Hyundai Grand i10: With the grinning Indian hatchback scene about to be shaken up, Hyundai has introduced the slightly face-lifted Grand i10, which undercuts the Maruti Swift down to ₹ 4 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) for better fuel efficiency of 26 km/l.
The news is a big step in the direction of Hyundai’s dedication to providing fuel efficient and low cost mobility for the Indian economy and has the potential to alter buyer perception of what to expect from budget cars.
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Hyundai Grand i10 A More Efficient Revolution that Fits in virtually every Budget
The car industry has always struggled to make affordable cars that are also efficient, but only at expense of the other. Hyundai’s research and development arm seems to have solved this puzzle with the new Grand i10 and has managed to provide excellent efficiency without the usual cost associated with it.
“The Grand i10 is the result of three years of dedicated research and development particularly catered towards the Indian market,” says Rajiv Suri, Regional Product Manager for Hyundai India.
“We realized that the primary product feature for budget-conscious consumers remains fuel efficiency, above such considerations as features and performance.
The ARAI-certified fuel efficiency for the Grand i10 – 26 kmpl – is good enough to make it one of the most fuel-efficient petrol hatchbacks available in the country, even better than a few of the pricier mild hybrid options from rivals.
The Efficiency Breakthrough Engineered
Hyundai Grand i10 The incredible mileage is the result of some mechanical tweaking and technology insertion, instead of a design overhaul. Hyundai engineers have incorporated numerous significant changes to the current 1.2 Kappa engine such as :-
An updated injection system ensures precise fuel deliver at all times and for all conditions.
Improved cooling to decrease mechanical loss
Lower curb weight thanks to judicious application of high-strength steel
Better aero with slight body mods that count
Made for India low rolling resistance tyres
And most notably, its transmission has been wholly reprogrammed with higher gear ratios to improve efficiency on the open road without losing any drivability in the urban jungle.
“What’s impressive is that we have obtained the same results without resorting to expensive hybrid technology,” says Suri.
“With this solution in place, we are able to further bring down the cost of engine technology for Hyundai customers, while penciling in to build up to 150,000 engines annually, thereby providing scalability and flexibility to support the flexibility and future expansion plans of our operations in India while saving time and valuable resources.
“This kind of synergy is how we can continue to deliver high-value, quality-oriented products and services at a price that will help us keep the Grand i10 a first-car for Indians and a family’s cost-effective first move away from two-wheelers.
The Economics of Ownership
And with the current per litre petrol price at the pump over the ₹100/litre mark in every Indian city at the moment, the Grand i10’s fuel economy promises huge savings in day-to-day commuting costs.
For a routine driver driving around 1,200 kilometers every month, this translates to a fuel bill of ₹4,600 per month, which is nearly ₹1,500 less than its peers in the same category.
Financial speculators suggest that over a 5-year period of ownership, running costs on efficiency alone could save owners as much as ₹90,000* vs competition 20-21km/l offerings. This literally brings down the cost of ownership and it’s this that makes the Grand i10 a much better value package.
“If you consider the 3-year unlimited kilometer warranty on Hyundai you could also bet on some strong resale values and overall cost of ownership will look mighty competitive,” notes Dhruv Behl, auto industry guru. “It really does redefine what budget car buyers can get for their money.”
Market Positioning and Variants Read on to see how the Noiseblocker fans perform!
Starting from the base Era grade, Hyundai may have spread the refreshed Grand i10 series across a wide space in the market, but the headline ₹4 lakh entry price has been kept intact.
The range also goes up to Magna, Sportz and Asta trims, although the top-end variant is priced at ₹7.05 lakh (ex-showroom).
The base model itself offers basic standard features such as driver and passenger airbags, ABS with EBD, central locking and power steeringsomething which should shut the critics down who talk about the ‘stripped’ version of the entry level car whenever they take out safety equipment in order to launch the vehicle at an enticingly low price.
The mid-spec Sportz variant, which Hyundai reckons will be its bestseller, besides the 26 kmpl figure, comes with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with smartphone connectivity, rear parking sensors, smart-looking alloy wheels and auto climate control.
Competitive Landscape Defragmentation
The Grand i10’s shift is now expected to squeeze its competition, and key players from this pack are Maruti’s Swift, Wagon R and Tata’s Tiago. None of these rival offerings can currently offer 26 kmpl of ride along with a starting price of ₹4 lakh.
Industry sources say such a move might compel other producers to speed up their efficiency gains or recalibrate their pricing strategies. The timing is also tough for rivals since higher input costs and regulation have sent prices heading higher for the industry overall.
“Hyundai has really thrown down the gauntlet,” says Meenakshi Sundaram, Director of AutoTrack India.
“Other rivals will either have to make it to the same efficiency numbers and price or find other ways to differentiate their products. Either way, the consumer comes out on top.”
Hyundai Grand i10 Future: Market Impact
The after-effects of Hyundai’s decision go beyond the immediate competitive reaction. “Ultimately, if this serves as a template for affordable and effective efficiency gains, it seems more than just the Grand i10 is likely to come out of this.
” If demonstrating it is possible to achieve substantial efficiency gains without costly hybridisation or electrification, the Grand i10 could offer a template for affordable efficiency benefits that could be adopted by the wider market.
The Grand i10 is a great option for consumers on a budget who are weary of electric cars (infrastructure and purchase price) but aren’t ready to give up on fuel economy, and the vehicle doesn’t ask customers to change their habits of refueling for the savings potential to be realized.
“What Hyundai has done here is that it has prolonged the life of internal combustion engines in the budget space for a segment that is increasingly under pressure to go electric,” says automotive technology consultant Vikram Chandra.
“This creates time for an infrastructure to recharge to develop while still providing substantial environmental benefits via lower fuel consumption.”
With bookings already underway at Hyundai’s more than 500 dealerships across the country, and deliveries scheduled to begin in April, the market will soon tell whether this combination of frugality and cost effectiveness sets the bar for India’s mass market hatchback ambience.
