By Sala Masindane

The compact hatchback is arguably one of the highly contested segments with the VW Polo Vivo, Renault Clio, Ford Figo and the Toyota Yaris all competing fiercely for the consumer’s attention. You will realise that I did not mention the Hyundai i10. This is because it has been discontinued. Everything is not lost as Hyundai SA has beefed up the Grand i10 line up by adding the top of the range Grand i10 Glide to the already existing entry level Fluid and mid-level Motion trims.

The Glide sits on top of the range and its exterior is easily distinguishable from the rest of the Grand i10 line up by the LED daytime running lights, 2-tone alloy wheels and a dash of chrome across the car, not forgetting the rear park assist and electrically folding side mirrors. All of these combine very well to give the Grand i10 Glide an “upmarket” look.

Inside is where the most difference is visible compared to the rest of the Grand i10 line-up. The Glide has a two-tone dash and door panel, and imitated leather cloth seats, that resemble the body colour. The leather-wrapped steering wheel is also a notable addition to already sporty looking Grand i10. You would think this compact hatch would have limited space, yes the boot space is smaller than that of its competitors like the VW Polo Vivo and Toyota Etios, but the rear leg and head room is decent. Three medium sized adults can seat in relative comfort in the back seats. An additional storage tray is found underneath the front passenger seat. Hyundai has also bequeathed the Grand i10 Glide and impressive infotainment system, that features a touchscreen with Bluetooth and USB functionality. If you are ones of those that are always getting lost, for an extra R2,500, you can find your way with an integrated navigation.

The Grand i10 Glide is more than a just a budget beater but an impressive compact car. The 1.25-litre 66kW/125Nm engine performs well in the city. Long distance travel can also be done in the Grand i10 Glide with relative ease although occasional gearing down will be required on hills and when overtaking. Hyundai claims a fuel consumption figure of 5.9litre/100km and we were not far off from this as we managed 6.2 litre/100km.

The one thing feature that trumps the competition is the warranty. Priced at R204,900, the Grand i10 Glide comes with a standard 5-years/150 000km warranty, and this is not all. Included in the price is a 7-years/200 000km warranty for some drivetrain parts! In addition, Hyundai throws in a 2-years/30 000km service plan.