• Published On: 13 February 2017
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New Hyundai Grand i10 diesel

Hyundai has given its bestselling model its first ever major update. Changes to the car include a revised styling, some essential additions to its equipment list and a more powerful diesel engine. Plus, the Korean carmaker says that both cars, the petrol and the diesel, are also more fuel efficient. Time to find out how much better the updated car is.

On the outside

As with most facelifts, there are no sheet-metal changes to the Grand i10. What’s new, however, is the front air dam and bumper, which now gets L-shaped fog lamp housings and LED daytime running lamps. There’s a new rear bumper – this time around with black cladding – and the top variants now get 14-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels.

On the inside

There was little to complain about the Grand i10’s upmarket cabin, which has been carried over into the updated model with some nice additions. Most prominent among these is the 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system that comes with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Its interface is intuitive and it even supports voice commands once you pair your smartphone with the system; the screen also functions as the display for the new reversing camera. Also new to the equipment list on the fully-loaded variant is the automatic climate control system. On the lower Sportz variant, there’s a smaller 5.0-inch touchscreen system that comes with Bluetooth connectivity. As before, fit and finish is a step-up from class standards and a few parts like the steering wheel feel even better to hold.

It’s quite a comfortable car too. The front seats are nice and supportive, and there’s plenty of legroom at the rear, so chauffeur-driven buyers will be happy too. However, the cabin is a bit on the narrower side, so fitting three people in the rear bench will be a bit tight.

Safety, however, is not the Grand i10’s strong suit. It only gets dual airbags on variants including and upwards of the mid-level Sportz, while ABS is only offered on the fully-loaded Asta variant.

From behind the wheel
The petrol engine on the Grand i10 is identical in spec to the older model’s, but as mentioned earlier, Hyundai claims that it is a more frugal than before.

On the other hand, the highlight of the facelift is the bigger, more powerful 75hp 1.2-litre diesel engine that replaces the older car’s 71hp 1.1-litre motor.

Like the previous engine, the new unit is quite refined and responsive. You do feel the vibrations from the motor at idle, but this smoothens out the moment the car gets a move on.

What’s nice is that the additional 4hp and 30Nm of pulling power (the new engine makes 190Nm instead of the older engine’s 160Nm) makes this hatch feel a bit sprightlier. As a result, you won’t be yearning for more performance as in the previous model. Like the petrol Grand i10, the diesel also promises to take you farther than before on a litre of fuel, and this is despite the extra pep and performance.

Hyundai has improved the car’s ride too. It absorbs bumps better, the sound insulation has noticeably improved and in all, it drives like a bigger, more expensive car. While its steering doesn’t feel lively, it’s nice and light, which makes the car easy to put through tight spaces in the city. What also makes the car easy to drive is the light, short throw gear lever, which means shifting gears will never be a hassle. Even the clutch is quite light, just that it feels a bit springy and at times is a bit difficult to modulate.

Is it worth the money?
The updates on the facelift have definitely made an already capable package even better. The restyling has made it more appealing, it feels even better put together, and the extra power in the diesel means it drives better too. The only issue is that you’ll have to opt for the fully-loaded variant to get all the safety equipment like ABS and airbags, whereas rivals like the Maruti Ignis get these features as standard.

Prices for the updated Grand i10 start at ₹4.58 lakh, while the fully-loaded ‘Asta’ costs ₹6.40 and ₹7.33 lakh for the petrol and diesel respectively (all prices ex-showroom, Delhi). At this price, the Grand i10 is good value for money, and should be on your list of probables, if you are looking for a comfy, well-equipped hatchback.