“All indications are that the market is tightening up and that interest rates are likely to rise soon,” says Hyundai Automotive South Africa (HASA) marketing director Stanley Anderson.

This has, and will continue to encourage a buying-down trend in the new vehicle market, he adds.

“When things get tighter, people buy smaller and cheaper vehicles.”

Total May new vehicle sales in the local market declined 9.2%, to 49 465 units, compared with the same month last year, continuing a trend seen in recent months.

HASA’s newest offering to South African consumers with a diminishing new-car appetite is the Grand i10, produced in India.

With this model, Hyundai now caters for the entire entry-level market, including manual and automatic derivatives, says Anderson.

He says a number of potential i10 buyers found the hatchback too small, but the i20 too costly, opting rather for a competitor model.

The Grand i10 slots in between the bottom-of-the-range i10 and the more upmarket Hyundai i20. Pricing for the i10 starts at R118 500, and at R162 900 for the i20, while the Grand i10 is available from R139 900.

Around 60% of HASA’s new car sales will come from these three entry-level models this year, believes Anderson.

He says the Grand i10 ‘replaces’ HASA’s “beloved Getz”, which was Hyundai’s first true volume mover in South Africa following a difficult period of brand building.

The Getz was discontinued in 2009.

“The Grand i10 has everything in its arsenal, and more, to do what the Getz did for Hyundai. Not only is it spacious inside, yet small in overall diameters, but it is filled with standard features that will make it a compelling choice in the entry-level segment of our car market,” says Anderson.

The all-new Grand i10 is launched in South Africa in three derivatives: the 1.25 Motion manual, the 1.25 Fluid manual (with a slightly higher specification level) and the 1.25 Fluid with a four-speed automatic gearbox.

The Grand i10 offers 256 l of trunk capacity, growing to 1 202 l when the rear seats are folded down.

Interior styling has been given a boost over the i10, with a choice between grey cloth with orange inserts; grey leather with red inserts (at R5 000 extra); or the more standard grey cloth with grey inserts.

The different colour themes can also be reflected in dashboard inserts and a colourful ring around the gear lever housing.

At 3 765 mm, the Grand i10 is 180 mm longer than its i10 sibling, as well as 65 mm wider.

A lower roofline, at 1 520 mm, yields a more athletic on-the–road stance. 

High-tensile steel forms 29.2% of the body structure of the Grand i10 – a big jump over the 9% used in the i10.

The Grand i10 offers Bluetooth connectivity to the sound system; keyless entry and electrically heated and folding side mirrors (for the two Fluid derivatives); USB and AUX ports for the sound system; air conditioning and central locking for all the derivatives.

All three derivatives are also equipped with front fog lamps, a full-size spare wheel, 14-inch alloy wheels, height adjustment for the driver’s seat, and remote controls for the sound system on the steering wheel.

A storage tray is hidden underneath the front passenger seat.

A trip computer displays fuel consumption and range left with the fuel remaining in the tank.

The Grand i10’s 1.25 l engine delivers 64 kW peak power at 6 000 rpm, and reaches its maximum torque delivery of 120 Nm at 4 000 rpm.

Fuel consumption can be as low as 5.9 l/100 km in the manual derivatives, and 6.9 l/100 km for the 1.25 Fluid with the four-speed automatic gearbox.

Dual airbags – for the front passenger and the driver – are also standard.

The vehicle is sold with a 5-year/150 000 km warranty and roadside assistance.