Hyundai’s compact but Grand i10
Hyundai Motor took the battle to the mighty Maruti Suzuki with the introduction of the i10. Armed with just a petrol engine, the i10 sold close to 8,000 units a month. The country fell in love with the sheer quality the car offered and undoubtedly the brand became a venerable force. The South Korean multinational automotive giant did not stop there and launched the Grand i10 and wooed more customers.
Housing a 1.2-litre engine that develops 81bhp and prices starting at Rs. 4.74 lakh (ex-showroom), the Grand i10 is the first choice for a huge number of first-time car buyers. And when a car achieves something like that, one thing is certain. It has to be a hit among youngsters. And the Grand i10 without a doubt is one such hit.
The German touch
The fluidic theme is evident in the Grand i10’s design, but there is a German touch. The German-styled (yes, you read correctly) Grand i10 (it was designed by the Hyundai design centre in Germany) has a design that most people will like. It is refreshing to look at and in a crowd of hatchbacks, it certainly stands out. The nicely proportioned hatch has a pleasing front end with wraparound headlamps. The Hyundai logo on the smiling bonnet line and the large (relatively) hexagonal grille add to the cuteness quotient. The same treatment continues to the back with wraparound tail lamps and styling that is universally loved. The rear three quarters angle is the best side of the Grand i10, but every other angle somehow manages to show it in a flattering light.
The Grand i10 is a hit with the ladies, with the word cute often accompanying any mention of the hatchback. The petrol automatic is the pick of the lot for them and the fairer sex seem to gravitate towards it and understandably so. The hassle-free gearbox with a peppy engine in a featherweight hatchback certainly makes it rather convenient to use in the city.
As you step inside the Grand i10, something is incredibly obvious. The small car has oodles of space and can seat five in utmost comfort. The cabin, done up in shades of beige and black, is a treat to use and the quality offered is remarkable. Everything you touch is great to the feel and the fit and finish is simply outstanding. The driver’s seat and position is great too and keeps you comfortable even on long drives. Your buddies won’t mind the rear seats either, with loads of support and enough shoulder, head and knee room. Just perfect then when you head out with four of your pals on that weekend jaunt. Three abreast? Not a problem.
The filter-friendly hatch
With keyless entry and go, you simply put yourself in the driver’s seat, press the start button and go. The engines offered with the i10 deliver great fuel efficiency along with unmatched drivability. The smooth revving nature accompanied with the lightness and precision of the gearbox makes the Grand i10 a breeze to use in traffic. It only takes a light prod of the accelerator for the Grand i10 to be on its way. And on the move you will find out that the light steering is a boon in traffic. The Grand i10 squeezes in and out of tight spaces easily. Floor the throttle and you are met with smooth, creamy delivery ensuring that slow moving traffic is swiftly left behind in the rear view mirror.
“It only takes a light prod of the accelerator for the Grand i10 to be on its way. And on the move you will find out that the light steering is a boon in traffic”
The Grand i10 is offered with two engine options, the 1.2-litre diesel that produces 74bhp and 190Nm of torque and the 1.2-litre petrol producing 81bhp and 114Nm of torque. The diesel engine is one of the most frugal in any car in India and has a fuel efficiency figure up there with the very best. Those in for a peppier drive can opt for the petrol and along with the additional power, users also get class-leading refinement.
Show the Grand i10 some windy roads and it continues to impress. This time, however, it is how well it handles corners that deserves special mention. The i10 is perfectly suited to doing long trips out of the city. It is a city car blessed with the ability to tackle the weekend drive up to say Lonavala from Pune or Mumbai with your friends.
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Here’s some humblebrag
The plethora of features make the Hyundai Grand i10 stand out in a crowd. The infotainment system catches your eye as you make your way in. The support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is sometimes taken for granted but it’s something that’s absent even on cars positioned a few segments above. And it surely takes care that there are no tussles amongst the musically inclined. Even after hours of staying out in the sun, it provides quick relief from the heat. Four rear parking sensors with audible warnings and the black cladding on the sides of the doors helps prevent those dreaded parking lot scratches. The boot offers a surprisingly large amount of space and can easily hold all the luggage for a weekend trip with your mates. The cooled glovebox will keep your beverages from getting warm.
On the fly, the steering mounted controls make it effortless to change the track or station or to answer a phone call. The chunky steering too feels premium offering a comfortable grip. There is a screen below the speedo that displays a host of information including a gear shift indicator making it easier for newbie drivers. The door pockets are wide and spacious and can accommodate 1-litre bottles with ease along with a large space for anything else that you wish to carry. It is the little things that make a world of difference and this small – grand – hatchback, special.
“The support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is sometimes taken for granted but it is something that is absent even on cars that are positioned a few segments above the Grand i10”
It takes time to get to know a car and understand and appreciate it. A lot depends on what you do with the time you have with the car. A lot of times we take it out of the city to try and know how it takes corners. Or maybe we lot just love to drive.
A deviously innocuous Grand i10
Flaunting a tons of features, the Hyundai Grand i10 is an irresistible proposition for new car buyers all over India. There’s no surprise that the compact hatchback made it to the top ten bestsellers list for quite a few years in a row. The Hyundai Grand i10 might seem innocuous at first and sure it is not an exotic sportscar. But it does manage to do everything that it does exceedingly well. For this simple reason, it continues to impress youngsters and is the perfect first car for a majority of buyers.
