Hyundai Grand i10 Nios vs Tata Altroz: Fierce Hatchback Competition

Hyundai Grand i10 Nios vs Tata Altroz: Introduction

The Hyundai i10, the first-gen model, had recorded remarkable success with its practical and frugal character. The second-gen model, the Hyundai Grand i10 had witnessed even more success, thanks to its greater comfort and the additional oil burner. The third-gen model, the Hyundai Grand i10 Nios is even bigger and is aimed at keeping the legacy going by inheriting all the good characteristics from its predecessors.

On the other hand, the Tata Altroz was launched earlier this year and is a newcomer to the hatchback segment in India. The hatchback, despite measuring just a little below four metres in length, it is “big” as regards comfort, refinement and space. Moreover, it is also the first model to be underpinned by the home-grown automaker’s ALFA platform which will support future Tata models.

How can a newcomer compete against a competitor which has created a certain amount of prestige in the market? The following session will explain this in details.

Hyundai Grand i10 Nios vs Tata Altroz: Which is bigger?

Being both sub-four-metre hatchbacks, both the Hyundai Grand i10 Nios and the Tata Altroz measure less than four metres in length. The Altroz measures greater than the Grand i10 Nios as regards almost all dimensions except for the kerb weight.

The Grand i10 Nios now measures greater in length and width along with a longer wheelbase than the second-gen Grand i10 but it still measures less than the Altroz in almost all dimensions. Noteworthily, the ground clearance Tata Altroz is higher in comparison with the Hyundai Grand i10 Nios, which indicates that the former has better off-road capabilities than the latter. Furthermore, although the Grand i10 Nios uses a high percentage of lighter but more rigid Advanced High Strength Steel (AHHS) and Advanced High Strength Steel (AHSS), which makes the kerb weight lesser by 50 - 65 kg, it still measures greater in weight compared to the Tata Altroz. This can be explained by the fact that the Altroz is underpinned by the ALFA architecture, which stands for Agile, Light, Flexible and Advanced.

Hyundai Grand i10 Nios vs Tata Altroz Design: Which is better-looking?

Exterior comparison

Being an evolution of the outgoing car, the silhouette of the Hyundai Grand i10 Nios has been kept intact although most of the body features are newly designed. The projector headlights are more polishing and premium while the large cascading grille and the boomerang DRLs look very unique. Clean lines on the bonnet and the side profile have given way to some creases which make the design much more aggressive and muscular. On the side profile, the black C-pillars creates a roof-like appearance.  The hatchback runs on diamond-cut alloy-wheels which appear to be proportional with the car’s overall dimensions. The new wraparound taillights and unique character lines on the boot remind us of the Ford Figo and the Tata Tiago.

Like the Grand i10 Nios, the Tata Altroz’s silhouette has also been kept to be conventional but many unique exterior design traits enhance the appearance of the car. The front of the hatchback looks like a shark nose with a black polishing grille and swept-back headlamps which are connected by a chrome band. High-set foglights which also accommodate LED DRLs and the bumper with an elegant air dam are also outstanding features in the front of the Altroz. On the side profile, the polishing 16-inch laser-cut alloy rims do not look large enough. The rear of the hatchback comes with black sporty spoiler and taillight surroundings.

Overall, the two cars both keep the conventional overall design with some unique new features, which make them become the combination of conventional and contemporary design. Since the exterior design is a matter of personal preference, we would not give any recommendation here. In this aspect, the two cars level with each other and there is no clear winner.

Interior comparison

Hyundai is well-known for cars’ design updates; the Nios is a striking example of this. Its outstanding dashboard comes with a clean layout and a large 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system takes the centre of the dash. The panel above the glovebox has a honeycomb pattern, which makes it feel stylish and premium. Generally, the interior material quality is impressive with top-notch fit-finish levels. The cabin looks spacious, thanks to the light-grey theme.

On the other hand, the Tata Altroz’s dashboard design is not as modern as the exterior but it is sure to satisfy your eyes. The independent 7.0-inch touchscreen is positioned high and is easy to be controlled. The layered effect of the dashboard with texture plastics, gloss centre and light grey materials are what make the interior design of the Tata Altroz much more interesting. The steering is the most impressive feature inside the cabin. It comes with a flat bottom and is wrapped in premium leather. The instrument cluster is a 7-inch display with music, drive mode, navigation directions and many colour themes. The material quality is quite good in comparison with other vehicles in the same segment. Thanks to the light and dark grey fabric seat coverings, the cabin generally feels airy.

Hyundai Grand i10 Nios vs Tata Altroz Features: Which is safer and more convenient?

Safety and security features

The Hyundai Grand i10 Nios is equipped with dual airbags, ABS with EBD and a seatbelt reminder. What is surprising is that ISOFIX child seat mounts are not offered on any of the Nios variants. Tata Altroz, Maruti Swift and Ignis are all offered with this feature as standard. Hyundai is expected to offer side and curtain airbags at least on the top-end Asta trim of the Nios. Nevertheless, it is undeniable that the Grand i10 Nios has a solid build quality, thanks to the high percentage of its structure which employs high-quality steel.

