The Amazing ஹாட்ச்பேக்

The Amazing Hatchback

Hyundai’s largest selling car in India is the i10 and for good reasons. For starters, the i10, with the 1.2-litre Kappa engine is one of the India’s most fuel efficient petrol cars. It might have oddball and subjective looks but the i10 is one of the best places to be in the Rs 4 to Rs 5 lakh bracket. The car got a slight revamp sometime back with changes done both to the outside as well as insides and the standard list of features. Step inside the i10 and you are greeted with quality plastics and design that can shame cars from a higher price bracket. You do feel that your money was spent well and the i10 further impresses you with its feature list. For example, unlike some of the other cars in this price bracket, the i10 gets steering wheel controls even on its mid trim levels. It also boasts of features like heated outside rear view mirrors, optional electric sunroof, height adjustable driver’s seat and reverse parking sensors. The i10 comes with two engine options, a 1.1-litre and a bigger, more powerful and efficient 1.2-litre engine. Both the engines are very good on power with the latter making the i10 the quickest car in the class easily. The gearbox is also a delight to use and this combined with a light steering makes driving the i10 a breeze in traffic. Hyundai seems to have ticked the right boxes in the case of the i10. The company also offers an automatic gearbox variant with the 1.2-litre engine. In all, the i10 comes in nine different trim levels including two automatic ones and caters to a wide segment of users. The i10 wears independent MacPherson strut up front with a torsion beam axle at the rear. The first thing that strikes you when you drive the i10 is the super light steering wheel that is a boon for city traffic. Handling is nippy and pretty good and body control is also decent. Brakes work very well and ABS are standard on the top end Asta version. Hyundai i10 is reasonably spacious, with decent headroom. The i10s high-set driver's seat, though good for visibility, lacks thigh support and, like in the rear, the cushions feel a touch too hard. The i10 manages to flow over undulating, bumpy roads almost with the aplomb of a large family hatchback. You can certainly feel what speed you're doing, just as you would expect of such a small, short car, but the car's handling and ride always feel measured and controlled.