It’s always on the rise this cost of living thing. Petrol is liquid gold and VAT says we won’t have any cheese on this month’s steamed broccoli. So, when the facelifted Hyundai Grand i10 arrived for its week of budget-based testing, DEON VAN DER WALT thought there might be a sliver of light shining through the dark economic cloud.
Firstly, let us address the elephant in the room: the range-topping Hyundai Grand i10 Glide derivative that we tested costs R204,900. Now, you might say something to the likes of Hokaai and point out that small Korean cars like this are supposed to be unashamedly cheap with no frills and no fuss. And you are right. Well, sort of.
See, for less money — R191,000 to be precise — you can buy the chic Suzuki Ignis 1.2GLX Manual which also happens to be the range-topping model. Or, for R201,495, you can buy its cousin, the top-spec Kia Picanto 1.2 Smart Manual.
So, why then, does the Grand i10 range consistently feature amongst South Africa’s best sellers?
For starters, we reckon that only a tiny percentage of the i10’s that fly off the dealership floors are actually of the Glide variety.
DO YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR?
Well, the short answer is that it depends on what you are hoping to get. See, for only R154,900, you can buy the entry-level i10 Motion, meaning you get one of the most affordable new cars on the market. Surely that is an attractive proposition for new car buyers? And the specification levels? Well, that is not anything to scoff at either. Sure, there are some niceties left to the imagination, but you (mostly) get everything you could want from a small budget-beater.
But, on the upper echelons of the pricing scale, where the Glide lives, it’s just that much nicer. You get a stylish interior with seats wrapped in a visually pleasing mix-a-blend of cloth and artificial leather, with a similar design concoction continuing on the facia and door panels.
Then there’s the overall built quality that gets our nod of approval. This is unsurprising since Hyundai has, over the past few years, chiselled away a reputation as one of the manufacturers that assembles the best interiors in the quality department. And it shows. During our week of testing, which also involved some pothole bedevilled roads, we didn’t hear anything even remotely resembling a component rattle.
Equipment levels are also quite generous. All Fluid (mid-range) and Glide derivatives feature the easy-to-use 7” touchscreen infotainment system that has both Bluetooth and USB connectivity. There’s also all-round electric windows (Fluid and Glide), while our Glide test vehicle comes standard with rear PDC (Park Distance Control).
Hyundai also didn’t compromise on the safety front since all Grand i10 derivatives come equipped with both a driver and passenger airbag, as well as ABS and EBD.
COMPACT THRILLS?
In the thrills department, it once again comes down to how much you are willing to fork out. The i10 Glide, as tested, is powered by a naturally aspirated 1,248 cc four-cylinder engine that packs a modest 64 kW of power and 120 Nm of turning power. While it doesn’t sound all chipper on paper, it is quite the willing little car between traffic lights.
It is economical too. Thanks to the reasonably early onset of power, there is no need to send the rev needle into the redline to get moving, resulting in what should be fewer stops at the corner petrol station. Our test unit registered an impressive 5.5-litres of fuel usage for every 100 kilometres.
On the open road, though, it becomes clear that the little i10 is built for the confines of the city. While it is just about able to maintain the national speed, the gearbox begged for a sixth slot on the gear lever, which, in turn, would also result in a lack of torque. So, no cigar for the gear ratios then.
It is also prone to tramlining, which means the wheels tend to follow the contours of the road surface. But, this issue can be attributed to many factors ranging from wheel alignment to tyre pressures.
LAST WORD
The Hyundai Grand i10 Glide is a pricey little car; there’s no denying that. However, you get what you pay for. If the whole nine yards are within the parameters of your budget, the Glide derivative is the way to go. But, if power is not a concern, you might be better off shopping for a Motion or Fluid derivative that is powered Hyundai’s 998 cc engine, and that, we reckon, is also the view of many i10 buyers.
However, while our test mule checked most of our budget-beater boxes, we’d have the 1.2 Fluid in a heartbeat. It has a slightly better price tag, good specification levels and also features the more powerful engine of the bunch. Price? Hmm, check. Power? Check. Specification levels? We’ll check that.
Report & Images © DEON VAN DER WALT