The Hyundai Eon is one of the best hatchbacks in the entry level segment but the only thing which goes against the vehicle is the lack of performance from its 814cc, 3-cylinder engine. Many people have complained about the lack of grunt from the Eon’s 3-pot motor on the highways and at hilly areas where the engine simply doesn’t have the pull to keep the Eon smoothly on the move. For city duties, the Eon’s 55 BHP is more than enough but for the highways, the Eon needs a bigger engine.
Hyundai will be launching a more powerful version of the Eon, something which we reported last year but what engine will go underneath its hood is not confirmed yet. Hyundai is testing the Eon along with the next generation i20 and the company will also launch a minor facelift of the vehicle early next year. The Hyundai Eon is expected to get a 1.1-litre petrol engine which will become the second engine option on this entry level car. The Eon 1.1 will compete with the Alto K10, which has recently come under heavy criticism for being a very unsafe car.
The 1.1-litre engine which will power the Eon is currently on duty in the Santro Xing. The 1086cc, 4-cylinder unit produces a respectable 63 BHP of peak power at 5500 RPM and 91 Nm of peak torque at 3000 RPM. It is mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox and Hyundai is likely to offer LPG and CNG alternatives as well. With this engine, the Hyundai Eon will please those who are looking at their first car to have decent highway performance. We pitted the Alto 800 against the Eon last year and the Hyundai come out on top thanks to its better quality, more space, modern styling and lack of cheapness. Last month Hyundai sold 6946 units of the Eon in the domestic market.
