Hyundai has this thing recently of calling all their cars, “grand” lately. After calling their larger Starex, the “Grand Starex” and their extended wheelbase Santa Fe, the “Grand Santa Fe”, they’re applying the very same formula to their veteran mini car offering, the i10. Of course, now it’s called the Grand i10. And yes, like Grand Santa Fe and the Grand Starex, the Grand i10 has grown. It’s like Hyundai decided to feed it Cherifer: it’s longer by 80 mm and 65 mm wider than the pre-Grand i10. That’s just for starters.
Wearing Hyundai’s trademark Fluidic Sculpture design, the Grand i10 features bigger and brighter headlamps and along with the hexagonal grille creates a sleek, chic vibe. The Grand i10 comes standard with 14-inch alloy wheels along with a choice of no less than 10 colors: Red Passion, Golden Orange, Aqua Blue, Wine Red, Twilight Blue, Star Dust, Silky Beige, Sleek Silver, Pure White, and Phantom Black.
The Grand i10 also gets a bump in equipment level. Aside from the 14-inch alloy wheels, the Grand i10 now gets power windows for both front and rear occupants, a cooled glove box, a keyless Smart Key with push button start/stop, a multi-function trip computer, an Eco Indicator, a full-featured CD/DVD/MP3/USB audio system with 4 speakers and an LCD touch screen, and even a rear parking camera. Whew.
In terms of safety, the Grand i10 gets dual SRS airbags, anti-lock brakes, and fog lamps.
The Grand i10’s increased size also equates to a need to bump up the power. Now, the Grand i10 is offered in two engine configurations: a 1.0-liter and 1.2-liter engine both with 4-cylinder configurations. The 1.0-liter has 66 horsepower while the 1.2-liter pushes that figure to 87 horsepower. The Grand i10 is available in both 5-speed manual and 4-speed automatic versions.
Seems Hyundai is doing its best to arm its i10 to battle against the likes of the upcoming Toyota Wigo and even the Mitsubishi Mirage and Mirage G4. Game on!
Check out the introductory prices:
- Grand i10 1.0 E 5MT – P518,000
- Grand i10 1.0 S 5MT – P558,000
- Grand i10 1.0 S 4AT – P588,000
- Grand i10 1.0 L 4AT – P658,000
- Grand i10 1.2 L 4AT – P688,000
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I've checked this out this afternoon (1.2L a/t) freshly delivered from the port and i'm impressed with the initial perceived quality, space, and thoughtful engineering considering the price-point.
ReplyDeleteThe doors and the hatch close with a solid thunk, there are no inconsistent panel gaps that I observed, and the metal body does not seem too be easily dented (unlike the mirage). The engine is muted enough for me as when I revved the engine, the sound is "distant", even in a semi-closed dealership garage and it idles silently.
I also appreciate the thoughtful features like soft-open chilled and illuminated glovebox, power folding mirrors, proximity key with push-button start, GPS navigation with bluetooth, ipod, and aux connectivity, 4-node backup sensors with dashboard switch, and a reverse camera (dealer-installed but standard feature for 1.2L variant per SA).
It also has 2 front airbags, and was told that it's equipped ABS with EBD.
I've crossed-shop this with the m/t Vios J, Mirage GLS CVT and Accent 1.4E CVT(as they are within my 700k budget) and came away impressed. I was expecting that the accent is the better car for the money and was surprised that the grand i10 has even better rear leg and headroom than the Accent (of course, trunk space is better in the accent).
My only reservations are the size of the rims - at 14inches, it looks puny vs. the body, the 4-speed auto (how come the CVT from the accent wasn't installed??) the 1.2L engine (as I am coming from a 1.5L Yaris), and it's made in India.
I also didn't find any negative reliability reports from the net for this new model (maybe because it's new even for the rest of the world) and found mostly raves on how good the car is in Europe and India.
I think I found my new car that is worth spending on monthly payments for the next 5 years! :)
they should bring here the 1.1 CRDI engine. It would be the most efficient engine here in the country
ReplyDeleteYes, I'm waiting for the diesel engine i10 as well.
ReplyDeleteNicely and neatly assembled, finely designed. ergonomical for its size (ofcourse you should not expect to have the same as the innova with its shell coz that's stupidity) with this all options that u can only see in the bigger class, I can say that this is tha next big hit!. great value for money! Good Job Hyundai! i was hoping that some other dealers or car makers should know how to compete with this kind of "Great Deal".
ReplyDeletein addition.. when are we going to have the grand i10 sedan?.. .mirage g4 should prepare for this battle.. tsk tsk.. lets see who's going to be the "darling of the road."
DeleteGood Job Hyundai!
ReplyDeletehow does the GPS work? Does it have monthly subscription or it comes free?
ReplyDeleteyeah bring the grand i10 diesel now!
ReplyDeleteanyone can help me if this is the safest mini compact on the market right now?
ReplyDeletei am looking for a 6/4 airbag mini compact with abs and ebd for 700k pesos max budget.
it will be driven by my mother that is why it has to be small and at the same time safe.