The Hyundai Grand i10 received a much
needed facelift this year and is padding up to give a tough competition with
the likes of the newly launched Suzuki Ignis, Ford Figo Aspire, and Tata Tiago.
It boasts of plenty of features that
threaten to topple the others out of the competition. My brother in law bought
one last year and I got a chance to drive it for some time for city runs. And
it surely felt like sitting inside a cockpit of an aircraft after driving a ’99
Maruti 800.
Looks, design and
features
Let’s start with the looks of the car. The
fluidic design language is a breath of fresh air and made an instant connection
with the consumers. There is this muffin
shaped grille along with the new design headlamps with the fog lamps placed in
the front bumper. Turn indicators are housed on the side mirrors and it’s a
nice touch. The door handles are chrome finished and offer a premium feel. The
square little black button on the front door handles are sensors to open and
lock the doors if you just have the keys with you, yet another feature unique
to the Hyundai family.
The rear of the car houses a spoiler
integrated with the roof. The rear is one of the smartest looking in its class
with the new tail lamps neatly flowing along the curve lines of the car. Rear wiper too is offered. The thick A -
pillars sometimes cause a blind spot while taking reverse, but that shouldn’t
be a major concern for a hatchback.
Step into the cabin and a well
equipped and neatly laid out dashboard greets you. The black and beige tone of
the dashboard feels lively. The steering wheel has a smooth feel to it and has
music controls, hands free audio controls which even hatches of same class
don’t offer. The volume control and AC knobs have a fine finish and are within
the reach and the buttons are well laid out without much confusion. The
Bluetooth connectivity is seamless and the factory fitted 4 speaker audio
system offered decent sound. There is also option for an AUX input and USB
port. The instrument cluster houses the speedo, odo, tachometers, along with
the trip meters, door open indicators etc. The small LCD display offers gives
option for FM or other media playback. The side mirrors are electrically
adjustable and give excellent view of the events behind. Power windows are also
offered, along rear A/c vents. It’s safe to say that this car is loaded to the
gills and keep its occupants cool with the less time taken to bring the
temperature down. Dual airbags are standard in this sportz variant.
Engine and performance
Under the hood of the Grand i10 is
the 1.2 L, 4 cylinder kappa petrol motor which makes 83 PS and 116 Nm torque,
mated to a five speed manual gearbox. The engine revs all the way to the
red-line and drivability is better in low speeds and higher gears, without much
fuss. Overtaking in higher gears just needs a push of the pedal and it does the
job without downshifting. Due to the better drivability the fuel economy is an
improved 15.1 kmpl.
The suspension of the car is well
tuned for Indian roads, as it absorbs any potholes and undulations the road
throws at it. This results in more confidence in driving and the ability to run
slow speeds in higher gears is a boon for people more often plying in the city.
But the downside is body roll around bends due to the soft suspension setup.
Surprisingly the grip levels offered by the 165/65 R14 tyres all around are
better and the car sticks to the line. The feedback of the steering could have been
better though, as it feels light. The brakes, discs up front and drums at the
rear, offer sufficient bite and are easy to get used to. The sharp bite at
lower speeds can get some time to get around, but once you get the hang of it,
precise braking can be quite handy in tight spots.
Overall this car has a tremendous
value for money, as it is loaded with features that other sedans can only dream
of. The good looks, refined engine, easy drivability in city, managing the
occasional highway runs, better overall fuel efficiency, all at a price of 6.88
lakh (on road , Mumbai) makes it a deal winning car.
