Hyundai Motor India Limited, the country's second largest car manufacturer, sells no less than four hatchbacks in our market. Starting from INR 2.89 Lakhs for the base variant of Eon to INR 7.90 Lakhs for the top-end i20 with the Santro and the i10 in between, there is practically no gap to squeeze in an additional model. But, that's exactly what Hyundai has done. They have managed to find a slot between the i10 and the i20 and the Grand i10 launched in New Delhi today fills that slot. As the name suggests, the Grand i10 is a bigger, better and grander second-generation version of the i10 hatchback that has been a consistent top-seller in the Indian market ever since its launch in 2007.
The i10 Grand is launched in 4 variants - Era, Magna, Sportz and Asta (O). All these variants are available with a choice of petrol and diesel engines under the hood. While the petrol variants are priced between INR 4.29 Lakhs and INR 5.47 Lakhs, the diesel variants retail at prices starting from INR 5.23 Lakhs and extending up to INR 6.41 Lakhs. All prices are ex-showroom Delhi.
The petrol engine is the familiar 1.2-liter Kappa engine that powers the existing i10 and i20. In the Grand i10, this dual-Variable Timing Valve Train (VTVT) technology-equipped engine produces 83 PS of maximum power at 6000 rpm and 11.6 kgm of peak torque at 4000 rpm. But the big news is the debut of the smallest CRDi engine in the Hyundai portfolio under the hood of the Grand i10. This 1.1-liter second-generation common-rail direct injection diesel engine is rated at 71 PS of power at 4000 rpm and 16.3 kgm of torque at 2750 rpm. Going by the popularity of CRDi engines right from the Accent CRDi of yore to the recent Elantra CRDi, we expect the CRDi variants of Grand i10 to sell strongly.
As is customary with every new Hyundai model launched, a slew of segment-first features make their debut in the Grand i10. Have you heard of rear air-conditioning vents and an integrated 2-DIN audio system with a built-in memory capacity of 1GB in hatchbacks? If not, hear it now. The Grand i10 possess these features and much more that include rear parking sensors, push button start/stop system, a multifunction steering wheel with Bluetooth, audio and trip controls, automatically folding outside rear view mirrors, driver seat height adjustment and front and rear power outlets. The increase in wheelbase of 100 mm compared to the European model is said to have significantly increased the passenger room in the rear seats, which will prove to be a boon for Indian families. The biggest disappointment though is the absence of dual airbags and Antilock Braking System (ABS) as standard in any variant. They are only available as options in the top spec Asta variant.
Surprisingly, the Grand i10 is styled a bit conventionally compared to other Hyundais such as Eon, Sonata and Elantra that are famous for their flamboyant styling. The swept-back headlight and taillight clusters, the thin chrome grille and the familiar hexagonal air intake in the front bumper look good but not great. Unlike the European i10 that looks relatively more stylish and contemporary, the modified-for-India Grand i10 has shed some style for added practicality. For instance, the upward-sloping rear windows in the European model that gives the car a chic look along with the wraparound rear windscreen are replaced by a pair of flat windows that are said to provide a sense of airiness in the cabin. Unlike the Eon and the i20, the profile is devoid of character lines. While the roof rails look a bit gimmicky, those diamond-cut alloy wheels are gorgeous.
When the first-generation i10 was launched, it became the most awarded Car of the Year in 2007 sweeping off every award in the Indian automotive industry. On top of that, it earned the goodwill of customers and has consistently been among the top-selling cars in our country. Let's also not forget that the i10 was 'made in India' for rest of the world too and the good demand for this little car in the international markets made Hyundai Motor India the country's largest car exporter. With such a chequered history for its predecessor, will the Grand i10 deliver the goods and hit the sweet-spot? We think it will.
Its a shame that Hyundai has also started following Maruti in selling same car under different names.
ReplyDeleteThere is no other way of fighting with the market leader, it seems. Let's see if this works out for Hyundai.
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