Can Hyundai's Newest Small Car Be One Of Its Best

We get you a round-up to see if Hyundai’s newest small car can be one of its best

- Tuhin Guha

The Grand i10 Nios is the newest addition to Hyundai’s line-up in India and that makes it their fourth hatchback modelline on sale at the moment. All four of them reside between 4.5-9.5 lakh, and that might seem like one too many! The Nios fits into the line-up between the Grand i10 (prices of which have been cut) and the Elite i20. Hyundai is aiming this car at young families, single ownerdrivers and other such upwardly mobile groups. People who want a small car but are also looking for something that is stylish, modern and with a feel-good vibe. Time then to find out if the Nios delivers on these promises.

Tell me more about the design…

The Grand i10 Nios is an interpretation of the brand’s Sensuous Sportiness design philosophy. This isn’t just about a dynamic family face, claims Hyundai, but has more to do with the energetic thought behind the car. This influences the Nios’ sharp bonnet creases, the lines which grow out of the lighting elements to add more depth and in the car’s silhouette.

Then there’s the large cascading grille and the swept projector headlamps. This arrangement debuted on the Santro but works better here, mainly due to the sharper details around it. The boomerang DRLs in the grille lend the Nios a unique identity, amplified by the cuts on the bumper and the projector fog lamp insets, although auto headlamps have been given a miss. The honeycomb pattern to the head and tail lamps and on the C-pillar plaque add that last bit of flair, although a bit more sharpness in the boot lid and LED elements in the rear tail lamps would have been a more cohesive choice.