Hyundai South Africa seems to be doing reasonably well themselves. They have managed to grow their market share by 2.1% and now Hyundai finds themselves in 5th place globally in the best automotive brands. This is by no accident as Hyundai continues to push development and offer to quality vehicles even branding out into the world of EV (electric vehicles).
Related: 9 out of (Grand i)10 - Review (2018)
Having sold just under 50 000 new Grand i10's between 2014 and 2020 in South Africa and the factory in Chenai, India pumping out over 1 million units the Grand i10 is a very important vehicle to Hyundai SA.
All new Grand i10
The new Grand i10 is a whole new vehicle from top to bottom. A completely redesigned exterior, brand new stylish interior and new tech make this the best offering from them to date.
There will be two derivatives available, the Motion and Fluid as well as two engine sizes and two gearbox options to chooses from.
On launch, we had the 1.0 Fluid, which is the slightly higher spec'ced version.
Outside
Exterior wise, the new Grand is 40mm longer, 20mm wider and, 10mm taller than its predecessor, boasting a wider front grille and a lower stance. the Fluid is equipped with DRL's that are recessed into the bumper next to the grille and you get moulded badging to the C-pillar. The body lines are also slightly tweaked and with the fluid get a set of Charcoal coloured mag wheels.
The Fluid is also fitted with few gadgets such as the heated side mirrors with integrated indicators, the window glass is also larger allowing for better all-around visibility.
The Grand I 10 is available in a decent palette of colours such as Typhoon Silver, Fiery Red, Phantom Black, Titan Grey and Polar White and the option to have a two-tone paint scheme (base colour/ black roof) will only be available to those choosing Red or White.
Inside
The interior has received the best makeover. Fluid models get imitation leather seating for all, complete with red stitching, touchscreen infotainment with Apple Car Play and Android Auto as well as a 260l boot.
Motion derivatives make do with cloth seating, speaking of the seating, it has been sculpted for more comfort overall. with the front seats receiving larger side bolsters and the rear seat( 60/40 split) bottoms being angled upwards to increase comfort.
The Grand i10 gets a safety stamp of approval with driver and passenger airbags, ABS, EBD and park distance control. The two main selling points of the Grand over its competitors are the keyless entry, steering wheel controls and leather seats, which many of its closest rivals lack.
Under the bonnet
The new Grand i10 is powered by two engine options. you get the 1.0 and the 1.2l The 1.0l is a 3 cylinder petrol engine that delivers 49kW / 94Nm, while the 1.2l is a 4 cylinder petrol engine delivering 61kW / 114Nm
These numbers don't inspire much confidence but trust me when I say, once mated to the choice 5-speed manual gearbox, it is plenty to get you up and over the freeway limit. There is also an option for a 4-speed auto transmission and on the whole, the drive is fantastic with no squeaks or rattles, smooth and compliant with enough power to get its 935kg up to speed with ease.
Pricing
The Grand i1o starts at a very reasonable price and extends neatly across its range to just over R250k.
| Grand i10 1.0 Motion MT | R 191 900 |
| Grand i10 1.0 Motion AT | R 216 900 |
| Grand i10 1.0 Fluid MT | R 216 900 |
| Grand i10 1.2 Fluid MT | R 230 900 |
| Grand i10 1.2 Fluid AT | R 256 900 |
Verdict
The Grand i10 has always been a solid small city car but has now taken a big leap by being the best-specced small city car that you buy in the entry-level car segment. We loved the drive and the sporty styling and cant wait to get one on a longer review cycle.
