With the competition in the small car segment heating up, Hyundai have launched the all-new Grand i10 in India to add more fuel to the fire.
Hyundai are a preferred car brand among many owing to their modern ‘Fluidic’ design language and the inclusion of the latest entertainment and connectivity features. The new Grand i10 is a great addition to their line-up, positioned between the i10 and the i20, in the ‘compact high entry’ segment.
The first thing to note is that it is a completely different car to the i10. Yes, it does replace the i10 in some global markets, but buyers in India get more choice. And that’s always a good thing. The new Grand i10 aims to offer more space and practicality to the everyday car user and promises to deliver on the driving experience as well. The boot is a reasonably large 256 litres and the glovebox offers decent space too, apart from being cooled. But the highlight for many will be the debut of a significant new arrival – Hyundai’s 1.1-litre diesel engine.
That’s right, the company’s long-awaited small diesel motor finally arrives in its 2nd-generation guise, the U2. It is a three-cylinder unit making 71 PS and 160 Nm. It is also expected to deliver top-of-its-class real-world fuel efficiency figures, with an ARAI-certified 24 km/l. There’s also the 1.2-litre Kappa petrol engine with 83 PS and 114 Nm on offer, with a ARAI-certified 18.9 km/l. Both engines are mated to a five-speed manual transmission driving the front wheels. A four-speed automatic option for the petrol will also be offered later on.
The car brings in a visibly futuristic and attractive interior layout, which is also very functional. The quality of materials and levels of fit and finish are excellent, and not just when compared to cars in its segment. It also brings in segment-first rear AC vents. The top-end model will also offer an audio system with 1 GB of internal memory. That saves you space on your flash drives, by letting you save your favourite songs to the car’s memory directly. The steering wheel-mounted controls also help jog through your playlist apart from take control of phone calls. Safety features include adjustable headrests front and rear, with ABS and dual front airbags available only on the top models. You also get a rear wiper, parking sensors and a rear power outlet too. All models run on 14” wheels with 165/65 R14 tyres. The top-end car gets optional ‘Diamond-cut’ alloy wheels. Last, but not the least, is the smart key with push-button start, offered on the higher variants.
The car is available in four variants – Era, Magna, Sportz and Asta, and eight colours, with prices starting from Rs 4.30 lakh for the petrol and Rs 5.24 lakh for the diesel (both ex-showroom, New Delhi). It is aimed squarely at the hot cakes of the segment the Maruti Ritz and Swift, Ford Figo, Honda Brio, Nissan Micra, Renault Pulse and even the Volkswagen Polo. You can read about our travel drive experience in the upcoming issue of Car India magazine.
