Hyundai Grand i10 Vs Maruti Swift AMT - Fun Size

Which of these petrol automatic hatchbacks is your best bet?

- Simran Rastogi

With the all-new Grand i10 Nios, Hyundai hopes to leave a mark in the small hatchback segment, where Maruti Suzuki’s Swift rules roost with the highest sales. No doubt thanks to its sporty design, spacious cabin and efficient powertrains. Hyundai would have to bring everything they’ve got to have a chance, then. But, in typical Hyundai fashion, a fully-loaded petrol automatic isn’t available – something that Maruti realised people wanted, and remedied with the (expensive) Swift ZXi+ last year, though they didn’t have a car to lend us for this shoot which is why you see a lower variant here. The highest spec automatic Nios you can have, however, is a Sportz variant, and the Asta is the one that gets most of the headline features. Does that hurt the Nios’ chances? Let’s start right at the top.

Styling

Hyundais are getting edgy! At least that’s the impression from the front of the Nios, with its wide grille, boomerang LED DRLs, sharply creased hood, scalloped bumpers and detailed headlights. It’s an interpretation of the family face from the earlier Grand i10 but I don’t think anyone would mistake the new one for cute anymore. There are bits of Santro in there too, and the rear is a dead ringer for the Tata Tiago. The boot lid does have one badge too many on it, in stark contrast to the Swift’s near-debadged look.