Performance + Mileage = i10 Kappa. Review on Hyundai i10

Digest it -

a) Awesome 80 bhp@5200 RPM, makes 100 kmph in just 12.8 secs, easily beats few of those bulky sedans and swifty's. An impressive torgue of 114Nm @ 4000 RPM shall give you that leverage to cruise in the city traffice at higher gears.

b) Great stability at high speeds. I had personally touched speeds of 145 kmph @ 4500 RPM. According to the spec, It generates 80bhp @ 5200 rpm, so I still have bit of power band at my leverage.

c) Mileasge of 19kmpl on highways and 15-16kmpl in city traffic with AC on. Lives up to the Kappa's engineering expectations and principles.

d) Great frontal looks, bit of honda civic'sh look alike albeit back-looks are moderate and subjected to individual opinions.

e) Great Interiors, feel of premium sedan in this segment. Value for that extra money spent on this car. Just excellent.

f) Very low or minimal NVH(noise, vibrations and harshness).

h) State of the art sunroof, one touch opening and closing, just check this option, you would love it.

I had bought the i10 kappa couple of months back, and already made a mileage of 4000 kms, I had tested it thouroughly before penning down this review. Firstly the kappa itself is a different breed of hyundai although it shares the same platform of i10 irde. Its simply more powereful and responsive than any other car in this segment, whilst you also get the top of the class mileage. Its stylish with great interiors, could easily outclass some of C segment car interiors. If you are still thinking of buying an car from any of the following choices "vista/getz1.3/swift/fabia" then don't look back, i10 Kappa should outperform all of them in most of the crucial aspects. Its simply the best in it's class.

Detailed review of i10 Kappa Asta with Sun roof.

INTERIORS -

One word "plush", Nice integrated audio system, leather wrapped sporty steering wheel. Airbags are nicely integrated and virtually do not show their presence. Gear shift lever is short and sporty. Height adjustable driver seat, adjustable steering wheel. Good overall room space. Air conditioning is nice. 10/10 for the interiors. By the way sun roof is state of the art, so do check out the one press opening and closing of the same when you go for the test drive.

EXTERIORS -

Varies from view point, I personally feel the front look is just awesome(downsized civic'sh), however the curves on the bonnet looking from the side of the car sucks, but again they should there for a reason only explained by aero-dynamics principles. Back looks are just OK but atleast better than the ones of swifts and the desires, NOT AN UGLY DUCK at the least.

ENGINE

1197 displacement engine, 80bhp @ 5200 RPM. Accerelation 0 - 100 kmph in 12.8 seconds with a mileage of 19kmpl(highways) and 16kmpl(city) with AC. CAN ANYONE BEAT THIS COMBINATION. Highly torguey and best in class114NM @ 4000 RPM, compare it with the closest rival swift P develops 113Nm @ 4500 RPM. Swift P being an 1.3L displacement is still looks an unequal to Kappa, however swift develops 87bhp @ 6000 RPM, so do the math, Kappa easily competes with Swift P and easily outperforms it most of the cruicial areas. Swift P itself is the good car, except that I dislike its back-looks, the reason for comparison with Swift is because its the second best car after Kappa, and everythingg else is after it.

TRANSMISSION

I am not so happy. I think they did not get this perfect. The first gear sometimes resists to shift correctly when enquired with the dealer he projected it as an feature, but am not completly sure about it. Basically the first time the shift takes place with in two steps, while the successive shift takes place correctly. Similar problem(or the feature) with the reverse shift. Second problem is that the engine rev's up the RPM when pressing the half-clutch mode to full clutch enguagement. there is spurt increase of RPM for a few seconds, seems like some sort of technical glitch in the ECU,

althought I am not completely sure. Otherwise no complains. Its almost perfect!

AIRBAGS & ABS

Althought most of the people think these are mere goodies, and opt for the cars without these features but let me tell you these are features which may just save the lifes in situations. I wont say 100% life saving features, but yes they may just come handy, at the least they are not just goodies. So I would encourage people to opt these options in any of the cars they buy. Trust me, donot go by the opinion of the dealers/marketing executives who try to discourage people taking this option, and create a wrong notion about it. An extra investment of 20-40k may save your time and life. How about that. You can always earn back that 40k:-)

SUNROOF

Excellent setup. Very impressive, One press button opening and closing. Nice work Hyundai.

DEALER/SERVICE

Bought it from advaith hyundai, and nothing great and worst to quote. They are simply good and no complains. The first service was done perfectly, and no problems of whatsoever with them.

TO SUMMARIZE.

if you are looking for an car with great power and good mileage and plush interiors, then don't look back "Take the Kappa". if you have plans to buy the IRDE, then would suggest to extend your budget for the Kappa. If you plans to buy vistas/palios1.2/wagonrs/swifts/dzires/Astar then change your perspective a bit and consider the Kappa - the engineering marvel.

Happy Motoring!