2022 Hyundai Eon Short Review: Is It the Eon Top Model?

A seasoned motorist would probably have a slight reservation or two in driving a somewhat minuscule car much like the Hyundai Eon along twisting and dangerously steep mountain passes much in the likes of the Kennon Road, AKA Rosario–Baguio Road

But don't be alarmed Georgy boy because a previous test run on the Hyundai Eon was proven successful enough to quickly dispel that misplaced fear of yours for driving such a toy, er, small car, en route to the great Cordillera mountain range. (need we say dangerous too, yikes, hah-hah)

According to Car Guide. ph, it gets even better as the Hyundai Eon, while even powered with a small-fry 0.8-liter engine can yes

But what's more, according to the same website, the Hyundai Eon was proven quite fuel-efficient enough as it bags in an average of 23.406 km/L after a four-hour journey starting from Manila up to Baguio. (not bad)

The ultimate question then would be why'd this Match Box car er, Hyundai Eon make it to the top? Guess, we'd better find out more soon enough (about the itty-bitty details) as Georgy boy here is itching for a ride for them rugged hills up North. (hah-hah)

EXTERIOR

The Hyundai Eon is unquestionably much smaller than a Ford Eco Sport.

The Eon was built primarily using the Hyundai Fluidic design concept, a principle of aesthetic artforms that is heavily inspired by nature, as evidenced by the attractive curves found all over the car's body. 

Measuring in at a pint-sized 3,495mm long, 1,550mm broad, and 1,500mm at the tip of its roof lines while some of the Eon's standout features include a stylishly spun hexagonal front grille for effective air distribution, two largely sweptback headlights, imposing front and rear fenders, eye-catching tall taillights, body-colored door handles and side mirrors, and a rear spoiler with a high-mounted stop lamp.

To complete this dashing ensemble, of course, the Hyundai Eon sports 13-inch wheels with snug-fitting 155/70 R13 tires that lend a somewhat sportier appeal to the car. 

INTERIOR

The Hyundai Eon has a 2,380mm wheelbase, which for such a flimsy-looking vehicle results in a more spacious head and enough legroom for five grown adults.

The fluidic-design themed interior with its stunning silver accents, the green-hued analog instrument display, the three-spoke manual tilt steering wheel, the well-crafted dashboard with durable plastic buttons and controls, the admirable single-unit music system for entertainment, those cute cupholders, the ample glove compartment, and the comfortable seats with vinyl and fabric covers are just a few of the car's exceptional features. However, the headrests are not quite cozy enough, especially for taller people like basketball players Kareem Abdul Jhabar or maybe even good ol' Shaq. (Shaquille O'Neal, who else? Hah-hah)

PLATFORM/CHASSIS

Similar to the Kia Picanto, Hyundai i10, and Kia Ray, the Hyundai Eon rides on the same inflexible exoskeleton of the Hyundai-KIA SA platform.

And according to HyundaiPasig.com, the Eon was structurally reinforced with a strong body mass that was intended to withstand impact force from car collisions despite being a featherweight among small and nimble cars.

Meanwhile, Eon's front wheel is managed by a McPherson strut suspension, and its rear-wheel is handled by a torsion beam axle, while the front of the said car is equipped with disc brakes and the rear is installed with drum brakes.

Additionally, even in high-trim Eons, ABS and EBD braking systems are a no-show. (darn shame hah-hah)

ENGINE

Both the 813 cc three-cylinder engine and the 1.0-liter engine are bolted down to a 5-speed manual transmission in the Hyundai Eon. The 1.0-liter plant has a boosted rating of 68 horsepower and 94 Nm of torque, while the 813 cc three-cylinder mill delivers an excellent 56 hp and 76 Nm of torque

But better fear not, Georgy boy (hah-hah) as those engine grunts ultimately disappear when the car engine is revved up or as the engine rpm rises. (far out!)

TECH AND SAFETY SPECS

The Hyundai Eon offers the barest of essentials in terms of safety features, as this reasonably priced five-door city car is largely equipped with just the standard side-impact bars, side repeaters, the basic seatbelts, and rear child safety door locks.

Moreover, the same holds for entertainment, as a 6.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system comes with Mirror Link, an app that allows users to operate navigation through smartphones, thus, upgrading the largely uninterestingly-drab cabin amenities, especially of the Eon 2017 trim or the 800 cc Eon hatchback. (guess it doesn't get much worse than this hah-hah)

PRICE

The cost of the Hyundai Eon varies depending on the country; for instance, the base model costs 3.33 lakh rupees in India, which is equivalent to P232,150.30 in the Philippines, while the top trim costs 4.67 lakh rupees, which is equivalent to P325,520.32 in the local currency of PHL; this is, by the way, the cost of the top-spec 1.0 Kappa Magna (O) that is offered in the former's market.

Filipino car shoppers can still purchase a pre-owned Hyundai Eon in a somewhat mint condition even if the Eon is no longer offered for sale as a brand-new vehicle. A used Eon may be purchased for as little as P250,000, according to Philkotse.com.

But despite being globally discontinued; nevertheless, there is only one model of the Hyundai Eon available at the moment, and it is the Hyundai Eon 0.8 GLX 5MT, which carries a price tag of P350,000 according to ZigWheels.ph.

CONCLUSION

After briefly discussing some of the Hyundai Eon's standout features, we'll go on to a more kind of, stimulating topic of how the company's engineers (Hyundai Motors) were recently kind of preoccupied with eliminating excess weight from their lineup of commercially-viable vehicles, which includes the Hyundai Eon.

As it stands, the Hyundai Eon had already been body-slashed 380 grams off its ideal Kerb weight of 715 Kg, just like the other Hyundai vehicles that are currently being subjected to a strict weight-control initiative called "i-Project." 

Under this company protocol, a team of 50 Indian and Korean HM engineers was working around the clock to find ways to implement effective weight-reduction measures for the company's lineup of commercial cars, according to MotorBeam.com (Wonder what they're up to?)

So, what are you waiting for Georgy boy, better head on back and take out those dusty 'ol Jane Fonda's exercise tape you're blabbering on about, then let's get physical! (hah-hah, no sweat)