exact amount. The scooter was sold in India at a price of INR 2.25 lacs, which is around $310 less than its original price in these markets. Hyundai has not revealed the reason for the price drop in India, but we expect it to be the same for the upcoming Kona as well. We expect the price of the Santa Cruz to be somewhere between INR 2.25 lacs and INR 2.5 lacs in India by the time it arrives here sometime next year (2020).
Hyundai Santa Cruz Mileage
The engine of the Santa Cruz is a 48-PS, 250cc engine that’s mated to a 6-speed gearbox. The fuel efficiency of this engine is said to be around 80 km/l (1.6 lpg), which is not too bad for a 250cc scooter. The engine is mounted in a frame that makes it look a bit like a motorcycle. In the city, you can expect this scooter to go around 60-70 km (38-43 mpg), while on the highway you can expect it to go up to 100 km (62 mpg). However, we’d advise you to not trust the highway fuel efficiency figure too much, as the government has not yet allowed car manufacturers to include this particular figure in their vehicle ratings.
Hyundai Santa Cruz Specifications
The Hyundai Santa Cruz comes with a lot of standard features that make it a good value buy. In the portfolio, you can find 17-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, a digital instrument cluster, cruise control, a headlight cleaning system, a chrome grille, a black roof, a rear spoiler and a passenger grab rail. The scooter also features safety features like an anti-lock braking system, a driver awareness aid, an emergency stop brake, a brake light, a lane keep assist, a lane departure warning system and a speed limiter. The scooter also comes with an ergonomic design that makes it comfortable to ride for long distances. The front seat has a good amount of cushioning that makes long rides more comfortable. The rear seat also has a decent amount of space, which is something that’s not always the case with scooters of this size.
Hyundai Santa Cruz Top Speed and braking test drive
Hyundai’s Santa Cruz follows in the footsteps of the Kona and brings with it a top speed of around 65 km/h (40 mph). The scooter can easily be controlled at higher speeds thanks to the A-class handling ability of the Santa Cruz and its impressive braking ability as well. We didn’t experience any sudden braking or jerky behaviour while braking on the Santa Cruz, which is something that you’d especially notice on a larger scooter. This is because the Santa Cruz’s brakes have a good amount of stopping power, but they’re also very linear. The brakes on the Santa Cruz work in a very straightforward manner, which helps make them feel a lot more powerful than they actually are. The brakes do require a little bit of effort to operate, but they offer a lot of stopping power and are easy to control at high speeds.
Final Words: Is the Hyundai Santa Cruz Scooter for you?
The Hyundai Santa Cruz is one of the most affordable mid-size scooters available in the market. With a starting price of around INR 2.25 lacs, it’s not only less expensive than most of its competitors, but it’s also arguably more powerful as well thanks to its engine. The Santa Cruz is also one of the most comfortable scooters we’ve ever tested thanks to its ergonomic design and its good suspension setup. Yes, it’s a little on the heavy side, but its smaller dimensions also make it easier to park compared to some of its bigger scooter competitors. The Hyundai Santa Cruz is one of the most affordable and stylish scooters in the market and will appeal to those looking for a powerful, stylish scooter that’s also affordable and easy to park.
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