Hyundai Grand i10 Nios

The Hyundai i10 has been one of the most popular and longest-running nameplates in India. After the i10, Grand i10, and Nios, the Grand i10 Nios carries forward a legacy of nearly two decades with its mild facelift that was launched back in 2023. Fast forward to 2025, we check out whether the hatchback still has the qualities that made it so well-liked. Let’s go:

• The Hyundai Grand i10 Nios looks like a cute little hatchback with plenty of thoughtful styling elements.

• The front looks sharp with its pointed head lights and creases on the hood, all pointing downwards.

• The mesh grille makes up most of the bumper, and I really like the star-shaped design of the fog lights.

• The side profile is rather sober with a typical hatchback silhouette, no cladding and minimal creases.

• It sits on 15-inch alloy wheels in the top-spec variants, while the mid-spec variants get 15-inch steel wheels with covers.

• The base variant only gets 14-inch steel wheels, while the one-above base variant adds wheel covers for a better look.

• The overall styling at the rear is simple, but small details like the shark fin antenna and diffuser like element add to the style of the design.

• I like the LED tail lights, which have a connected look to them, thanks to a reflector panel.

• The 2025 Hyundai Grand i10 Nios can be had in 7 monotone shades: Fiery red, Amazon grey, Spark green, Typhoon silver, Teal blue, Atlas white, and Titan grey.

• Spark Green and Atlas White shades are also available with a dual-tone black roof.

Design & Quality

• While the overall interior design of the Grand i10 Nios is simple, just like the exterior, the small details throughout the cabin add to the overall style.

• There's also a black interior theme with spark green inserts or red inserts.

• I like the mesh-like pattern on the passenger side dashboard, and the shape and styling of the side air vents looks fancy.

• The cabin feels quite airy with the light coloured interior theme, but keeping the seats clean will require additional effort.

• Most of the dashboard is made of plastic, which is expected at this price point, but the quality feels good.

• There are no complaints from the overall fit and finish as well.

Driving position

• The front seats of the Grand i10 Nios feel comfortable and hold occupants well.

• Comfort here could’ve been better if Hyundai offered front adjustable headrests.

• With driver seat height adjustment and tilt adjustable steering wheel, finding a comfortable driving position is fairly simple.

• There are no issues in terms of overall visibility as well.

Passenger comfort

• The rear seats of the Grand i10 Nios are comfortable for two occupants.

• Knee, foot and headroom feels adequate for people of an average height. 

• Owing to the limitations in width, fitting three adults at the back will be a tight squeeze.

• Rear occupants don’t get a central armrest, but they do get rear AC vents and a 12V socket.

Practicality

• For a small hatchback, the Grand i10 Nios offers you just about enough storage spaces.

• It gets 1-litre bottle pockets in all the doors and two small cupholders in the central tunnel with an open rectangular slot behind it.

• The cooled glovebox has adequate space to store small knick knacks and the wireless charging pad can also double up as a space to store items.

• Rear occupants only get seatback pockets.

Features

• Hyundai’s little hatchback doesn’t leave you wanting for more in terms of features.

• The 8-inch touchscreen system might have a user interface that looks and feels old, but it is easy to use, and the system works smoothly. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity is wired.

• I like the analogue dials for the speed and RPM readouts, while the small 3.5-inch MID display relays important information like trip details and tyre pressure readouts.

• The sound system of the Grand i10 Nios has acceptable audio quality. 

• Other features in the list include cruise control, wireless phone charger, keyless entry with push button start/stop, rear AC vents, Type-C port (front), electric outside mirror, and auto headlamps.

• Features like LED headlamps, adjustable front headrests, and rear centre armrest would’ve rounded up the Grand i10 Nios’ feature package really well.

• Standard safety features include 6 airbags, ABS with EBD, rear parking sensors and 3-point seat belts for all seats.

• A manual day/night inside mirror, tyre pressure monitoring system, and electronic assists like electronic stability control, and hill-start assist get added in the one-above-base Magna variant.

• Higher variants get rear defogger, a rear parking camera, and ISOFIX mounts.

• The Grand i10 Nios has a big enough boot to store a medium and small size suitcase with some space to spare.

• The CNG variants get a dual cylinder layout, thanks to which, you get an actually usable boot.

• The rear seats can be folded flat in case you need to store larger items.

• The Hyundai Grand i10 only gets a single 1.2-litre, four cylinder, naturally aspirated petrol engine option.

• Transmission options include a five-speed manual or an automated manual transmission (AMT).

• A CNG kit is also available with the manual transmission.

1.2-litre petrol

• There are no complaints from the noise and vibrations levels of this engine.

• The engine’s performance is smooth and acceleration is never sudden, but always linear.

• Its performance is adequate for regular city usage, but you might want more power while making highway overtakes.

• So highspeed overtakes will need planning, but it cruises comfortably at triple digit speeds.

