Hyundai Grand i10 hits the street with new kit

By Farzana Chaumoo

Hyundai has refreshed its range of the Grand i10. Having replaced the i10, the MY18 Grand i10 now offers more bang for your buck.

We got to take a test drive in the MY18 Grand i10 1.25 MT (5-speed manual transmission) to sample its power and refreshed look. In the range is a new 1.0-litre that replaces the old 1.1-litre and the 1.25s now offer more spec. So, what’s on offer?

Exterior

On the outside, LED Daytime Running Lights and Rear Park Assist is available as standard on Glide models. Each variant, being the Motion, Fluid and Glide, will have its own unique rim. Our test derivative was described as having “eye-catching 14-inch alloy wheels.” There are also several new striking colours available.

Interior

The cabin is a very comfortable and cosy space. A touch-screen infotainment system can be found standard on the Fluid and Glide models. The Grand i10 now features a multifunction steering wheel. This puts all the convenience features at your fingertips without having to take your hands off the wheel. Navigation can also be bought on an SD Card (for R2,500) and connected easily to the infotainment system.

Other standard features in the cabin include manual air conditioning, power windows at the front, dual front airbags (driver and passenger), and ABS brakes. Furthermore, there’s a trip computer, remote central locking (Fluid and Glide) and One-Touch Triple Turn indicators. Adding to convenience, there’s a storage drawer under the passenger seat. The driver’s seat and seatbelt are height adjustable and rear seats have adjustable headrests.

In terms of audio, there’s a 4-speaker MP3/USB/Aux audio system. Two things about this – I’ve read about CD but our test derivative didn’t have a CD player. However, since there’s a dud slot, it’s likely one can be fitted in. We also couldn’t find the Auxiliary port. I’m not too sure about everyone else but for me, Bluetooth connectivity is really important. It’s safe to say it was really easy connecting to the car’s system.

On the styling end, Motion and Fluid models have black cloth with grey inserts, while black leather with red inserts can be found on the Glide derivative.

How does it drive?

At 120 km/h, it sat smoothly on the highway. The steering doesn’t need constant input to stay in a straight line, which is a plus in my books. At first, I was bit hesitant to attempt overtaking a truck on a country road, but it provided sufficient power. At other times it felt sluggish and seemed to struggle to push past the 100 km/h mark, and understandably so, because it has a small engine. There’s a considerable amount of refinement within the car, with hardly any wind noise and smooth gear changes. Seats are comfortable and passenger space is sufficient.

Some sales stats…

Since its release in 2011, Hyundai SA has sold 47,440 units of the i10. Of those, 31,040 models are still under warranty. The Grand i10, which was originally designed to replace the popular Getz, has 25,380 models still under warranty.

With only one month into the year, Hyundai is sitting in the third position for Passenger Market Sales in SA after January. The first and second position is held by Toyota and VW respectively.

Hyundai SA is aiming to double their 2017 sales figure of the i10/Grand i10 model. However, this is going to be very interesting to see as VW’s Polo Vivo has been sitting at the top of the A1 segment for 2016 and 2017. VW has also made big made headlines recently with the launch of the new Polo and the upcoming new Vivo. So, it’s likely they will hold that position. Following the Vivo in the segment is Toyota with the Etios.

The Grand i10 is a car for the young and old. It’s an efficient little city car that would make for an ideal runaround. I personally think it’s very good value for money.

Pricing

MY18 Grand i10 1.0 Motion MT         R149,900

MY18 Grand i10 1.0 Motion AT          R169,900

MY18 Grand i10 1.0 Fluid MT            R169,900

MY18 Grand i10 1.25 Fluid MT          R189,900

MY18 Grand i10 1.25 Fluid AT           R206,900

MY18 Grand i10 1.25 Glide MT          R202,900

All cars come with a 2-year/30,000 km Service Plan.