Hyundai S-F 2021 Review: What you need to know before buying

Hyundai has been a presence in the Indian market for quite some time. In fact, the brand was the first to offer cars here from 2012. Since then, it has only gotten better. After establishing itself with value-for-money offerings such as the i10 and i20, Hyundai is now taking its game up another notch. At an event in New Delhi on Monday, October 22, Hyundai unveiled its new lineup of vehicles that are set to change the way we look at cars in India. The brand has called this new age ‘S-F’ and named its first model S-F 2021 (or S For Sporty). It will be followed by S-F 2022 (or S For Future) the next year. This new naming system makes sense as Hyundai is not just targeting buyers but also car makers within itself - it wants to position itself as a leader in premium compact cars within Korea and South Asia as well.

Hyundai S-F 2021: What to expect?

The introduction of the Hyundai S-F 2021 comes with a lot of expectation. The brand is looking to take on the likes of the BMW 2 Series, Mercedes-Benz A-Class and Ford Fiesta while also offering something a little different. Hyundai is making the 2021 S-F as a rival to the much-touted 1 Series Sedan. In fact, it is even pushing the 1 Series’ softening as it will have a new 2.0-litre direct injection turbo petrol engine in India. With the 2021 S-F, Hyundai hopes to bring in buyers from the luxury sedan segment and also target young buyers who may have considered buying a sub-3-series hatchback before.

Hyundai S-F 2021 Engine Lineup

Hyundai is introducing a new family of engines for the 2021 S-F. The S-F 2021 will come with a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine producing 82 PS, a 1.5-litre diesel producing 105 PS and a new 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine which will be the first in the sub-compact segment to produce more than 150 PS. This is also Hyundai’s first diesel engine in India. Hyundai is also introducing a new 4-cylinder petrol engine that will come with an Atkinson-cycle to offer more power. This will be an alternative to the 1.5-litre petrol engine in the S-F 2021.

Hyundai S-F 2021 Price in India

The Hyundai S-F 2021 will be priced at Rs 25 lakh in India. While it may seem expensive when compared to the upcoming Hyundai Creta, the Creta’s price will be around Rs 1.5 lakh more when it arrives in India next year. The S-F will be launched in India in early 2020 and it will be Hyundai’s first model to hit the Indian market.

Hyundai S-F 2021 Release Date

The 2021 S-F will be available for purchase when the Indian market opens for the new year. Hyundai is planning to launch the S-F in eight variants. The S-F will be available in three trims - SE, Sport and Sport+ - and will come with a host of features. Hyundai is planning to launch the car in Istanbul, London, New York and Seoul. Hyundai is not confirming a launch date for the S-F in India yet.

Hyundai S-F 2021 Top Speed and Acceleration

The new Hyundai model is built to be a sporty car. The S-F may not have the same power as a hatchback or sedan but will certainly not be slow either. The car is likely to come with a CVT transmission as a standard feature. It will also be available with a six-speed manual transmission. The S-F will offer a new 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine that will be able to produce more than 150 PS. This will be Hyundai’s first turbo petrol engine in India and it will be interesting to see how it performs against the competition. The car will also come with a new 2.5-litre diesel engine that will be the first diesel in the sub-compact segment to produce more than 105 PS.

Conclusion

Hyundai has introduced the S-F 2021 to take on the 1 Series Sedan. However, the compact sedan from BMW has received mixed reviews and has notched up just two stars out of five from NCAP safety tests. The new Hyundai model, on the other hand, has received positive feedback from critics and has also received a five-star NCAP rating. The new Hyundai model is expected to offer class-leading interior comfort, strong build quality and impressive fuel economy. Interested buyers can look forward to the S-F when it arrives on Indian roads next year.