Positioned between Hyundai i10 and i20, Grand i10 was launched amidst great hype in the beginning of September 2013. Since then, the car has performed exceptionally well in the market recording a figure of 10,000 units within just 20 days of its launch. This is a favourable news for the company especially because the automobile market is going through an all-time low phase. The company officials revealed that they have received around 110,000 enquiries with 70,000 test drives. Moreover, Hyundai dealers have experienced their footfalls raise by 55 per cent.
"Despite the challenging market scenario this quarter, we feel 'Grand' will continue to generate substantial customer interest and excitement all throughout," said Rakesh Srivastava, Senior Vice President for Sales and Marketing of the company. Hyundai Motor India Limited is currently second on the list of passenger car sales and is also the largest exporter of passenger car. Grand i10 finds competitors in the form of Maruti Suzuki Swift, Nissan Micra, Ford Figo, Chevrolet Beat and Toyota Etios Liva out of which Swift happens to be its strongest contender. Swift has for long enjoyed the position of the best selling car in this segment, however, the arrival of Grand i10 might pose a threat to it. The new hatchback by Hyundai is already creating waves in the market by receiving a record number of bookings. If this trend prevails, then Maruti Suzuki might have to look for new ways to spice up its models so as to increase the sales.
Taking the technical specifications into consideration, Grand i10 is available in petrol as well as diesel variants. The three-cylinder 1.1-litre diesel engine delivers 69 bhp of power output with 159 Nm of peak torque whereas 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with five-speed manual transmission system generates power of 81 bhp. It returns a mileage of around 24 kmpl with diesel variant and 18.9 kmpl in petrol variant. Developed and designed at the research centre of Hyundai in South Korea, this car works well on Indian roads. The petrol engine gets the 1.2-litre Kappa2 version with variable valve timing and the diesel powertrain is similar to the one used in i20. Designed and developed at the research centre of Hyundai in South Korea, the car has been performing well in the domestic market. As per sources, a lot of research and analysis had been done before bringing out the Grand i10.
In order to avoid cannibalization of sales, Hyundai India recently discontinued the i10 model with 1.2-litre, Kappa 2 petrol engine. Grand i10 comes with the Fluidic Design Language, a general concept on which most of the models by this firm are based. From the inside, it is found to be a little more spacious than the its rivals with a wheelbase of 2425 mm. This mid-segment hatchback comes with additional features such as key-less start/stop, leather wrapped steering wheel, reverse parking assist system, rear AC vents and retractable outer rear view mirrors. Industry experts are of a view that these features at a budget friendly price give Grand i10 an edge over its major set of competitors.
With a refreshing look on the exterior front and features to look for at interiors, this car is sure to achieve heights of success in the coming future. Performance wise, the Grand i10 gives good results at a price starting from Rs. 4.29 lakh.
