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The petrol engine is very refined and offers good driveability
Performance – The Hyundai Grand i10 NIOS is offered with the same engines that are offered with the regular Grand i10. The 1.2-litre, 4-cyl, Kappa petrol engine is now BS6 compliant but the diesel engine isn’t BS6 compliant yet. However, Hyundai has stated that this engine will also be upgraded to meet the upcoming norms. Unlike the Grand i10 which comes with a 4-speed AT, the NIOS gets a 5-speed AMT with both the engines.
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The BS4 diesel engine has adequate power for city usage
The i10 NIOS gets the same petrol and diesel engines from the Grand i10 mated to either a 5-Speed manual or AMT
The petrol engine has satisfactory performance. It is responsive lower down the rev band and city driveability is good but on the highways, it does feel a bit laidback and you need to work the gears a bit to gain momentum. It is very refined though and also quite silent with vibrations also being well controlled. The U2 CRDI diesel engine has some turbo lag but the mid-range is peppy enough for regular usage. It runs out of steam only when you push the throttle on empty roads.
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Both gearboxes offer smooth shifts
The 5-speed manual gearbox is very nice to use offering slick shifts and a light clutch. Meanwhile, the AMT works really well for customers seeking convenience but it isn’t as quick as a traditional torque converter. Go easy on the throttle and the AMT works smoothly but if you mash it, you do get a feeling of jerkiness. The petrol engine delivers about 10-13 km/l in the real world (city) and about 16 km/l on highways. Thankfully, the AMT won’t be a guzzler like the 4-speed torque convertor. The diesel variant delivers about 16-19 km/l which is excellent for city usage.
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The i10 NIOS can tackle bad roads pretty well
Driving Dynamics – One of the major USPs of the Grand i10 NIOS will be its ride quality and comfort. The suspension has been set up in such a nice way that it tackles the potholes and undulations with ease and without causing too much unnecessary movement in the cabin. The ride setup is mature and the car feels stable and composed. When you pass over really bad patches of roads, it does tend to get slightly unsettled but otherwise, there are no major complaints. It doesn’t bob at high speeds and vertical movement at the rear is controlled.
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The steering lacks feedback but is very light and easy to twirl
The Grand i10 NIOS boasts of great ride quality and superb high speed stability
The steering, just like other Hyundais, is light at city speeds. It does weigh up on the highways but lacks the feedback that an enthusiast would expect. For the NIOS’ target audience, this won’t be a matter of concern and buyers will like the ease of use that this car offers. The brakes are strong and offer good stopping power.
