The new Hyundai Grand i10 is available in South Africa and although it’s a sub-compact car it still manages to fill a sizeable gap in this market segment. What gap you might ask, well, it’s the one left by the popular Hyundai Getz.
The new Grand i10 slots into the Hyundai model range between the i10 and the i20 hatchbacks in terms of both size and price. Although the name might suggest it, the Grand i10 isn’t simply a dolled up version of its smaller stablemate, but is actually worthy of its own designation, prompting a question in the local press conference as to why it wasn’t labelled the i15 for example.
The Grand i10 is easily distinguishable from the rest of the Hyundai hatchback range, simply by its overall dimensions. Stood next to the i10, the Grand is 180 mm longer, 65 mm wider and 20 mm lower. The slightly lower roof height together with a sharp belt line, help to give the car a slightly stockier stance than its namesake.
With a Eurocentric design that earned it a Red Dot award, exterior features include the colour-coded door handles and side-mirrors, with integrated turn signals; 14-inch alloy wheels; hexagonal Hyundai family grille; front fog lamps; as well as swept back head and tail clusters that help to enhance the car’s length. Finishing touches include a discrete boot spoiler with integrated LED brake light.
The interior is well executed and equipped. There is a pleasing amount of cabin space for a car of its size, with a 256-litre boot that’ll expand to 1 202-litres with the rear seats folded down. A welcome bit of functionality is that of the height adjustable driver’s seat and shoulder mounting point for the seatbelt. The quality of the plastics is as expected on a budget-friendly vehicle: perceivably durable, functional and well put together.
For an additional R5 000, a choice of interior colour combinations is available for the seats, which includes grey cloth with orange inserts; grey leather with red inserts; or the more standard grey cloth with grey inserts. These different colour themes are also reflected in the dashboard inserts and circular insert around the gear lever housing.
The controls are straight-forward in their layout, with a few that you may not expect to find on a modest city car thanks to a satisfying level of standard equipment. The entry-level Grand i10 Motion offers Bluetooth connectivity for streaming audio and hands-free telephone calls, USB and AUX ports for connecting a portable media player, as well as satellite audio controls on the steering wheel, air conditioning and central locking. The Fluid and Fluid Automatic models add keyless entry, together with electrically heated and folding side mirrors.
All models are powered by a 1.25-litre petrol engine, which produces 64 kW and 120 Nm of torque. The small capacity means it requires a boot full of throttle to get the best from it on the open road, but the 5-speeds of the manual transmission are adequately spaced to maintain momentum through the rev range. A four-speed Grand i10 Fluid model is available, but wasn’t present for sampling on the local launch. The 1.25-litre requires an average of 5.9 l/100 km when paired with the manual transmission, or 6.9 l/100km with the automatic.
The Grand i10 rides on a popular combination of McPherson struts in front and a torsion beam at the rear. Compared to the smaller i10, the Grand i10 has benefited from a revision to its suspension geometry, including the tie-rod design, trailing arms and rear coil springs. In combination with a 27% stiffer bodyshell, the Grand i10 has a comfortable ride quality with acceptable steering accuracy – it could self-centre a bit more convincingly.
On the safety front, the Grand i10 offers a fairly basic equipment list, consisting of driver and passenger front air bags, anti-lock braking system (ABS) and electronic brake-force distribution (EBD). If you want side and curtain air bags you’ll need to budget for the larger Hyundai i20 1.4 Glide, but then you’d be missing out on the Grand i10’s best feature: its price starting at R139 900.
With fresh Eurocentric design for its segment, pleasing spec levels, perceived quality and adequate performance, the Grand i10 is likely to be a front-runner in a class dominated by the Ford Figo and Volkswagen Vivo.
| Prices | |
| Hyundai Grand i10 Motion | R139 900 |
| Hyundai Grand i10 Fluid | R149 900 |
| Hyundai Grand i10 Fluid A/T | R159 900 |
Prices include a 5-year/150 000km warranty and roadside assistance. Optional service plan available.
