In its effort to expand its i-series portfolio which has seen successful models like i10 and i20, Korean auto giant Hyundai has now added another model to its lineup—the Grand i10. Bigger and loaded with more premium features, the Grand i10 is all set for a long innings. And will it stand strong against the competition? Ammar Alvi has more.
Hyundai knows that as long as it caters to the masses, it will remain as one of the country’s top car manufacturers, and its latest offing, the Grand i10, is just the perfect example of this strategy.
The new Grand i10 is larger and offers a lot more compared to others in the B Segment. Emerging from the same fluidic design theme which has adorned all the i-series models, the Grand is 100mm longer than the European-spec Hyundai i10. The design is modern yet European with its stretched back headlamps, strong shoulder line, large glass house and wrap-around tail lamps.
At the launch, HMIL managing director & CEO said, “The Grand symbolises Hyundai’s commitment to Indian customers by offering high standards of quality, durability and reliability. It offers an ideal urban mobility with a complete package from style to performance creating a new benchmark in the Compact High Entry Segment. We expect Grand with its excellent value proposition and its unique features, will serve wide range of customers in India.”
The interiors are also upmarket and come with good quality material. Many of the features include rear aircon vents (a segment first), smart key with push button start and stop, integrated 2-DIN MP3 audio with built-in 1 GB memory, Bluetooth connectivity, Aux-in and USB connectivity, steering mounted audio controls, A/C vent for rear passengers (an industry first in the segment), rear parking sensors, glove box cooling, electric ORVMs, etc. Many of these features you really don’t find in a B segment car.
When it comes to the engines, the Grand will be available with two options—the 1.1 litre advanced 2nd generation U2 CRDi diesel which delivers 71 PS @4000 rpm of maximum power and returns 24 kmpl (ARAI figure), and the 1.2 litre Kappa Dual VTVT petrol delivering 83PS@6,000rpm of maximum power and returning 18.9 kmpl (ARAI figure). The petrol engine offers the choice of five-speed manual transmission and automatic transmission.
In terms of safety, the Grand is equipped with dual airbags, the ABS (Anti-lock Braking System), central locking, engine immobiliser and rear parking sensor for enhanced convenience and easy parking.
The petrol Grand starts from Rs 4.29 lakh to Rs 5.47 lakh and diesel starts from Rs 5.23 lakh to Rs 6.41 lakh (ex-showroom). Hyundai has been able to get the price straight on where it hopes to hit the competition, namely the Suzuki Swift, Volkswagen Polo and Honda Brio.