The recently launched i10 from the Hyundai stable is the big push (with a Rs 820 crore budget) the company is making in a bid to make up lost ground. In a strategic move, the company has used India as its global production and launch pad?a first apart from Tata Motors.
The i10 may not be spectacular in looks, but it surely stands out, retaining some of the looks of the Santro and Getz from different angles.
Inside, the leg room is spacious. However, one has to get used to the much feted cockpit-style gearshift which is set in a slight height and angle from the floor. The instrument panel is uncluttered with easy access. The piece de resistance is the embedded into the dashboard music system, available only in the top-end Magna. Another first is the sunroof, again exclusive to the Magna.
Under the hood the i10 has the same 1.1-litre engine as the Getz Prime, with a bit of changes for higher torque. The engine develops a good 66.7 bhp, making it the most powerful in its class. But the i10 has not managed to keep noise at bay. Even at low speeds, one cannot miss the perceptible engine noise. Missing was the footrest pedal the Santro has?a big boon and fatigue preventor on long drives. Company officials defended that it interfered with other pedals. Hence, removed it altogether. Once on the Delhi-Jaipur highway, one touched 125 kmph, that too for a few seconds, and one could feel the car hugging the road and engine noise couldn?t be ignored. But the comfortable speed was 80-85 kmph for long periods. The steering too was a wee bit hard.
The i10 is also economic on fuel with 17 kmpl on the highway with the aircon on and 18 kmpl without. And, in the city, it clocked 14 km and 15 km. With a price tag of Rs 3.38 lakh-Rs 4.9 lakh, it is surely going to be a good pick?a good price-value equation. However, one cannot but wonder if it is going to cannibalise the Santro. ?Well, any loss of Santro will be made up by the i10,? explains Arvind Saxena, vice-president, marketing and sales. The company is also bullish on the exports, which should rake in the volumes.