We give Hyundai’s latest hatchback, the Grand i10, the full road test treatment with its 1.1-litre U2 diesel engine.
Hyundai hasn’t quite mastered the black art of ride and handling and, as a result, most of its cars are below class standards when it comes to dynamics. But again, the company has made big strides in this department as well and the newGrand i10 feels better sorted than its other small siblings.
To begin with, the car maintains its composure at highway speeds well and doesn’t bob around or feel too squishy over broken tarmac; hence, it is not as nervous as the i10 or even the i20 cars. In the city too, the Hyundai Grand i10 does a decent job of doing away with potholes but the suspension feels clunky and tends to jar over sharp edges.
The Grand i10 tackles rough roads quite well and there’s sufficient ground clearance to ride over the biggest of speedbreakers but the suspension never feels settled on a bumpy road and passengers, especially those at the rear, will experience a fair amount of vertical movement.
The electrical-assisted power steering doesn’t feel ultra-light as in other Hyundais and has a bit more weight which gives the driver good confidence at high speeds. However, it weighs up in an inconsistent manner and simply doesn’t have the precision or responsiveness of the best power steering systems in the class.
In terms of stopping power, the Grand i10 has well specified brakes that are fairly strong and the ABS felt well calibrated too.