The Hyundai Grand i10 hatchback gets a new diesel engine. Time to find out what it's like behind the wheel.
This new hatchback also gets a new power source; an all-new, 1.1-litre, three-cylinder diesel motor (codename: U2) which develops 70bhp. Now, diesel engines and three cylinders don't really go well together, as both are inherently prone to vibration, so it's no surprise that the Grand i10 flutters and vibrates softly at idle. This new engine may be essentially Hyundai's 1.4 four-cylinder unit with a cylinder chopped off, but that creamy idle is gone.
Counter-balancing shafts have been used to iron out the inherent imbalance of a three-cylinder configuration, so when you rev the engine, it smoothens out a bit. There is a hint of turbo lag, but after 1,500rpm, the motor pulls cleanly and with a fair amount of enthusiasm.
Performance feels smooth and linear at best, but you truly miss that strong surge in the mid-range that is so typical of more powerful diesel motors. The top-end isn’t strong either, and the engine labours as you cross the 3,500rpm mark, so it's best to upshift early. Refinement on the move, however, is pretty good. At low revs, the engine is never intrusive and it's only when you near the redline that you can really tell it’s a diesel. It must be said that this motor lacks the punch needed to really make the Grand i10 fun to drive, but the new Hyundai does have the right gearing for city driving. The short gearing makes you feel at home in the city and coupled with short throws, navigating through the box isn’t tiresome.
We also had a go in the petrol version of the Grand i10 with the manual gearbox (it's also available with a four-speed automatic). It uses the same 1.2-litre 'Kappa 2' four-cylinder motor as the current i10, which is equipped with variable valve timing (VVT in Hyundai speak).And just like the i10, it feels fairly peppy to drive. It may lack the outright performance of cars like the Swift or the Brio but, the power delivery is smooth and there is adequate power throughout most of the rev-range. You get useable power from 1500rpm and this makes it comfortable to drive in the city. Also, a strong mid-range means you can easily cruise at a reasonable 100kph on the highway and still have some power left in reserve for a quick overtaking manoeuvre.