More for less Hyundai delivers better practicality, struggles a bit on the road
The last time we drove a Hyundai Grand i10, we were pleasantly surprised. So I suppose that we had grand expectations with this new one. Which it delivered on in in many respects. But it disappointed in other ways.
Look, Grand i10 doesn’t promise much — it’s saddled by a misnomer of a name and while bigger than i10, its not quite i20 big. But it’s not a compromise either. It looks better in this latest get-up — the chrome grille gives it a cheesy smile — better than the toothless grimace of the last one. it actually looks far more the part and we dig ours’ dark rims, extra chrome bits and that ‘floating roofline’.
IT PROMISES LITTLE
Still, it promises little. So when you settle in and find it quite a pleasing place to drive, that’s another pleasant surprise. The cabin is, well, grand and its smartly well equipped with a cool infotainment screen and all the necessary gismos and comforts. The red trim even hints at performance, so when that gruff little triple fires to life, you kinda reckon, ‘well, here we go!’
Alas. Performance? What performance?
A strong contender for a slot in the bottom 20 performing vehicles we have tested in the last ten years, the biggest problem was that the old one actually delivered better than expected numbers. Expectations. They can be such terrible things. That said, this latest Grand i10 is actually quite fun to drive. It makes you feel quite special with that little triple cylinder thrum and wieldy road manners.
KEEPS GROWING ON YOU
So, it keeps on growing on you in many little ways and certainly delivers beyond expectation. As much as it was a bit of a let-down in real world performance. But the former comment in this paragraph more than redeems this little car.
The Hyundai Grand i10 offers pretty much what its rivals do, perhaps with less pretence. But it delivers more – for less. Which says quite a bit for a car that isn’t quite clear on what it is in the first place… – Michele Lupini
Images: Giordano Lupini
ROAD TESTED: Hyundai Grand i10 1.0 Fluid Engine: 49kW 9.4Nm litre petrol I3 Drive: 5-speed manual FWD TESTED: 0-60km/h 4.21 sec 0-100km/h: 13.85 sec 400m: 19.1 sec @ 115 km/h 80-120km/h: 11.39 CLAIMED: Vmax: 153 km/h Fuel: 5.4/100km CO2: 131 g/km Warranty/Service: 5y 150K km/1y 15K km PRICE: R222K RATED: 6
