Hyundai Automotive South Africa has expanded its Grand i10 range with the launch of new hatchback and panel-van derivatives that offer additional safety features…
- New Grand i10 derivatives gain more safety features
- Launched in response to Global NCAP’s 0-star rating?
- Dual-airbag Premium variants to soldier on in Mzansi
Back in December 2025, Global NCAP handed the South African-spec Hyundai Grand i10 hatchback zero stars for adult-occupant safety. Now, seemingly in response to what Global NCAP at the time described as “serious shortcomings”, Hyundai Automotive SA has launched new Executive derivatives with additional standard safety features.
While the entry-level Premium variants (with dual front airbags) soldier on unchanged, the revived Executive grade for the hatchback and panel-van body styles adds both electronic stability control (ESC) and 4 more airbags (in the form of front-side and curtain items) to take the tally to 6. From what we can tell, the existing Executive versions of the sedan body style don’t gain these upgrades (at least, not yet).
Executive version of hatchback launches in SA
Thanks to the sharp-eyed vehicle-information specialists over at duoporta.com, we know the Grand i10 1.0 Executive Hatch 5MT – with its 49 kW/94 Nm 1.0-litre, 3-cylinder engine – is priced at R235 900, representing an R11 000 increase over the 1.0 Premium version.
Meanwhile, the Grand i10 1.2 Executive Hatch 4AT (featuring a 61 kW/114 Nm 1.2-litre, 4-cylinder motor and a 4-speed automatic transmission) comes in at R279 900, some R10 000 up on the 1.2 Premium variant.
Grand i10 Cargo now also offered in Executive form
Hyundai Automotive SA has also rolled out Executive versions of its Cargo-badged panel van, with the Grand i10 1.0 Executive Cargo 5MT coming in at R260 500 (up R11 000) and the Grand i10 1.2 Executive Cargo 4AT priced at R299 900 (a premium of R10 000). Based on the specifications listed by duoporta.com, the new Executive versions of this light-commercial vehicle (LCV) likewise gain ESC and the additional airbags.
As a reminder, Global NCAP’s 2025 assessment of the SA-spec Grand i10 hatchback both noted this Indian-built model’s lack of standard ESC and curtain airbags and rated its bodyshell and footwell as “unstable” (and not able to withstand further loading) in the frontal-impact crash test. The vehicle did, however, score 3 stars for child-occupant protection.
In 2025, the Grand i10 was easily Hyundai Automotive SA’s best-selling model, with as many as 16 054 units (excluding the Cargo-badged panel van derivatives that operate in the LCV segment) registered during the year. A further 3 992 units have been sold in Mzansi’s new passenger-vehicle market over the opening 3 months of 2026, according to figures reported to Naamsa.
What does the Hyundai Grand i10 cost in SA?
| DERIVATIVE | PRICE |
| Grand i10 1.0 Premium Hatch 5MT | R224 900 |
| Grand i10 1.0 Executive Hatch 5MT | R235 900 |
| Grand i10 1.0 Premium Cargo 5MT | R249 500 |
| Grand i10 1.0 Executive Cargo 5MT | R260 500 |
| Grand i10 1.2 Premium Hatch 4AT | R269 900 |
| Grand i10 1.2 Executive Sedan 5MT | R279 900 |
| Grand i10 1.2 Executive Hatch 4AT | R279 900 |
| Grand i10 1.2 Premium Cargo 4AT | R289 900 |
| Grand i10 1.2 Executive Cargo 4AT | R299 900 |
| Grand i10 1.2 Executive Sedan 4AT | R309 900 |
The prices above include a 5-year/150 000 km vehicle warranty, a 7-year/200 000 km drivetrain warranty and a 1-year/15 000 km service plan.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About the Hyundai Grand i10 Safety Update
Q: What specific safety upgrades were added to the new Executive derivatives?
A: In a move widely seen as a response to the recent Global NCAP crash test results, the new Executive variants add Electronic Stability Control (ESC) as standard. Additionally, these models upgrade the safety suite from two front airbags to six, introducing front-side and curtain airbags to provide better protection for occupants.
Q: Do all Grand i10 models benefit from these new safety features?
A: No. The safety upgrades are currently limited to the newly launched Executive versions of the hatchback and the Cargo (panel van) body styles. The entry-level “Premium” variants retain the previous dual-airbag configuration, and the existing Executive sedan derivatives have not been updated with these specific additional features at this stage.
Q: How do the prices of the new Executive models compare to the entry-level versions?
A: The safety-focused Executive grade commands a relatively modest price premium. For the 1.0-litre hatch, the Executive costs R11 000 more than the Premium version, while the 1.2-litre hatch Executive sits R10 000 above its Premium counterpart. Beyond safety, the hatchback Executive versions also include extra convenience items like cruise control, automatic headlamps, and electrically folding side mirrors.
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