Hyundai Grand i10 NIOS Test Drive Review

Hyundai Grand i10 NIOS Review

Car Tested: Hyundai Grand i10 NIOS; Road Test No. 1127; Test Location: Udaipur

Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 5.90 – 9.51 lakhs

The Grand i10 NIOS is an attractive, fuel-efficient and feature-loaded hatchback offering good space and comfort

With the automotive industry in India facing a slowdown, manufacturers are a bit tensed with their product plans. Certain companies have changed their market strategies, certain companies have paused new product launches and certain companies are going all out with their new products. Hyundai is one such company which has been launching new vehicles. The stint started off with the Venue which was launched in May, continued with the Kona which was launched in July and now the Korean automaker has brought in the third generation of the i10, named the Grand i10 NIOS.

Motor Quest: The Hyundai i10 started its journey in the Indian market in 2007 when it was launched as an upgrade to the Santro. The i10 became quite successful and the automaker gave it a mid-life facelift in 2010. Post that, the Grand i10 was launched and it was sold alongside the regular i10 for a while before the latter got discontinued. The Grand i10 NIOS has now arrived to compete in a tough segment.

Exteriors – The styling of the Hyundai Grand i10 is pleasing to the eyes and it is targeted towards the younger generation. It is offered with some attractive colours and there are two dual-tone shades on offer too. The NIOS gets projector headlamps and a regular foglamp setup while LED DRLs are placed on the edges of the grille. The profile isn’t very loud and you get diamond cut alloys. The rear looks nice too, but certain elements like the tail lights remind of certain other cars. There’s a NIOS badge right at the centre of the boot lid and just below that is the rearview camera. 

Interiors – The design of the dashboard and the interior layout is quite different from the regular Grand i10. The interior is offered with 3 colour themes – dual-tone grey, black with blue accents and black with red accents. The steering wheel gets a new design and the centre console gets a large 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity. The sound quality from the stock speakers is quite good for a car of this segment and the screen is crisp. The NIOS comes with wireless charging too, which is a segment-first feature. Some other features on the NIOS include a rearview camera, automatic climate control, electrically folding ORVMs and a push start button. 

The cabin is spacious, feature-loaded, practical and gives out a premium vibe

The front seats are comfy and supportive but the downside is that the headrests at the front are non-adjustable. The driving position is quite good with nice all-round visibility. The rear bench is flat and wide and it has been designed with an emphasis on under-thigh support which is indeed pretty decent. With the driving position set for a 6-footer, there’s a decent amount of legroom at the rear. Headroom is good too but since the car is narrow, fitting 3 people at the rear might be a task. All 4 doors come with a 1-litre bottle-holder while storage spaces in the centre are also more than enough. The glovebox is spacious and just above that, there’s an open recess to store things too. The 260-litre boot isn’t very large but just enough to carry luggage for a couple of days’ trip. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

Safety and After Sales Service – The Hyundai Grand i10 NIOS makes use of high tensile steel in its construction. It also gets the usual set of safety features like dual front airbags, ABS, seat belt reminders, high-speed alerts and so on. Hyundai’s after-sales network is known to be well connected across the country and the ownership experience is generally trouble-free. 

Verdict – The Hyundai Grand i10 NIOS scores well on most counts. Buyers will like the comfort, features and the availability of an AMT with both engines. While the NIOS is easy to drive, it doesn’t offer an involving driving experience like the Ford Figo. If you’re looking for a no-nonsense hatchback which is loaded, comfy and efficient, the Grand i10 NIOS has all it takes to be a strong contender in its segment. But if you seek some thrills and want a driver’s car, you’ll have to consider one of its rivals.

What’s Cool

* Distinctive and modern styling
* Feature-equipped interiors with great space and comfort
* Fuel-efficient and refined engines
* Smooth gearbox with an AMT option
* Fantastic ride quality and high-speed stability

What’s Not So Cool

* Engines could have offered more punchiness
* Non-adjustable front headrests

Alternatives: – Maruti Swift, Ford Figo, Tata Tiago, Honda Brio, Maruti Ignis

Hyundai Grand i10 NIOS Specifications

* Engine: 1197cc, 4-Cyl, Petrol | 1186cc, 3-Cyl, Diesel
* Power: 83 PS @ 6000 RPM | 75 PS @ 4000 RPM
* Torque: 114 Nm @ 4000 RPM | 190 Nm @ 1750-2250 RPM
* Transmission: 5-Speed MT | 5-Speed AMT
* Fuel Consumption: 12-14 km/l (Petrol) | 16-19 km/l (Diesel)
* Fuel Type: Petrol | Diesel
* Tyre Size: 175/60/15 (Front & Rear)
* Suspension: McPherson Strut (Front), Coupled Torsion Beam (Rear)
* Brakes: Disc (Front), Drum (Rear)
* Safety: 2 Airbags, ABS with EBD

Hyundai Grand i10 NIOS Dimensions

* Overall length x width x height: 3805 mm X 1680 mm X 1520 mm
* Wheelbase: 2450 mm
* Fuel Tank Capacity: 37-litres
* Boot Space: 260-litres

Further Reading –

2017 Hyundai Grand i10 Facelift Review
2017 Hyundai Grand i10 Video Review
Hyundai Grand i10 Pros & Cons – Video

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