Hyundai Grand i10 vs Hyundai i20

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — we cover price, performance, petrol economy, safety and what it'll actually cost you to own each one long term.

Hyundai Grand i10 in South Africa

Hyundai Grand i10

1.2 Fluid Petrol Manual
ZAR 242,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 61 kW 🔧 114 Nm ⛽ 16.9 km/l
VS
Hyundai i20 in South Africa

Hyundai i20

1.0T Fluid Petrol Manual
ZAR 328,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 74 kW 🔧 172 Nm ⛽ 14.5 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance i20
Fuel Economy Grand i10
🛡 Safety i20
📦 Practicality i20
🔑 Ownership Tie
Grand i10 starts ZAR 296900 cheaper Grand i10 from ZAR 218,900 · i20 from ZAR 296,900

Key Specs Side by Side

The specs that matter most — highlighted where one car leads.

Spec Grand i10 i20
Engine Power 61 kW 74 kW
Torque 114 Nm 172 Nm
Engine Size 1197 cc 998 cc
Claimed Mileage 16.9 km/l 14.5 km/l
Ground Clearance 170 mm 195 mm
Boot / Load Bay 235 l 352 l
Airbags 6 6
Kerb Weight 975 kg 1135 kg
Seating Capacity 5 5
Warranty 5 5

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

Both Grand i10 and i20 are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance i20 +10 pts
Efficiency Grand i10 +7 pts
Safety i20 +16 pts
Practicality i20 +9 pts
Ownership Equal

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Grand i10

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Less comprehensive safety features
  • Less practical in daily usage
Best suited to: Fuel Efficiency
🏆 Overall Winner

i20

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Stronger safety package
  • More practical for daily use
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
Best suited to: Highway Driving Family Usage

Which One's Right for You?

Grand i10

  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency

i20

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Grand i10 i20
Model Introduced Year 2014 2008
Generation Second generation Grand i10 sold in SA with a 2023 facelift; based on the global third-gen i10 platform adapted for emerging markets Third generation i20 on the K2 platform; sold in SA with 1.0T three-cylinder turbo across all variants
Facelift History Second generation arrived in 2017; facelift with updated front styling and infotainment in 2023 Third generation launched globally in 2020 and arrived in SA shortly after; significant improvement over the second gen in styling, tech, and driving dynamics
Facelift Launched Since 2023 2020
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style Hatchback Hatchback
Color Note White, Silver, Red, Blue, Grey White, Black, Silver, Blue, Red, Yellow
Dealer Stock Note Fluid grade in the South Africa lineup Fluid grade in the South Africa lineup
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status published published
Segment Hatchback Hatchback
Vehicle Type Hatchback Hatchback
Spec Grand i10 i20
Ground Clearance 170 mm 195 mm
Wheelbase 2385 mm 2580 mm
Length 3665 mm 4040 mm
Width 1660 mm 1775 mm
Height 1520 mm 1505 mm
Kerb Weight 975 kg 1135 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight 1410 kg 1610 kg
Seating Capacity 5 5
Boot Space 235 l 352 l
Towing Capacity - -
Front Track Width - 1551 mm
Rear Track Width - 1565 mm
Turning Radius - 5.2 m
Load Bed Length 235 l 352 l
Load Bed Width - -
Front Legroom - -
Rear Legroom - -
Front Headroom - -
Rear Headroom - -
Front Shoulder Room - -
Rear Shoulder Room - -
Boot Space Seats Folded 235 l 1165 l
Number of Doors 5 5
Max Payload - -
Boot Volume 235 l 352 l
Doors 5 5
Seats 5 5
Fuel Tank Capacity 35 l 40 l
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg 1410 kg 1610 kg
Ground Clearance Max 170 mm 195 mm
Ground Clearance Min 170 mm 195 mm
Ground Clearance Mm 170 mm 195 mm
Height Mm 1520 mm 1505 mm
Length Mm 3665 mm 4040 mm
Loadbox Length Mm 235 l 352 l
Loadbox Width Mm - -
Payload Kg - -
Cargo Volume 235 l 352 l
Tare Mass Kg 975 kg 1135 kg
Turning Circle - 5.2 m
Turning Circle M - 5.2 m
Width Mm 1660 mm 1775 mm
Boot Space Seats Folded 235 l 1165 l

Overall Verdict Score

Decision-grade view of the winner, score gap and category strengths.

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

i20 leads by 7 points

Both Grand i10 and i20 are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Winner 63 /100
Lead 7 points
Data 91% confidence
63
#1 Winner

i20

91% data confidence 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 92 Check Performance 37
Performance 37
Efficiency 59
Safety 92
Practicality 64
Ownership 65
Leads by 7 points
56
#2

Grand i10

91% data confidence 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 76 Check Performance 27
Performance 27
Efficiency 66
Safety 76
Practicality 55
Ownership 65
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance i20 +10 Efficiency Grand i10 +7 Safety i20 +16 Practicality i20 +9 Ownership Level

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

i20

Performance 37/100
Efficiency 59/100
Safety 92/100
Practicality 64/100
Ownership 65/100

Grand i10

Performance 27/100
Efficiency 66/100
Safety 76/100
Practicality 55/100
Ownership 65/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Hyundai i20 wins with 63 pts vs 56 pts for Grand i10

In structured scoring, i20 emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Grand i10 may appeal to buyers prioritising different factors. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Buyers Also Looked At These

Other comparisons that people in the same boat tend to check out.

Questions Buyers Usually Ask

On our scoring the i20 edges ahead overall. That said, the right choice depends on what you actually use the car for — the breakdown above shows exactly where each one wins and loses.

Efficiency scores: Grand i10 66 vs i20 59. In the real world, diesel variants of either car will beat the claimed figure on long highways and fall short in Joburg traffic.

Safety scores: Grand i10 76, i20 92. Check each model page for NCAP ratings and which trim levels include AEB and blind-spot monitoring — those features aren't always standard.

Long-term ownership scores: Grand i10 65, i20 65. Service intervals, parts availability in SA, and whether a service plan is bundled all factor in — check the individual variant specs for that detail.

Practicality scores: Grand i10 55, i20 64. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Grand i10 27, i20 37. This looks at real-world pace — 0–100 kph, highway flexibility, and how either car feels when you actually need to overtake on an N-road.

Resale varies with colour, spec, and market timing, but Japanese brands — and Toyota specifically — have a strong track record in SA. Check current used prices for both on AutoTrader to see the real gap right now.

Ground clearance and 4WD availability are what matter most here. Scroll to the spec table above to compare both side by side — if either model offers a 4WD variant, that's the version worth comparing.

Fuel, insurance, and service costs are the big three. Diesel variants of both models typically save R800–R1,500/month in fuel at current SA pump prices. The i20 edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The i20 scores better overall, but neither car is a bad buy here. It comes down to what features matter to you — check the full spec table above to see exactly what you gain and lose at each price point.

In Depth — Breaking It All Down

The comparison between Grand i10 and i20 in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: Grand i10 scores 27 vs 37.

Efficiency: Grand i10 scores 66 vs 59.

Safety: Grand i10 scores 76 vs 92.

Practicality: Grand i10 scores 55 vs 64.

Ownership: Grand i10 scores 65 vs 65.

Final structured scoring gives i20 the advantage in this comparison.