Hyundai Grand i10. Picture: Hyundai South Africa.

Hyundai Grand i10 review: It’s ALL that

The new Hyundai Grand i10 will tempt many with its affordable sticker price, but what’s it like to live with every day?

by Ray Leathern

16-08-2023 18:05

in Motoring

Hyundai Grand i10. Picture: Hyundai South Africa.

Buying a small, affordable car like the Hyundai Grand i10 should be a carefully orchestrated exercise in balancing your budget with value for money. Often when you’re car shopping, the vehicle you really want is probably out of reach of your budget, so you need to compromise.

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But we’ve poured over the spec sheets, gone over the warranty contract with a magnifying glass and settled on one for you: the new Hyundai Grand i10. For first-time buyers in pursuit of newfound personal independence, or small and medium enterprises that need a reliable runaround, you need look no further than one of the best new cars on the market at the moment.

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Ideally, what you want in a small car is something that’s affordable to purchase and frugal to run every day. But still comfortable and fun enough to keep you driving it every day. You must remember that most first-time buyers have only known a daily commute in a minibus taxi, bus or train, so a couple of modern conveniences go a long way.

HYUNDAI GRAND I10: TELL US MORE

The new Hyundai Grand i10 comes to market with an affordable price, starting at just R229 900. Our test unit happens to be the 1.2 Fluid Sedan (pictured) priced at R279 900, but the good points we’re going to talk about resonate across the whole range.

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Peak power peak is 61 kW and there is 114 Nm of torque from our test unit’s 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrol motor. The 48 kW 1.0-litre engine further down the range is probably a little underpowered to be as much fun. Claimed/combined economy is 5.5 l/100 km, which is mighty impressive, although we were able to better that on our real-world route, achieving 5.1 l/100 km. Go us!

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The Hyundai Grand i10’s little 1.2-litre engine feels free-revving and gutsy. And even though peak power and torque is delivered relatively high in the rev range (6 000 and 4 000 rpm respectively) the engine is easy and usable. In our zero to 100 km/h sprint test we recorded an acceleration time of 9.1 seconds. Anything in the single-digit range is worth shouting about. From an NVH point the Grand i10’s engine is impressively quiet at low speeds, but the motor does create a big of a din inside the cabin when revved out.

IS IT COMFORTABLE AND SAFE?

The Hyundai Grand i10, while a little firm and coarse on rough roads, does ride very comfortably for an affordable compact car. The steering is accurate enough but it’s no sports car. And the clutch action is easy to modulate. The vehicle does hail from India (as most well-priced compact cars do nowadays) and was made to be as light as possible without losing structural rigidity. It’s achieved this.

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There are dual airbags, ABS brakes and ISOFIX mounting points for a baby seat and pre-tensioners for the front seat occupants’ seat belts. Advanced Braking System (ABS) and Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) are standard on all derivatives.

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Styling wise, the sedan version we have on test may look a bit like a snake that swallowed a chest of draws, but it has some very neat and tidy styling lines. And the daytime-running-light (DLR) signatures that look like the number seven add a distinctive look.

GIVE US MORE DETAILS

The 15-inch alloy wheels are two-toned and have a diamond-cut look (even though they aren’t), which is pretty cool for the money. On the inside, it’s impressive just how much it doesn’t feel like an entry-level car. The Hyundai Grand i10 rewards with a tidy dashboard and plenty of specification. The plastics are well put together and, while a little hard to the touch, they look like they’ll stay the course. The focal point of the interior is the 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with two USB ports, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.

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The Hyundai Grand i10’s big USP in this segment is its passenger and boot/utility space. It boasts a capacity of 360 litres in the hatch and 402 litres in the sedan. Unfortunately, there is no way of flattening the rear seats in the sedan, so if you want to pack surfboards or any other long items the Grand i10 hatch is probably your best bet.

TEST SUMMARY

The new Grand i10 is a near-faultless offering from Hyundai that will appeal to youngsters very nearly as match as the impressive 7yr/200 000 km warranty will appeal to elders. A 1yr/15 000 km service plan comes with 5yr/150 000 km roadside assistance, and you shouldn’t forget the excellent resale value the Hyundai badge commands nowadays.

You simply can’t ask for more from an entry-level car than what the Hyundai Grand i10 has to offer in the current economy. That’s why it’s the best small car you can buy right now.