By Staff Reporter

The Hyundai Atos and Getz are probably two cars that made Mzansi really notice the Hyundai brand. They were affordable and reliable. The brand has matured since then and no longer trades on undercutting the competition with low prices. The brand is well-established in the market and generally charges market related rates for its offerings. That has meant that a gap has opened up in the entry to the brand as the Grand i10 is priced from R171,900 now, making it slightly out of reach for most first-time car buyers. Coming in at over R11,000 cheaper, the Atos is here to change that and rekindle its love affair with Mzansi.

Exterior and interior

The Atos features a modern “tall boy design” and looks like nothing like the last Atos sold in SA. It is actually closer in looks to the Grand i10 and bears the prominent, and distinct Hyundai grille upfront.

Inside the body, with outer dimensions of 3,61 and 1,64 cm, the cabin is said to allow a lot of head space and leg room.

The extensive list of standard features includes:

• An infotainment system with a 7-inch touch screen and Apple Carplay and Bluetooth connectivity;
• An onboard computer;
• A multifunction steering with remote buttons for the radio, sound system and Bluetooth-connected cell phone;
• A dedicated USB charging socket that also serves as a connection point for Apple’s Carplay, as well as an extra 12V power socket;
• An air conditioner; and
• Electrically controlled front side windows.

Safety

In terms of safety, the Atos offers airbags for the driver and front passenger; ABS to keep control under emergency braking, especially on a wet road; and ISOFIX child seat attachment points on the rear seat bench.

Engine

The Atos is powered by a 4-cylinder 1,086 cc engine with 50 kW of power and 99 Nm of torque. This may not seem like much but the Atos is super light and importantly frugal with a claimed fuel consumption of 5,7 litres per 100 km.

Pricing

The Atos is priced from R159,900 and price includes a 7-year/200,000 km warranty , 1-year service plan and roadside assistance for 7 years or 150,000 km.