New Hyundai Grand i10 Nios Review: Sharper Looks Along With Added Safety

The Nios is the range starter for hatchbacks by Hyundai but the segment has become quite crowded with micro SUVs catching buyers fancy.

Hyundai Grand i10 Nios

Source : Somnath Chatterjee

Safety is a major talking point in India but the bigger issue is with hatchbacks having 6 airbags since small cars are sensitive to prices even more. The new Grand i10 Nios debuts with 6 airbags as an option but comes with 4 as standard. The Nios is the range starter for hatchbacks by Hyundai but the segment has become quite crowded with micro SUVs catching buyers fancy. That said, the Nios continues to sell strongly but this update has been crucial to bolster its appeal.

What Has Changed?

The Nios in its updated avatar gets tweaked front styling which includes a larger lower portion of the grille along with a new design for DRLs being positioned at the edges. The LED projector headlamps are also tweaked along with new-look 15-inch alloy wheels. The rear styling meanwhile gets new LED tail-lamps along with a light bar being connected to it- much like SUVs these days.  There are 6 colours on offer along with 2 in dual tone.

What About The Interiors?

The interiors have the same look as before which means a quality-laden cabin with an 8-inch touchscreen with smartphone connectivity, wireless charging, rear AC vents and auto climate control. It also gets new footwell lighting,  new grey upholstery and a multi-information display including the tyre pressure monitoring system. As mentioned before, the Nios gets 4 airbags as standard along with 6 as an option. Space continues to be good with decent headroom though it is more of a comfy four-seater.

Engine Options?

The new Nios does not get a turbo petrol engine any more but it gets 1.2l petrol engines importantly the engine is compliant with e20 fuel for future norms while also meeting RDE norms. There is a CNG version too. The 1.2l petrol-equipped Nios gets AMT and a manual gearbox. To drive, the 1.2l petrol feels well suited to the job by being smooth, refined and being easy to drive. It is also tuned for city driving with a good amount of low-end torque which enables fewer downshifts.

Official figures for the mileage are around 20kmpl for both AMT and manual with 12/14 kmpl being expected in the real world. We drove the manual version and it is one of the easiest cars to drive with a very light clutch plus steering. Yet, it feels confident enough at high speeds even though the engine feels a bit flat when pushed. In terms of the ride quality, the Nios feels composed and has a soft ride. 

Prices?

The new Nios starts at Rs 5.68 lakh while the top-end is Rs 8.4 lakh for the AMT version. The updated equipment list makes the Nios better value and it also gets more features than rivals including safety equipment while still coming at a lower price. Key elements include the new styling, future-proof engine and the high-quality interior which makes it stand out. If you are looking for a hatchback, the Nios in its new avatar makes a solid impression.

What We Liked — Looks, features, quality, smooth powertrain

What We Do Not Liked — Price for top-end versions