2023 Hyundai Aura review, road-test - the right choice for your city motoring?

Hyundai has given the Hyundai Aura a slight mid-life update, the sub-four-metre sedan was launched in 2020, so this nip and tuck come at a pertinent time. While compact sedans may not be all the rage that they once were, cars like the Aura are still a good bet if you want affordable motoring for the family with a touch of class but don't want to shell out a premium for an SUV.

2023 Hyundai Aura - Design

The biggest update as part of this facelift is the new grille. It has grown in size and now takes up almost the entire nose of the car, save for the new inverted 'L' shaped DRLs flanking either end of the front bumper. The grille has a new split, hexagonal design is quite a bit more contemporary. Hyundai has also switched from its 3D chrome logos to new 2D ones with a satin finish.

Over to the rear end, things are left untouched, which means that the rear spoiler remains for a sportier aesthetic as well as the LED taillights connected via a chrome strip. Personally, the 15-inch dual-tone alloys are probably the highlight of the silhouette.

2023 Hyundai Aura - Interior

Step inside the Aura and you will notice that not much has changed. The copper-coloured accents on the dashboard fascia and surrounding the gear console give the cabin a sense of appeal. The 2023 Hyundai Aura features a voice-activated eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, TPMS, a wireless charging pad, a Type-C fast charging port, automatic climate control, cruise control and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.

A major change on the inside comes in the form of analogue dials which replaces the part-digital instrument cluster. There is a mini screen in between the dials which displays the basic vehicle information.

While the front isn't perfect for taller and broader occupants, the rear is a slightly different story. The bench seat is relatively comfortable with an adequate amount of under-thigh support, it probably serves best for only 2 passengers due to the Aura's narrow width. There are AC vents and a charging port at the back as well. The 402 litres of boot space is decent enough and the wide opening doesn't make it a task to load and unload luggage.

2023 Hyundai Aura - Engine and Ride

The 83PS and 114 Nm, 1.2-litre petrol powerplant in the Aura has been updated to comply with impending RDE requirements, and Hyundai has also made it E20 fuel compatible. It can be coupled to a 5-speed manual transmission or an AMT. The turbo and diesel options from earlier have been dropped with this update.

Driving the Aura is a straightforward experience as well, and the power delivery is linear in the lower end of the powerband at least. There is a slight dip in mid-range grunt but this shouldn't be a deal-breaker for most buyers. The engine is refined while it does get noisy as revs rise it is not really intrusive. The manual gearbox is competent too, the clutch is light and the gears slot in it precisely too.

Like most Hyundai vehicles, the steering is light to handle and simple to manoeuvre around the city. Although we would have liked it to recentre a bit better, which you notice around u-turns. The ride quality is sort of a mixed bag. This implies that bumps and smaller potholes experienced at slightly lower speeds aren't annoying, but that changes at higher speeds. High-speed stability isn't the best, with the car moving around over big undulations as the speed increases. Braking is quite good as our numbers suggest. The Aura isn't very dynamically pleasing, but rather a more point-to-point daily commuter like it is intended to be.

2023 Hyundai Aura - Verdict

The 2023 Hyundai Aura is probably not your go-to car for zipping through the city but it most definitely isn't one to be slept over either. It has easy-to-use controls, a smooth engine, and recently added safety measures, all of which make it very easy to live with. The result is a roomy small car that may wow some customers who are looking for a good family car.