We
evaluate the petrol variant of Hyundai’s mid-size hatchback, the Grand i10
Long-term
success and sustainability of a company depend upon how quickly it evolves in
this fast-changing world. It is about being flexible in respect of market
trends, understanding customer needs and making improvements in the product.
South Korea’s Hyundai is the second largest car manufacturer in India and one
of the fastest growing automobile companies in the world because of its pace of
development. Hyundai cars are applauded for their design, features and
competitive pricing but are often criticized for the shortcomings in vehicle
dynamics and build quality.
The Hyundai Grand I10 1.2 offers decent looks, combined
with reasonable specification
Hyundai
launched the Grand i10 hatchback in India last year and, according to us, it
was a response to this criticism. The company has focused on its shortcomings
in the Grand i10 and it represents the next step in the brand’s evolution. We
have tested the diesel variant of the car, compared it against its peers and it
has been a part of our long-term fleet for the last six months. This month we
tested its petrol sibling to see if it is as good as its twin.
The
Grand i10 has been perfectly placed between the i10 and the i20 hatchbacks in
terms of size and price. It has the company’s ‘Fluidic Design’ language, but
its voluptuous looks are closer to that of the i10 and hence it is the ‘Grand’
i10. The smart front end of the car has a single chrome bar on the grille with
the Hyundai logo in centre, flanked by the headlamps that stretch on to the
sides of the bonnet. There is a side-guard on the lower side of the doors
(possibly because the Hyundai headquarters are in the Delhi-NCR region, if you
know what I mean) while the shoulder-line meets the wrap-around tail-lamps. Our
test car was in the top of the line Asta Option
Pack trim which comes with front fog-lamps, body-coloured wing mirrors with integrated turn
indicators, chrome door-handles, roof rails, diamond cut
alloy wheels, a spoiler and parking sensors on the rear bumper.
Steering mounted controls for music and phone. Also spot
the engine start/stop button
The
interior of this car has a combination of beige and grey textures and the upholstery,
steering wheel and gearstick are covered in leather. Hyundai have paid
attention to the quality of material and finishing of the surfaces inside the
cabin and the knobs, switches and infotainment system on the fascia have been
laid out nicely. The cabin is spacious and offers good leg-space, especially
for the rear passengers and it also has a large 256-litre boot. The car is
loaded with comfort, convenience and connectivity features as expected in a
Hyundai, but it still managed to surprise us by offering one GB of data memory.
The Grand i10 can store songs and other media and play them on demand so the
occupants are no longer at the mercy of radio channels the next time they
forget to carry a music CD or flash drive.
Reverse gear slot is conventional unlike the diesel variant
As for
safety features, the car gets ABS and air-bags and Hyundai highlights the
rigidity of the monocoque while
the rear seats of the car have height adjustable headrests. However, we don’t
like the fact that ABS and air-bags are sold as optional additions.
Under
the hood, the Grand i10 has the 1.2-litre four-cylinder Kappa petrol engine
with variable valve timing. It is the same unit that also powers the i20 but
makes even more power and torque in the Grand. The refined engine produces a
healthy 83 PS at 6,000 RPM and 114 Nm at 4,000 RPM. Our car had the five-speed
manual transmission, but for the buyers looking for hassle-free driving in the
city, the Grand is also available with a four-speed automatic gearbox for an
extra $720.
The 1.2 litre Kappa
engine is refined, silent and powerful
The
Grand has a strong top end and turned out to be one of the best performers
among the mid-size hatchbacks. It accelerates to 60 km/h from standstill in
5.84 seconds, crosses the ton mark in just 13.51 seconds and has a top speed of
167.75 km/h. Although the engine’spowerband lies on the higher side of the
rev-range, it is responsive at all engine speeds and provides that necessary
surge of acceleration during overtaking.
Being
a small car, fuel efficiency is an important parameter of the Grand i10’s
performance. In city conditions, the car could manage 13kilometres in one litre of petrol while an uninterrupted run
on the highway yielded 18 km to a litre. This brings the real world average to 14.25 km/l.
Thus the 43-litre tank gives it a range of almost 613 kilometres.
The fuel efficiency turned out to be lesser than expected from a 1.2-litre
petrol car, which is the only shortcoming of this otherwise fantastic engine.
The sleek repeater lamps in the rear
Let’s
get down to the driving experience. The Grand’s compact proportions and precise
steering make it easy to slip through the gaps when manoeuvring in traffic and it also handles well in
turns. The car feels surprisingly steady and planted at high speed, but the
road noise filtering into the cabin increases considerably while going fast.
Suspension is well-sorted for Indian conditions as it keeps the occupants
disconnected from the harshness of the road, but a slightly stiffer set-up would
have been even better. The Grand is equipped with a pair of disc brakes on the
front wheels and drum brakes on the rear and they provide a strong braking
force, which is another improvement from Hyundai.
The
Grand i10 is our Car of the Year 2014 and the petrol variant has impressed us
as much as did the diesel. And it’s not just us. The entire industry has echoed
our judgement since the car has also won the ICOTY
(Indian Car of the Year) Award for the year. It is one of the best small cars
available in the country and Hyundai have priced it wisely. Moreover, the
reduction in the excise duty announced in the Interim Budget has resulted in a
further decrease in the price of the car, which stands at $10,570 (OTR, Pune).
