The newest competitor in the burgeoning hatchback segment is here. Don’t let the name fool you, Hyundai have actually revealed an all-new car, set to be positioned between the i10 and the i20.
It aims to capture the market share Hyundai was losing out to competitors and after driving it, we found out that it does indeed pack quite a punch.
The first thing you notice about the car is the sharp styling. While the fluidic design language is prevalent, there are more sharp straight along with the curves and the accentuated corners give it a different look from the curvy designs we’ve seen so far. The car is larger than the i10 and it shows on the inside as well.
Space is abundant for a car in this class. There is more than decent legroom up front and at the rear, even with tall passengers in the front. The handling is also good while the feedback from the steering and ride quality are much better than we expected. The interior is among the best in the segment, and the extensive feature list includes rear AC vents and all the communication and entertainment equipment you could ask for. However, the biggest news is the all-new diesel engine.
Hyundai have long offered a 1.1-litre diesel motor in Europe, but India never seemed to get even a glimpse. Now, however, Hyundai have plonked in the 2nd generation, U2, three-cylinder CRDi diesel engine and this should lead to not just great driveability, with fewer gear changes around town, but also much better fuel efficiency than other cars in its class. Hyundai haven’t divulged the official figures, but we expect similar output figures as the European version, which delivered 75 PS and 170 Nm of torque. The Grand i10 will also be offered with the familiar 1.2-litre Kappa petrol engine.
Hyundai India have also been tight-lipped about the pricing for the Grand i10, but expect it to nicely fill the gap between the i10 and the i20.