• I found it easy to use the manual in heavy city traffic, thanks to a progressive clutch and smooth shifts.

• Despite the easy-to-use manual, I would recommend the automated manual transmission for its convenience, especially in the city.

• You can feel the shifts, especially when you ask for a quick acceleration, and it does take some time to react in such a situation. But it is absolutely fine for regular commutes.

• You can expect a fuel efficiency of around 12-14kmpl in the city, and slightly better efficiency on the highway.

1.2-litre petrol + CNG

• The driving experience between petrol and CNG isn’t very different in the city.

• It still feels smooth and performance feels adequate for keeping up with the traffic.

• The difference will be felt on the highway, where overtakes will require more planning than usual.

• I found that switching to petrol mode is better when driving the car with a full load in hilly regions with steep inclines.

• With the CNG, you get a better fuel efficiency of around 20 km/kg.

• At slow city speeds, it absorbs most of the undulations and road imperfections without translating them into the cabin.

• Even its highway high speed stability and ride quality is good. But rear passengers will feel some up and down movement if there is a change in surface or elevation.

• It is only over deep potholes and sharp bumps that you feel some impact inside the car, but it doesn’t get uncomfortable.

• With its small footprint and light steering wheel, the Grand i10 Nios is easy to drive in the city.

• The 2025 Hyundai Grand i10 Nios is available in five variants: Era, Magna, Corporate, Sportz, Sportz (O), and Asta.

• CNG is available in the Magna and Sportz variants.

Era

• Dull exterior design only gets 14-inch steel wheels and body coloured bumpers.

• Functional equipment includes manual AC, keyless entry, front powered windows, adjustable rear headrests, footwell lighting and map lighting.

• No infotainment or audio system, and driver gets a 3.5-inch MID display.

• Safety kit gets 6 airbags, ABS with EBD, rear parking sensors, central locking and three-point seatbelts for all passengers.

Magna

• Better exterior looks with LED DRLs, LED tail lights, wheel covers, body coloured outside mirrors and door handles, and turn indicators on the outside mirrors (AMT only).

• Big functional improvements with all four power windows, electrically adjustable and foldable (AMT only) outside mirrors, driver seat height adjustment, passenger vanity mirror and Type-C charging port.

• Features a basic audio system with bluetooth connectivity and front and rear speakers.

• New safety features include tyre pressure monitoring system, manual inside mirror, and AMT-specific electronic aids like electronic stability program, vehicle stability control, and hill-start assist.

Corporate

• Slight improvement in looks with projector headlamps and 15-inch steel wheels with covers.

• The only feature addition is a 6.75-inch touchscreen system.

Sportz

• Improved looks with 15-inch alloy wheels (dual tone variant only), roof rails, sharkfin antenna, and black tape on the B-pillar.

• Gloss black inserts, leatherette on the steering wheel (dual tone variant only), and chrome finished gear knob uplift the cabin’s look.

• Top features additions are a wireless phone charger (dual tone variant only), cruise control (petrol only), auto AC (CNG only), and auto headlamps.

• Improved infotainment package with 8-inch touchscreen system with wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

• New additions in the safety kit are rear camera with static guidelines, and rear defogger.

Sportz (O)

• Chrome outside door handles, 16-inch alloy wheels, and metal-finished inside door handles are offered for a more premium look similar to the top-spec variant.

• Only gets two new features - push button start/stop and auto AC.

• No changes in the safety kit.

Asta

• No changes in exterior, but interior gets leather wrapped steering wheel and chrome finish handbrake tip.

• The only feature addition is a wireless phone charger.

• Improved safety kit with ISOFIX mounts, and rear wiper and washer.

CarDekho Recommends:

• You should opt for the one-above-base Magna variant if you’re on a tight budget and just want a basic car with all must-have functionalities.

• The Sportz and Sportz (O) variants feel the most value-for-money with their premium looks and good features and safety package.

Packaging a small car to deliver on parameters of a family car like space, practicality, comfort and refinement usually involves a compromise on some front or the other. With the Hyundai Grand i10 Nios, not only does it pack ample space and practicality for a family of four, it also offers a refined and comfortable drive experience, without any compromise on daily-use creature comforts that you’d expect at this price point. If anything’s missing, it would be a more exciting turbo-petrol engine, which was once offered with the nameplate.

Other cars to consider instead of the Grand i10 Nios

Maruti Swift

Reasons to consider

• Slightly bigger

• Looks sportier

• Better fuel efficiency

Reasons to ignore

• 3-cylinder engine isn’t as refined

• Top variants are more expensive

Tata Tiago

Reasons to consider

• Better infotainment experience

• Option of an automatic (AMT) with the CNG

• More affordable

Reasons to ignore

• Slightly smaller

• Cabin quality isn’t as premium

• 3-cylinder engine isn’t as refined