Introduced in 2007 as a replacement for the Atos, the Hyundai i10 has become one of South Africa’s most popular city cars. Compact, economical, and agile, the Hyundai Grand i10 serves as a solid budget car. It has evolved from its predecessor, the Atos, growing slightly in size and gaining an appealing look over the years.
Our tester, in 1.2 Fluid Manual guise, came with standard features such as two-tone paint, 15-inch alloy wheels, and boomerang-style daytime running lights. Overall, we appreciate the styling of this small hatchback, which is hard to fault.
Inside, the Grand i10 is decent. However, due to its compact size, you may find yourself occasionally rubbing shoulders with your front passengers. On the positive side, there’s ample headroom and legroom. If space is a concern, the Hyundai i20, one step up in the model range, can address that issue. The boot space is 360 liters, claimed by Hyundai to be the largest in the segment compared to the Suzuki Swift and VW Polo Vivo. It honestly doesn’t look like 360-litres, but it is quite deep. Interior features include a touch infotainment screen (with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto), cloth front seats with partial leather, and three USB ports. Despite the generous use of plastics, Hyundai has managed to make the cabin look presentable with the help of red accents throughout.
Powering the Hyundai Grand i10 is a 1.2-liter naturally aspirated 4-cylinder engine producing 61 kW and 114 Nm of torque. The Grand i10 is one of the most enjoyable cars we’ve driven, being lightweight and equipped with a decent 5-speed gearbox, making it a delight in the city and surprisingly on the highway too. Some might argue it lacks power, but we believe it’s more than sufficient for this car. Driving the Grand i10 sensibly results in excellent fuel consumption, as we managed to achieve 4.2 l/100km. When pushing it for some fun, fuel consumption hovered around 6.7 l/100 km, still decent considering Hyundai claims 5.9 l/100.
In terms of safety, it comes standard with front passenger airbags, ISOFIX child seat attachments on the rear seats, and pretensioners for the front seat occupants’ seat belts. It also features an Advanced Braking System (ABS) and Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD).
Priced at R293,500, the Hyundai Grand i10 hatchback is a compelling offering. It’s compact, good-looking, offers decent specs, and is quite economical. In an era dominated by crossovers, it’s reassuring that manufacturers like Hyundai still produce cars like this for those seeking compact and nimble vehicles for everyday driving
