Hyundai Grand i10 Nios

Features on a Budget

Hatchbacks are witnessing a steep decline given that SUVs are now available in most price brackets these days. Even while conversing about fun-to-drive cars, many will mention the Venue N Line before the i20 N Line. However, in the budget space, the practicality of a hatchback is still superior to comparable micro or subcompact SUVs. They tend to have the same space on the inside, and save for a little lesser ground clearance (which doesn’t do much harm in everyday use) and head room, you don’t lose much for the smaller price tag when compared to SUVs. One such practical B-segment hatchback is the Hyundai Grand i10 Nios. It has all there is to love about a Hyundai, like premium interiors, light steering, a great expanse of features, and so on. Let’s take a look at what makes this vehicle more special than both its B-segment rival hatchbacks, but also micro SUVs.

Hyundai Grand i10 Nios Pros and Cons 

Hyundai Grand i10 Nios Exterior Design 

The Grand i10 Nios is one of the more stylish B-segment hatchbacks in the Indian market. It received a facelift just three years after this generation was launched, and as is the trend, the facelift has given it a larger grille. To our delight, the grille isn’t gaudy or overdone; rather, its horizontal extension looks more mature. The facelift also saw the Nios lose its projector fog lamps, and instead, the fog-lamp housing gets Y-shaped LED DRLs, and an active vent that diverts airflow to the wheel wells. Rear also gets a few trendy touches, like an element which connects the tail-lights. However, it is only for looks, and doesn’t light up like in the Venue. 

Hyundai Grand i10 Nios Interiors 

For a B-segment car, the Grand i10 Nios has rather premium and well finished interiors. The dashboard is neatly laid out and gets many nifty touches, such as circular AC vents, textured finishes, and a glossy housing for the 8-inch touchscreen infotainment. Material quality and fit and finish levels are also high. The facelifted version also gets new fabric seats which look and feel premium. And where the quality score is already high, the practicality score is even higher. There are large doorbins on all doors, front seats also get two cup holders, and there's also a slot to stow small items like your phone or wallet above the large, cooled glove box. You also get a segment first wireless phone charger on the centre console, which is one of the Grand i10’s many great features. Perhaps the only two misses on the inside would be adjustable headrests for the front passengers, and a foldable armrest for the rear passengers.

Hyundai Grand i10 Nios Comfort 

For a car its size, the Grand i10 Nios is surprisingly roomy on the inside. Yes, it's not wide enough, so a fifth passenger in the cabin would make things uncomfortable. But for four passengers it is one of the most comfortable cabins in the price bracket. All the seats are soft and offer good support. Rear seats have good legroom and knee room, surprisingly great headroom and adjustable headrests, which the front ones miss out on; bummer! The back also misses a foldable armrest. 

Hyundai has tuned the car to be a good city runabout machine, and the suspension is a good reflection of that. It works well at low and medium speeds, soaking most bumps and potholes along its way. Higher speeds do make the ride a bit floaty, but that only happens above 80 km/h, and won’t be an issue in city commutes.

Hyundai Grand i10 Nios Performance and handling

The Grand i10 Nios was initially offered with three engine options. The diesel engine was axed as the BS6 norms kicked in, and with the facelift, even the turbo petrol engine has been deleted from the line-up. That has left the Nios with only one powertrain — a 1.2-litre Kappa engine that can be availed in either petrol or petrol+CNG fuel options. With the facelift, the engine has also been re-tuned to support E20 fuel. The engine is a very commuter friendly unit, and refinement is one of the key areas it excels in. Once it passes 2,500 RPM it gets wind in its sails, but the performance isn’t what you’d call spritely. Running about within city limits doesn’t leave one wanting more from the engine. It's only when you go chasing triple digit speeds that you’ll find the performance suboptimal. Part throttle responses are also good, making driving in stop-start traffic a smooth experience. 

The engine can be had with either a 5-speed manual or a 5-speed AMT gearbox (petrol variants only). The clutch action on the manual is light and easy, and even the gearshifts don’t require much effort. In fact, the manual gearbox is so effortless that it leaves no need to spend the extra money for an AMT. The AMT gearbox is also one of the more refined units in the market, and apart from the typical head-not movement when it shifts from first to second, the gearbox is respectably smooth in its operation. 

The handling also reflects a similar picture as the powertrain, as it gets a light steering, a small turning radius, and good manoeuvrability — all great traits to have in the urban jungle. However, just like the engine, if you push the extents of handling on a set of twisties, you’ll find the suspension to be too soft, and the steering wheel to be rather characterless.

Hyundai Grand i10 Nios Key specifications 

Hyundai Grand i10 Nios Safety Features

The facelift saw Hyundai add a few safety features to the Grand i10 Nios, making it a better equipped package. Six airbags are now standard across variants, which is a big improvement from two on the pre-facelift model. In fact, Hyundai has made a minimum of six airbags standard in all cars in its stable, across variants. There’s also an inclusion of a tyre pressure monitoring system, which helps ensure a stress free drive. The pre-facelift model was crash tested by Global NCAP, and it had returned a rather disappointing two-star rating. The inclusion of additional airbags is likely to translate to the Nios getting a higher crash test score, but this is yet to be seen. Other routine safety features like ABS, EBD, ESC, and seat belt pretensioners, are also a part of the package. The Nios also gets 3-point seat belts for all passengers, and ISOFIX child seat mounts too. Other helpful additions are hill assist, and driver rear view monitor — keeps the reversing camera on while driving — allowing you to use the display as a rear view mirror instead of mirrors themselves.

Hyundai Grand i10 Nios Technology and Infotainment

In typical Hyundai fashion, the Grand i10 Nios is packed to the gills with features, even considering its price. One welcome addition is a big 8-inch touchscreen infotainment unit, which is larger than all of its key rivals. The screen also gets Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but both need your phone to be plugged in via USB, which is a shame since this tiny car also gets a first-in-segment wireless phone charger! Yes yes, asking for wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay from a B-segment hatch would be too much, but the Grand i10 Nios already packs so much that you crave for that last one bit. It also gets a 3.5-inch multi-information display on the instrument cluster, which displays basic information in a clean layout. The MID is flanked by an analog tachometer and speedometer on either side, giving the instrument cluster a familiar and clean look.

Is the Hyundai Grand i10 Nios for you?

With the Grand i10 Nios, Hyundai has made its target audience very clear, and it does a brilliant job of being the best car for them. It is neither an enthusiast’s car, nor a cross country tourer’s. But for someone looking for a budget vehicle to handle urban duties, things don’t get much better than the Grand i10 Nios. The tractable engine, smooth gearbox and clutch, small turning radius, light steering wheel, and compact dimensions all make it a great car to drive in traffic. Happily it also has an expanse of features to keep your creature comfort needs in check during your daily commute. There’s also better space for four adults compared to hatchback (as well as micro SUV) rivals, and CNG variants also help keep the running costs low. 

There’s not much to fault with the Grand i10 Nios, especially as a commute-focused purchase. Should it fit your budget, it should make your shortlist. And if you are in the market for one, we’d recommend you get the manual variant, since the light clutch and easy gearshift action leaves no need to spend more for an AMT.