Hyundai Grand i10 vs Hyundai i30

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.

Includes an archived model

Current and archived cars are compared side by side. Archived models keep their verified historical specs, while price labels show last-listed context rather than current new-car availability.

Hyundai i30
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 i30 in South Africa

Hyundai i30

1.0T Fluid Petrol Manual Archive reference
ZAR 468,900 last listed
No longer sold new Specs stay visible for owner and used-car comparisons.
⚡ 88 kW 🔧 172 Nm ⛽ 16.9 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance i30
Fuel Economy Grand i10
🛡 Safety i30
📦 Practicality i30
🔑 Ownership Tie
Grand i10 starts ZAR 432900 cheaper Grand i10 from ZAR 218,900 · i30 from ZAR 432,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Grand i10 i30
Engine Power 61 kW 88 kW
Torque 114 Nm 172 Nm
Engine Size 1197 cc 998 cc
Claimed Mileage 16.9 km/l 16.9 km/l
Ground Clearance 170 mm 135 mm
Boot / Load Bay 235 l 395 l
Airbags 6 6
Kerb Weight 975 kg 1285 kg
Seating Capacity 5 5
Warranty 5 5

= leads in this spec

Archived models stay fully comparable. Verified specs remain visible; historical fields that were not source-confirmed are marked Not confirmed instead of being guessed.

The Bottom Line

i30 has a slight advantage, but Grand i10 remains highly competitive.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance i30 +12 pts
Efficiency Grand i10 +1 pts
Safety i30 +16 pts
Practicality i30 +5 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

i30

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

i30

  • 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

Archived cars use verified historical spec records. Rows remain comparable; unavailable historical values are shown plainly rather than estimated.

Spec Grand i10 i30
Model Introduced Year 2014 2007
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 i30 on Hyundai's i-GMP-derived platform; the N Performance uses a more heavily engineered chassis with limited-slip differential and performance suspension
Facelift History Second generation arrived in 2017; facelift with updated front styling and infotainment in 2023 Third generation launched globally in 2017; N Performance model arrived in SA as a standalone performance derivative; third gen has received ongoing tech updates
Facelift Launched Since 2023 2017
Facelift Version Ending Current Discontinued - exact end year not confirmed
Body Style Hatchback Not confirmed
Color Note White, Silver, Red, Blue, Grey Not confirmed
Dealer Stock Note Fluid grade in the South Africa lineup Not confirmed
Model Year 2026 Not confirmed
Production Status published Not confirmed
Segment Hatchback Not confirmed
Vehicle Type Hatchback Not confirmed
Spec Grand i10 i30
Ground Clearance 170 mm 135 mm
Wheelbase 2385 mm 2650 mm
Length 3665 mm 4340 mm
Width 1660 mm 1795 mm
Height 1520 mm 1455 mm
Kerb Weight 975 kg 1285 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight 1410 kg Not confirmed
Seating Capacity 5 5
Boot Space 235 l 395 l
Towing Capacity - Not confirmed
Front Track Width - Not confirmed
Rear Track Width - Not confirmed
Turning Radius - Not confirmed
Load Bed Length 235 l 395 l
Load Bed Width - Not confirmed
Front Legroom - Not confirmed
Rear Legroom - Not confirmed
Front Headroom - Not confirmed
Rear Headroom - Not confirmed
Front Shoulder Room - Not confirmed
Rear Shoulder Room - Not confirmed
Boot Space Seats Folded 235 l Not confirmed
Number of Doors 5 5
Max Payload - Not confirmed
Boot Volume 235 l 395 l
Doors 5 5
Seats 5 5
Fuel Tank Capacity 35 l 50 l
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg 1410 kg Not confirmed
Ground Clearance Max 170 mm 135 mm
Ground Clearance Min 170 mm 135 mm
Ground Clearance Mm 170 mm 135 mm
Height Mm 1520 mm 1455 mm
Length Mm 3665 mm 4340 mm
Loadbox Length Mm 235 l 395 l
Loadbox Width Mm - Not confirmed
Payload Kg - Not confirmed
Cargo Volume 235 l 395 l
Tare Mass Kg 975 kg 1285 kg
Turning Circle - Not confirmed
Turning Circle M - Not confirmed
Width Mm 1660 mm 1795 mm

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

i30 leads by 8 points

i30 has a slight advantage, but Grand i10 remains highly competitive.

Winner 64 /100
Lead 8 points
Data 88% confidence
64
#1 Winner

i30

88% data confidence 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 92 Check Performance 39
Performance 39
Efficiency 65
Safety 92
Practicality 60
Ownership 65
Leads by 8 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 i30 +12 Efficiency Grand i10 +1 Safety i30 +16 Practicality i30 +5 Ownership Level

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

i30

Performance 39/100
Efficiency 65/100
Safety 92/100
Practicality 60/100
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 i30 wins with 64 pts vs 56 pts for Grand i10

In structured scoring, i30 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 i30 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 i30 65. 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, i30 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, i30 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, i30 60. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Grand i10 27, i30 39. 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 i30 edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The i30 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 i30 in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: Grand i10 scores 27 vs 39.

Efficiency: Grand i10 scores 66 vs 65.

Safety: Grand i10 scores 76 vs 92.

Practicality: Grand i10 scores 55 vs 60.

Ownership: Grand i10 scores 65 vs 65.

Final structured scoring gives i30 the advantage in this comparison.