Reference Auto

So, Hyundai Motor India finally rolled out the Grand i10 and marked its presence in the mid hatchback segment, giving car buffs a wider choice ahead of the festive season.

But by having a car in between the i10 and i20, Hyundai’s Grand would be in a segment, which is a very narrow one and could lead to cannibalisation among the three cars of the Korean major, which could take a toll on the company.

But one clear advantage is that customers have a wider choice and many may flock for a Hyundai car when they see that they have more cars to choose from in the category of hatchbacks.

Hyundai, in order to grab a big chunk of the market, has priced the Grand i10 very judiciously between Rs 4.29 lakh and Rs 6.41 lakh (Delhi prices). It is at least Rs 30,000 cheaper compared to Maruti’s Swift, the Volkswagen Polo and the Mahindra Verito Vibe (although the Grand is a tad smaller than these cars).

BS Seo, managing director and CEO of Hyundai, said, “The Grand i10 is a world class car made for the Indian market. With its excellent value proposition and its unique features, we expect the Grand to cater to a wide range of customers in the country.”

The Grand, which has been placed between the i10 and i20, is being projected as a car for young professionals, who are in their late 20s and early 30s.

Some of the cars which the Grand i10 will vie with include Ford Figo, Toyota Liva, Maruti Suzuki Swift and Nissan Micra.

The high-end hatchback segment has cars like Hyundai i20, Volkswagen Polo and Fiat Punto, as well as the Verito Vibe of the Mahindras.

The compact car segment constitutes over half the overall car market in the country and sales neared the 1.5 million car mark in the previous financial year, with Maruti leading the pack and Hyundai coming second (although by a wide margin).

Engine choices in the Grand are the 1.2 litre KAPPA petrol motor and a new 1.1 litre U2 CRDI diesel motor, which could excite car buffs. The 1.2 litre KAPPA petrol engine offers 83 PS power at 6,000 rpm and 99 Nm torque at 4,500 rpm. It offers a fuel economy of 19 km to a litre, which is commendable.

The petrol engine comes with both 5-speed manual transmission and a 4-speed automatic transmission. The U2 CRDI diesel has 71 PS power at 4,000 rpm and 160 Nm torque from 1,500-2,750 rpm.

It comes with a mileage of 24 km per litre, which is just great. The diesel engine is mated to a 5-speed manual transmission as standard.

The interiors come with quality materials and have a litany of features like rear aircon vents, something which is unique in hatchbacks, smart key with push button start and stop, Bluetooth connectivity, Aux-in and USB connectivity, integrated 2-DIN MP3 audio with 1 GB memory, steering mounted audio controls and rear parking sensors, among others.

With Hyundai offering a wider choice and sedan-like features in the Grand i10 along with intelligent pricing, many car buffs, especially the youths, may flock for the new car, which could register commendable sales during and after the festive season.