The new Grand i10 features sleek and substantial lines that makes the hatchback look somewhat larger than its actual dimensions. The sleek exterior design of the Grand i10 ensures a drag coefficient of just 0.35, which is aided by detailed improvements such as windscreen sealing that does not protrude into the airstream. The aerodynamic shape reduces wind noise as well as fuel consumption, contributing to very low noise levels.
The new i10 Grand model is recognized by its new hexagonal grille, which has become the Hyundai’s signature front end, and is chromed for the Grand i10 Fluid and Glide derivatives. Standard are the color-coded door handles and side-mirrors, with built-in turn indicators, a rear combination lamp with a spoiler and built-in LED lamp, while the Glide also gets LED daytime running lights in the front.
The Motion derivatives ride on 14“steel wheels with sporty full size wheel covers while the Grand i10 Fluid and the Glide models come with alloy wheels with “Diamond Cut” design on the Glide. The low roofline creates an athletic on-the-road stance, complemented by the sleek proportions of the body shell which is highlighted by the sharp belt line. The body shell of the Grand i10 yields one of the roomiest occupant cabins in its market segment. There’s ample space up front for driver and passenger, and at the rear, the seats are wide enough for three and there are three headrests. Despite the car’s low roofline, a 6-footer will be comfortable enough with quite generous legroom. However the middle passenger may find things a bit tight for long journeys. All seats have adjustable headrests.
Storage for oddments is provided for by the handy tray under the front passenger seat, in the door pockets and in the decent sized cubby hole. Luggage space is pretty generous for a hatchback with a 256 litre boot, and if more loading space is required, capacity can be increased to 1 202 litres by folding the rear seats down. Interior styling and trim differs from black cloth for the Motion and Fluid derivatives, to black leather and red cloth for the Grand i10 Glide. The Glide also sports red inserts on the instrument and door panels, as well as the centre console.
The revised line-up of the Hyundai i10 Grand range comprises six derivatives -three are powered by Hyundai’s new 1-litre 3-cylinder engine delivering 48 KW at 5 500 rpm and 94 Nm of torque at 3 500 rpm and the other three are fitted with the proven 1.25-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine delivering 64 KW at 6 000 rpm and 120 Nm of torque at 4 000 rpm. The 1-litre derivatives are the 1.0 Grand i10 Motion with 5-speed manual gearbox, 1.0 Grand i10 Motion with the 4-speed automatic, and the 1.0 Grand i10 Fluid, also with the 4-speed automatic gearbox. The derivatives with the more powerful 1.250 cc engine are the 1.25 Grand i10 Fluid 5-speed manual, the1.25 Grand i10 Fluid 4-speed auto and the “top of the range” 1.25 cc Grand i10 Glide 5-speed manual; which is the version we drove at the launch.
Standard features include; a manual air-conditioner, electric front windows, electric motor assisted power steering system, USB and AUX inlet plugs, height adjustable multi-function steering wheel with buttons for the audio, Bluetooth and trip recorder, which displays fuel consumption and the range left from the fuel in the tank,
The Fluid and Glide models add keyless entry, front and rear electric windows, electric heated and folding side mirrors, The Glide derivative has the excellent Infotainment system, leather seats, gear-lever, and leather covered steering wheel and rear park distance control.Another nice touch is that the buyer has the option of buying a SD memory card for R2 500 to activate the navigation system on the infotainment system, in the derivatives with the Fluid and Glide specification level.
