Hyundai successfully entered the Indian markets in 1998 with the Santro which was very well received. Hyundai launched the i10 in 2007, and soon this new offering surpassed the Santro as the bestselling car.
Time and again, Hyundai upgraded the i10 and the latest model – the Grand i10 – was launched in September 2013. This five door car offers two different engine options and nine variants.
Hyundai has adopted the Fluidic design concept in the making of the i10. The front end is more hexagonal with the bold radiator chrome grille and body coloured bumpers. It also features big headlamps, a micro roof antenna, body coloured door handles, side indicator lights on the outside rear view mirror, elongated tail lamps, rear bumper reflectors and a trendy full wheel cover.
The interior has a mix of dark and light colours which gives a more aesthetic appeal. The plastics used are of a higher order and the design of the centre console and the fascia are much better. The gear-shift lever is placed on the centre console giving more space for storage purposes. The firm seats offer good support in all the right places with enough leg and head room. The i10 has a boot space of 225 litres at the rear with a removable parcel shelf and bag hooks.
The 1.1 litre iRDE2 creates a maximum power of 69 PS with an ARAI rated economy of 19.81 kmpl. The better seller though is the bigger 1.25 litre kappa engine which comes with a VTVT (Variable Timing Valve Train) technology, delivering 87 PS of power and a mileage of 20.36 kmpl. The i10 is fitted with 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission gear box.
The standard features like AC/heating, foldable rear seats, rear seat belts and an electronic trip and odometer are present in all variants. Safety features include dual air bags, pre-tensioner seat belts, child seat fittings, ABS and an auto door unlock system that is sensitive to impact of collisions. Apart from this, the high end i10 brings in innovative features like sun-roof, rear spoiler, tool tray, leather wrapped steering wheel and gear knob, keyless entry, 2-DIN audio system, Bluetooth and AUX connectivity, steering mounted audio & bluetooth controls and multiple power outlets.
The variants of Hyundai i10 that are available in India include Asta, D-lite, Era, Magna and Sportz. The price of the car is around Rs 3.6 lakhs to 6.1 lakhs. It comes in an array of colours like Crystal White, Stone Black, Oyster Grey, Virtual Yellow, Electric Red, Deep-ocean Blue, Champagne Gold, Blushing Red, Sleek White and Alpine Blue. The i10 competes with the likes of Maruti Suzuki Wagon R, Maruti Swift, Ford Figo and Tata Indica Xeta.
