Hyundai Grand i10 review, test drive and video

The talking point of the Hyundai Grand i10 is under the hood. Powering this new hatchback is an all-new, 1.1-litre, three-cylinder U2 VGT diesel motor which develops an estimated 70bhp (the power and torque figures have not been disclosed yet). This new three-cylinder U2 engine is essentially the 1.4 four-cylinder unit with a cylinder chopped off. Counter balancing shafts have been used to iron out the inherent imbalance of a three-cylinder configuration. The Grand i10 will also come with the familiar 1.2-litre Kappa petrol engine with a four-speed automatic as an option, but it’s only the diesel that we were given to test drive.

 

We had high expectations of this new compact engine especially since Hyundai has made great strides in diesel technology. However, when you first fire the engine, its not very impressive. At idle, you can’t miss that sharp diesel clatter which quickly goes away when the revs rise. 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.