Hyundai i10: Enriching The Hatchback Segment In India

Following into the footsteps of the iconic Santro, Hyundai i10 comes as an added impetus to the hatchback segment. Awarded with ICOTY’s Indian car of the year in 2008, this eye candy of a car exudes freshness and style in abundance. Its superior 1.1 litre iRDE2 engine comes in both petrol and LPG fuel options and delivers a mileage of 19.8kmpl.

Hyundai i10 hatchback comes in three trim variants namely, Era, Magna and Sports wherein, the top-end Sports variant features both petrol and LPG powertrains. The vehicle commands a price range of Rs.4.1 lakhs to Rs.4.9 lakhs (Ex Showroom, Delhi) and competes against the likes of Tata Indica EV2, Maruti Alto, Chevrolet Spark et al. It is available in 5 stunning colour options viz., Sleek Silver, Silky Beige, Pure White, Wine Read and Star Dust.

A Visual Stunner

The front fascia exudes both aggression and style in the form of a chrome lined radiator grille, wraparound headlamps, triangular fog lamps and a hexagonal air dam. The sides carry a black coloured moulding, body coloured door handles and ORVMs and 13 inches attractive steel wheels. The rear looks elegant with elongated tail lamps and wide bumpers that are incorporated with a moulding and reflectors. Furthermore, the impressive dimensions of the hatchback read, 3585mm in length, 1595mm in width and 1550mm in height.

Classy Interior

The cabin exudes warmth and comfort and comes blessed in a dual beige and brown colour scheme. Its dual tone dashboard contains a 3 spoke steering wheel with mounted audio controls, a central console containing a 2 DIN music system and air ducts for AC and heater respectively. The ergonomically designed seats have proper headrests and lumbar support for increased comfort. There are metal inserts galore that add to the overall charm of the cabin.

Superior Powertrain

The hatchback is powered by a 1.1 litre 1086cc iRDE2 SOHC power mill that can churn out a maximum power and torque output of 69ps at 5500rpm and 99.1Nm at 2500rpm. The LPG variants come with an Alternator Management System (AMS) to enable shift of power control from either of the two fuels tanks. The powertrain returns a mileage of 19.8kmpl (as per ARAI) and can reach a top speed of 149kmph. Furthermore, for effective transmission of torque to the wheels, the engine comes mated to a 5 speed manual transmission gearbox.

Safety and Convenience

Armed with a superior suspension system, the car can easily outmanoeuvre bumps and jerks. Its sturdy body can cushion the occupants from severe impacts and houses many safety features that speak for themselves, such as front disc and rear drum brakes with ABS, dual front airbags, central locking, keyless entry, front fog lamps, and seat belts. Driving is an absolute pleasure in this hatchback, for it is equipped with power steering, power windows, and a slew of utility fixtures. Moreover, the blue illuminated instrument cluster behind the steering wheel is soothing to the eyes and the various readings on its panels can be read without putting any strain on the eyes.