Driving a car should be fun. Sure, sitting in traffic does little to inspire that but outside of gridlock, it should be a pleasurable experience – and automakers are adjusting to to this by incoporating more comfort and luxury features in every level of car they build.
The Hyundai Grand i10 1,0-litre Fluid reminded me so much of the original Mini – a small, nippy car with an inbuilt mischievous voice that cried out ‘Let’s Play’.
You do not need to be behind the wheel of an outrageous Supercar to have fun or the satisfaction of a road well travelled so dear to all of us petrolheads. You just need a car that is willing to respond.
The Grand i10 does that. It tries its darndest off the line, will hold enough speed on the highway to make any traffic officer lick his lips and it zips smartly into gaps in the traffic. It is go-kart like through the twisty bits and, while there is some ‘push’ from the front end when turning in, this is easily adjusted on the throttle.
In short. A proper fun car to drive.
The Grand i10 – built in India and exported to 87 countries all over the globe – is now in its third generation and more than 1,15-million Grand i10s have been exported from India and 49 252 of those sold in South Africa from 2014 to 2020.
New LED daytime running lamps and fog lamps (in the Fluid versions), combine with the stylish bold grille to give the new Grand i10 a bold road presence. All bumpers and door handles are body-coloured and the front grille is treated with a neat chrome finish and the addition of day-time LED running lights in the side corners.
Luxury features on this car include heated side rear-view mirrors, a multi-function steering wheel, artificial leather seat covers with sassy red stitching and rear park assistance.
The height of the driver’s seat is adjustable and the rear seats’ backrest can fold forward –in a 60:40 split for the Fluid versions. In all derivatives the occupants can stay cool thanks to a manual air-conditioning system, with air vents for rear passengers as well.
Luggage space on offer is 360 litres rising ro 910 litres with the rear seats folded down.
All Grand i10 versions are equipped with an infotainment system with a 6,2-inch touch screen which displays Apple’s CarPlay or Android Auto when connected to one’s smart phone via a cable to an USB port on the system’s interface. A second USB port at the bottom of the centre console provides charging of any suitable device.
The new Grandi10’s seats are designed to provide a relaxed and comfortable drive for all occupants. The bolstered front seats ensure superior comfort for both driver and passenger, especially while cornering, and the bolstered rear seats back support were designed for optimum comfort during long journeys and while cornering.
The flat rear seat bench provides comfortable seating for three passengers. The seats have been given enhanced thigh support for comfortable long journeys.
The 1,0-litre engine delivers 49 kW peak power at 5 500 r/min and 94 Nm maximum torque at 3 500 r/min, driving through the front wheels via a 5-speed manual shifter. Fuel consumption for the Grand i10 with the 1,0-litre engine and 5-speed manual transmission was measured at 5,6 l/100 km.
Acceleration to 100 km/h takes 14,9 seconds and little car emits 131 g/km of C02.
MacPherson struts with shock absorbers are used for the front suspension and a coupled torsion beam, also with shock absorbers, at the rear.
All versions come with driver and front passenger crash bags, ISOFIX child seat attachments on the rear seats and pretensioners for the front seat occupants’ seat belts, while anti-lock braking and and Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) are also standard.
A 7-year/200 000 km manufacturers’ warranty is part of the package, as well as a 1-year/15 000 km service plan and 5-years/150 000 km roadside assistance.
