I caught the 'i'!

Today, I bought my first new car, Hyundai i10 from KTC, Malappuram.

Here are some photos of it taken by me and Anees. The locations are Vypin, GoSree Bridge, and my Apartment in Kochi.


In most of the reviews, awards, and user discussion forums, Hyundai i10 stood first leaving other small cars (Chevrolet Spark, Hyundai Santro, Maruti Zen Estilo, Maruti Wagon R, Fiat Palio Stile 1.1, and Tata Indica Xeta 1,2) far behind. That's why I went for i10. It's contemporary looks and well built interiors are a major attraction. It is fuel efficient enough and is backed by Hyundai's fantastic after sales support and service.


The only problem for i10 was its heavy price tag (5.5+ Lakhs) for the top end model 'Magna' that has ABS, Air Bags and Sun Roof. I went for the medium model 'Era' without these features, but with Power Steering, Central Locking, A/C, Front Power Windows, etc. It cost me only 3.95 Lakhs on the road, as I availed 10K Exchange Bonus and 2K Corporate Bonus.


Unlike other cars, the Gearshift of i10 is sprouting out from dashboard center column. This gives ample space between the seats and is best for even bigger water bottles. But the hand require some stretching up to reach this new position of Gearshift, where as in the other cars, the hand can just lay rest on the Gearshift. This was a bit inconvenient during my first long drive and I am yet to see how it affects in long run.


The dashboard of i10 is in beige color as is the interior and seat covers. It works well with the 'Champagne Gold' color I chose, and provides a classy look. (I took a bowl of dust and applied on all color variants at showroom to see where it is less visible... :) Of course, I am kidding!) But there is a catch. The beige dashboard reflects on the windshield whenever there is direct light falling on it, be it sun on top of the head, or a bigger street light at night. It indeed disrupts the visibility a bit. But trust me; I am not going to paint it black... :)