Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL), a fully owned subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Company (HMC) launched the Grand i10 amidst a lot of hype. Placed between i10 and i20 hatchbacks, the Grand i10 has a starting price of Rs. 4.29 lakh. Targeted at youngsters between the age group of 25 to 35 years, this car is likely to compete with Ford Figo, Nissan Micra, Toyota Liva and Chevrolet Beat. However, its strongest competitor is going to be the Maruti Suzuki Swift, one of the best selling cars in the Indian car market. However, reports from industry experts suggest that the launch of the Hyundai Grand i10 has caused a bit of worry for Maruti Suzuki.
The Hyundai Grand i10 is powered by a three cylinder 1.1-litre diesel engine that produces around 69 bhp of power and 159 Nm of torque. On the other hand, it's rival, the Maruti Suzuki Swift, is equipped with a 1.3-litre Multijet diesel engine giving an output of 73 bhp along with peak torque of 190 Nm. Petrol versions of both these hatchbacks are powered by 1.2-litre four cylinder engines with five speed manual transmission system. However, the petrol variant of the Maruti Suzuki Swift gives an output of around 85 bhp whereas the output given by Grand i10 is 81 bhp, giving the former a slight edge. When it comes to fuel efficiency, Hyundai Grand i10 seems to hold an advantage over the Maruti Swift. Grand i10 is fitted with a smaller engine and gives an ARAI certified fuel economy of 24 kmpl. On the other hand, the Maruti Suzuki Swift renders a mileage of around 22.9 kmpl, according to company claims.
Both of these hatchbacks are quite similar in terms of length and wheelbase. The Hyundai Grand i10 has a wheelbase of 2425 mm whereas for the Maruti Suzuki Swift the count is 2430 mm. However, the Hyundai hatchback is more spacious that its Maruti Suzuki model. In terms of design, Grand i10 being new in the space gives a refreshing feel contrary to Swift's exteriors. The design of the Grand i10 hatchback is based on the company's Fluidic Design Language which is used in a lot of models manufactured by this firm. However, the upgraded version of Swift that was introduced some time back has an appealing look. None of these cars have an extraordinary design but they have a balanced look that is considerably attractive.
The Grand i10 comes packed with features, something that tends to put it slightly above its competitors. Key less start, rear parking sensors, leather wrapped steering wheel, retractable OVRMs, rear AC vents are a few features that gives the Grand i10 an edge above Swift when the top variants of the two hatchbacks are compared. The Hyundai hatchback is cheaper than the Maruti Suzuki Swift by Rs. 45000 but safety features like Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) and air bags come with an extra cost. However, Bluetooth and folding mirrors are available in the mid variants of Grand i10 which results in Hyundai offering more in the same price segment as compared to Maruti Suzuki. With so many features in its kitty and aggressive price strategy, the Grand i10 could affect the sales of Swift. However, industry experts believe that choosing between both these hatchbacks is quite tough. The Grand i10 is aggressively priced, loaded with features and has good fuel economy. On the other hand, the Maruti Suzuki Swift is stylish, powerful and offers a top class performance.
