The Ultimate Upgrade: Hyundai Grand i10’s Revitalization

The Toyota Wigo has upped the ante with its recent enhancements, and now, the Hyundai Grand i10 - and potentially the Kia Morning - are set to follow suit. With the Wigo's recent upgrades, the competition in the A-segment is about to heat up, and we can expect some exciting moves from these automotive powerhouses.

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The refreshed Hyundai Grand i10 is set to launch in Vietnam soon. Photo: Hyundai.

According to a report from the Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (VAMA) in April, the total Vietnamese car market sales reached 24,350 units of all kinds, an 11% decrease compared to the previous reporting period. Among them, the A-segment group, including the Hyundai Grand i10, Toyota Wigo, and Kia Morning, contributed a total of 560 vehicles, a 41.6% decrease compared to the segment’s sales in March.

Hyundai Grand i10 Falls Behind, Toyota Wigo Takes the Lead

Once a consecutive leader in sales within the A-segment despite the comeback of the Toyota Wigo, the Hyundai Grand i10 unexpectedly witnessed a slump in sales in April.

According to TC Motor, Hyundai dealers in Vietnam delivered only 229 Grand i10 units to domestic customers last month. Compared to the previous reporting period, sales of this A-segment model have dropped by more than 60%.

Meanwhile, the Toyota Wigo maintained its lead with 267 units sold, despite a slight dip in sales. Cumulatively, the Toyota Wigo has sold 787 units so far this year, nearly half of the Hyundai Grand i10’s sales of 1,570 units during the same period.

Toyota Wigo Overtakes Hyundai Grand i10
A-segment Sales Performance for the Last Two Months (Data: VAMA, TC Motor)
Brand March April
Toyota Wigo 288 267
Hyundai Grand i10 598 229
Kia Morning 73 64

The Kia Morning continues to demonstrate unstable sales performance in Vietnam. This affordable A-segment model from the Korean brand sold only 64 units in April, accounting for just over 11% of the segment’s total sales.

The sales dynamics of the Hyundai Grand i10, Toyota Wigo, and Kia Morning in the early part of the year are not surprising, as the Vietnamese car market is also facing a similar unstable situation.

At present, the A-segment has only one model, the Toyota Wigo, that is imported as a completely built unit (CBU), while both the Kia Morning and Hyundai Grand i10 are locally assembled.

Therefore, when the preferential registration fee policy for domestically assembled cars is likely to be implemented in the coming months, sales of assembled models like the Kia Morning and Hyundai Grand i10 are expected to benefit significantly.

Awaiting a Boost from the Upgraded Model

In its April sales report, TC Motor attributed the decline in Hyundai Grand i10 sales to the model undergoing a product transition phase before the launch of the upgraded version.

According to a survey by Tri Thức – Znews, the Hyundai Grand i10 is currently out of stock at many dealerships. Some dealerships with remaining inventory are offering promotions equivalent to 50% of the registration fee for the Hyundai Grand i10, resulting in discounts of around VND 18-23 million.

“The new generation Hyundai Grand i10 will be available around June,” affirmed a staff member at a Hyundai dealership in the southern region.

The Hyundai Grand i10 is being “cleared out” to make way for the new version. Photo: TC Motor.

Currently, TC Motor has not released any information regarding the upgraded Hyundai Grand i10. However, the first images of the facelifted Hyundai Grand i10 for the European market surfaced as early as March 2023.

Since it is only a facelift, the 2024 Hyundai Grand i10 does not feature significant changes in terms of technical specifications or dimensions. The daytime running lights remain nestled within the trapezoidal grille at the front, but now sport a honeycomb design instead of the boomerang-style of the current generation.

The cabin of the Hyundai Grand i10 gains an armrest for the driver’s seat. The 4.2-inch instrument cluster behind the steering wheel remains digital but ditches the asymmetrical design of the current versions. The car is also equipped with automatic climate control and an 8-inch central infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.

The Hyundai Grand i10 is expected to receive some exterior and equipment upgrades. Photo: Hyundai.

In addition to the confirmed upgraded version of the Hyundai Grand i10, the A-segment is also anticipating the launch of the next-generation Kia Morning by Thaco.

At the end of last year, the Kia Picanto (another name for the Kia Morning) was introduced in its new generation in Australia. The most significant change in the exterior design of the new Kia Morning is the tiger-nose grille, similar to the Kia EV9, along with two tiers of LED headlights connected by a daytime running light strip. Meanwhile, the rear of the car also stands out with a full-width LED taillight cluster.

The new Kia Morning is equipped with a 4.2-inch digital instrument cluster and an 8-inch central infotainment screen, while the steering wheel and gear knob are wrapped in synthetic leather. The car still uses a 1.2L naturally aspirated 4-cylinder gasoline engine, paired with a choice of a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission.

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