What is it?
The Hyundai i10 has been around for over 12 years. And in process,it has updated many different versions. The 2nd gen Grand i10 being a significant one. This right here, however, is the third-generation model, and it gets a new nameplate – Hyundai Grand i10 Nios. The car gets an updated platform and the design has been overhauled, both, inside and out. However, it does not replace the Grand i10. In fact, both the cars co-exist under Hyundai’s two-pronged strategy to take on the rivals. That said, the Grand i10 Nios have its own advantages. We find out.
The design of the Grand i10 Nios is sporty and striking. It carries the user look upfront, with the large cascading grille. And Hyundai has gone for a piano black/silver finish for it. Especially, Boomerang-shaped LED DRLs have been integrated into the far corners of this grille. What’s more, the clamshell bonnet and the sleek projector headlamps add an air of sportiness to the fascia. And completing the whole look at the front are the first-in-segment projector fog lamps.
15-inch dual-tone diamond-cut alloys and roof rails serve to highlight the car, on the side. And lower variants get 14-inch monotone black alloys. In front of, there’s the ‘G-i10’ badge on the C-pillar, which creat prominence for the Grand i10 name. The squat stance and the pronounced wheel arches lend an athletic look to the Nios. Things at the back are rather conventional with wraparound halogen taillights. While the faux scuff plates add some ruggedness to the bumper, the Nios branding on the tailgate highlights the cars identity. The Grand i10 Nios is available in eight exterior colours, including two dual-tone paint schemes.
What’s inside?
the Grand i10 Nios is known for their well-appointed interiors. When open the door, and it’s instantly apparent that the cabin is inspired by the Venue and Kona. The dual-tone grey interiors and the wraparound honeycomb pattern come together quite well to form a cohesive design. Taking centre-stage is an eight-inch touchscreen display, complete with support for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth connectivity and voice recognition. Higher variants also get an ARKAMYS sound system and Hyundai has also thrown-in wireless charging as a part of the package. Especially, the variation tones are intertwined. Although there are plenty of hard plastics everywhere, the fit and finish is excellent.
Let’s sit and talk about the seating and space on offer. The front seats are comfortable with good side bolstering, and manual adjustment for height (driver-side). However, it gets fixed headrests. The large glasshouse area, so the view out is excellent. The chunky steering is good to hold and the toggles, switches and various buttons have a solid tactile feel to them. In the back seats, what I particularly liked was the impressive under-thigh support. Again, the knee room, legroom and headroom is good, and the backrest angle is perfect. If the three of them were too big on sit, there would be some trouble. On the flip side, you do get rear AC vents, which is a boon in most Indian cities. The boot space, at 260 litres, is on par with the competition. The loading lip is low, which is a good thing. But a lower boot floor means loading heavy luggage will require quite an effort.
What is the engine of the car?
The Grand i10 Nios is powered by a BS-VI compliant 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrol and a 1.2-litre three-cylinder BS-VI diesel engine. Both these engines are available with a five-speed manual gearbox and a Smart Auto AMT. What we are driving here is the petrol AMT variant in the Sportz trim. Although the motor makes 82bhp and 115Nm, the power is delivered in an extremely linear fashion. It’s not inferior, although not as beautiful as Swift.
The engine is quite refined and it is only when you want to make a quick overtake does the engine start being vocal; that too after the 4,000rpm mark. What is commendable, is the smooth AMT unit that offers seamless gearshifts. Being an AMT, it is slow to react to throttle inputs, but it gets the work done effortlessly. Hyundai has used clutch actuators and electronic gear that are lighter and offer quicker shifts. You can barely notice any jerks when driven sedately.
When you use it, the Nios gets the typical Hyundai traits. For instance, the steering is light in the confines of the city and weighs up considerably at highway speeds. The car is soft and cushy at low speeds but starts skipping and pitching over undulations at high speeds. The front suspension offers good rebound damping. However the rear shocks will cause discomfort for the pasengers behind.
Should I buy one?
The car makes for a formidable package with its long list of features, build quality, and all-new design. It is furnished with features like automatic climate control, reverse camera, eight-inch infotainment system, SmartKey with push-button start/stop and an industry-first variable warranty. That, combined with the seamless auto transmission and the Korean reliability. Not only attracts the millennials but a wide spectrum of family buyers as well.
Priced between Rs 5-8 lakhs, it costs significantly lesser (around Rs 35,000 for the top-end trims) than the Maruti Suzuki Swift. And it also competes against the Ford Figo and the Renault Triber.
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