The suspension system has also been tweaked with its electric motor assisted-steering system up front and a coupled torsion beam suspension at the rear for comfortable driving with a stable and firm grip on the road. From a driver’s perspective, the steering wheel is adjustable for height only, but the driver’s seat is height adjustable, as are the seat belts shoulder mounting points. Both front seats are well shaped and all-round visibility is good. Safety equipment includes dual airbags - one for the front passenger and the other for the driver and ABS brakes is now standard on all derivatives
The Grand i10 1.25 Glide manual that we drove on the launch is powered by Hyundai’s 1.25-litre engine from the "Kappa" engine family and incorporates a range of advanced technical features that raise power and torque, which enhances smoothness and drive-ability. The 1 248 cc 4-cylinder dual overhead cam petrol engine with continuously variable valve develops 64 KW peak power at 6 000 rpm and maximum torque of 120 Nm at 4 000 rpm, with power delivered to the front wheels via a 5-speed manual gearbox. This engine also powers the Grand i10 1.25 Fluid manual and1.25 Fluid auto models.
Hyundai claim that petrol consumption can be as low as 5,9 litres/100 km for the 5-speed manual and 6,9 litres/100 km for the 1.25-litre derivatives with the four-speed automatic gearbox, however after our test drive, the trip recorder gave us a reading of 7.7 litres per 100 km which is still very good. Petrol consumption for the 1-litre engine is given as 5.4 litres/100 km for the manual derivatives, and 5.9 litres/100 km for the automatics.
The launch was Durban based and took us up the North coast on a varied route that included “B” roads, the winding roads through the sugarcane territory and the freeway on the return trip. Seated behind the wheel, with the variable adjustable driver’s seat, I had no problem finding a comfortable driving position, and once seated the first thing that impressed was the sensible layout of the instruments, buttons etc, and the excellent all round vision. As I drove out the parking lot and merged into the traffic for the drive through the suburbs, the heavy morning traffic was not at all a hassle with the nicely weighted clutch and smooth take off. As we joined the freeway, I could immediately feel the extra power of the new 1.25 litre engine, and as one builds up speed, the motor runs significantly quieter, in fact quieter than most small engines I’ve sampled recently, and the improved drivability allows you to hold the car in higher gears without any signs of protest from the engine.
Travelling on the freeway, the short gearing sees the engine spinning at a highish 3 600 rpm at 120 km/h in 5th gear, but it’s nice and quiet in the cab and you hardly feel the speed. In a short acceleration test, taking the rev counter right up to the 6 200 rpm red line before changing up, the speedo needle passed the 100 km/h mark from standstill in just under 12 seconds with two gear changes, while the excellent braking system “scrubs” off the speed very efficiently.
Hyundai has updated the suspension of the new Grand i10, and it’s made quite a difference. On some of the very poor back roads, the Grand i10 did a great job in ironing out the bumps. Poor tar roads and undulations are absorbed with only a muted sound entering the cabin and all told, ride quality is top notch. The steering is light, quick and accurate and the car feels stable and composed through the twists and turns and runs quietly on the motorways. At fairly high speeds through the bends, it showed good grip and very little body lean, and responds quickly when dodging potholes. However, on steep or long inclines it is necessary to drop down a gear or two to keep up the momentum.
Hyundai’s new improved Grand i10 5-speed manual is a pleasant car to drive. It has good styling, lots of features depending on the derivative, spacious cabin, spacious boot, is very well priced, and fills an important slot in the Hyundai line-up. If you’re looking for an affordable small hatch with lots of standard features you must have the Hyundai i10 on your list. The recommended retail selling prices of the new Hyundai Grand i10 starts at R149 900 for the Grand i10 1.0 Motion manualto R202 900 for the Grand i10 1.25 Glide manual.
The Fluid and Glide derivatives come standard with a 2-year / 30 000 km service plan and all models include Hyundai’s 7 year/200 000 km warranty
Prices:
- Grand i10 1.0 Motion manual R149 900
- Grand i10 1.0 Motion automatic R169 900
- *Grand i10 1.0 Fluid manual R169 900
- *Grand i10 1.25 Fluid manual R189 900
- *Grand i10 1.25 Fluid automatic R206 900
- *Grand i10 1.25 Glide manual R202 900
- *Marked models – the prices include the 2-year / 30 000 km service plan