In the meanwhile, the Tata Altroz is packed with a wider range of standard safety features which include dual front airbags, ABS with EBD, ISOFIX child seat mounts, rear paring sensors and corner stability control. Moreover, the car is also very solid and well-built, for which Tata cars are well-known for.

Convenience features

Hyundai cars are well-known for being well-equipped and the Hyundai Grand i10 Nios is not the exception. The 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto but without the BlueLink system. The infotainment system works smoothly and very simple to get familiar with. It is mated to a four-speaker audio unit which can be controlled with the buttons on the driving wheel.  As a substitute for the BlueLink, the ‘iBlue’ app is provided as a Bluetooth-based remote control for the infotainment system. A wireless charger, a USB quick charger and a USB are provided for the convenience of the passengers. A 12V socket which is positioned under the rear AC vents is also available for the rear occupants. Like its predecessor, the Nios is also equipped with automatic temperature control with rear AC vents. The instrument cluster accommodates an analogue tachometer with a 5.3-inch MID which shows many types of parameters.

The touchscreen infotainment system of the Tata Altroz is a little smaller than that of the Hyundai Grand i10 Nios, measuring 7.0 inches in size. The former also supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. Despite lacking an application like the ‘iBlue’ application on the Nios, the climate control settings can be adjusted by physical buttons or by voice commands. While the cabin of the Nios is equipped with a wide range of charging ports, that of the Altroz is packed with many storage spaces. The car also comes with amber room for the passengers, a 12 accessory socket and rear air-conditioning vents.

Hyundai Grand i10 Nios vs Tata Altroz Performance: which is more powerful?

Since both the Hyundai Grand i10 Nios and the Tata Altroz keeps under its hood a petrol and diesel motor options. We will divide this session into two smaller ones each of which will deal with the comparison between the two cars as regards their petrol and diesel versions' performance one by one.

 Petrol

The Altroz is more powerful than the Nios if comparing the performance of two normal gasoline burners of the two cars. Nevertheless, the turbocharged petrol engine of the latter is the most powerful of all.

Both of the two cars come with an FWD system. However, the Tata Altroz has not been offered the convenience of the automatic transmission like the Hyundai Grand i10 Nios yet.

Diesel

The Tata Altroz diesel is more powerful than the Hyundai Grand i10 Nios.

The diesel version of the Tata Altroz does not offer the convenience of an automatic gearbox like the Hyundai Grand i10 Nios. Both of the two cars are offered with an FWD system. Moreover, the Grand i10 Nios also comes with a CNG kit which can be combined with the 1.2-litre gasoline burner to produce 69 PS against 95 Nm and is paired with a 5-speed MT.

Hyundai Grand i10 Nios vs Tata Altroz Top Speed: Which is faster?

The Hyundai Grand i10 Nios can reach a top speed of 160 kmph. The Tata Altroz’s top speed has not been revealed yet.

The Hyundai Grand i10 Nios’s 0-100 acceleration time is shorter than that of the Tata Altroz.

Hyundai Grand i10 Nios vs Tata Altroz Fuel Mileage: Which is more fuel-efficient?

The petrol version of the Hyundai Grand i10 Nios is more fuel-efficient than that of the Tata Altroz; nevertheless, those of the diesel versions of the two hatchbacks are almost equal to each other.

Since a car with a high fuel mileage can help the owner save a great deal of money in the long run; the car customers usually consider this to be one of the top priorities when choosing their cars.

Hyundai Grand i10 Nios vs Tata Altroz Price: Which is more affordable?

The Tata Altroz is priced in a little higher range than the Hyundai Grand i10 Nios.

Considering the long list of equipment that the two cars offer, both of the cars are aggressively priced, which give them a clear advantage over their competitors in the Indian auto market.

Hyundai Grand i10 Nios: Other competitors

Besides the Tata Altroz, the Hyundai Grand i10 Nios also competes against the Hyundai Venue, Maruti S-Presso, Maruti Swift and Hyundai Aura, etc. in the Indian auto market.

Tata Altroz: Other competitors

Besides the Hyundai Grand i10 Nios, the Tata Altroz also rivals the Ford Freestyle, the Hyundai Elite i20, the Maruti Baleno, etc, in India.

Hyundai Grand i10 Nios vs Tata Altroz: Which one is worth purchasing?

Above is a detailed Hyundai Grand i10 Nios vs Tata Altroz comparison. Generally, both of the two cars come with its own pros and cons. Refer to the tables below for a summary of the two hatchbacks’ advantages and disadvantages. Hope that this article will help you choose the ideal hatchback for yourself.

Pros

Cons