The new Hyundai i10 is a Grand deal

Korean car brands do a tidy trade in the sub-R200 000 market segment and Hyundai has reinforced its local offering. The company’s third-generation Grand i10 is now available in South Africa, offering budget buyers Korean quality and engineering, packaging in a relatively pleasing design.

Hyundai has done well with the i10 platform, having found nearly 50 000 customers for the compact car over the last six years in South Africa. This latest version has a larger grille and more defined front headlamps.

But the real improvements have been made inside.

Although it remains a very small car, with terrific ease of parking, the Grand i10 is a study in outstanding design ergonomics.

Engineers and cabin architects at Hyundai have done a simply outstanding job of maximizing the car’s interior space. It never feels claustrophobic, even for occupants taller than 1.8m.

Realising how important safety and infotainment convergence have become to budget car customers, Hyundai has generously equipped its new Grand i10. Even the cheapest version has dual airbags, touchscreen infotainment with Bluetooth functionally, and Android Auto/Apple CarPlay screen mirroring.

Hyundai is marketing two trim variants of the Grand i10 (‘Motion’ and ‘Fluid’). The only notable differences are rear park assist, front fog lights, daytime LEDs, and 15-inch alloy wheels on the Fluid.

Two engine options are available, both configurable with either a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission.

The entry-level Grand i10 is powered by a one-litre three-cylinder petrol engine, producing 49kW and 94Nm.

Although its engine output might sound underwhelming, the Grand i10 has a kerb mass of only 892kg. This gives it an entirely respectable power-to-weight ratio.

For those buyers with additional budget, there is the 1.2-litre engine, that offers 61kW and 114Nm.

Driven tidily, with considered throttle inputs, Hyundai claims that its new Grand i10 should consume fuel at a rate of only 5.4l/100km.

New Hyundai Grand i10 price in South Africa

Pricing for Hyundai’s latest Grand i10 starts at R191 900 for the 1.0 Motion.

It peaks at R256 900 for an automatic transmission 1.2 Fluid. The range comprises five derivatives.

Feature image: Hyundai

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