New Models / 20 April 2026 / Warren Hawkins

Safer Hyundai Grand i10 arrives in South Africa – Pricing revealed

Following its announcement last week, Hyundai has introduced a safer version of the Hyundai Grand i10 hatchback in South Africa – the Executive.

The Korean carmaker already offered its Grand i10 sedans in the Executive derivative, and has opted to introduce it across the entire hatchback line-up as well.

This variant is now available in both the hatchback and panel van offerings, and thanks to vehicle specialists Duoporta, we know that the safer Grand i10 hatchbacks will cost R10,000 more than their base variants.

The launch comes after the Grand i10 received a zero-star safety rating from the Global New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) when tested as part of the Automobile Association (AA) #SaferCarsForAfrica campaign.

According to Global NCAP, the hatchback received a zero-star rating for adult occupant protection and a three-star rating for child occupant protection, while testing found “serious shortcomings in adult occupant protection.”

Hyundai initially stood by its safety standards, saying the Grand i10 meets all safety requirements stipulated by the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS).

It said that the hatchback meets the 53 NRCS compliance requirements, as well as all homologation requirements for a vehicle to be approved for use on South Africa’s roads.

These requirements include braking performance, frontal impact protection, door latch integrity, child restraint anchorage systems, airbags and other regulated safety features.

At the time, the CEO of Hyundai Automotive South Africa, Stanley Anderson, declared that safety is deeply embedded in Hyundai’s global and local product philosophy.

“The Hyundai Grand i10 has been engineered to meet all South African road and safety requirements, and the NRCS confirmation provides credible assurance to our customers and stakeholders that these standards have been independently verified,” he said.

South Africa’s safer Grand i10

As part of the launch of the Grand i10 Executive hatchback, Anderson explained that Hyundai takes a proactive and continuous approach to improving its vehicles.

“The introduction of the Executive derivative reflects our commitment to enhancing safety and overall product value in a highly competitive segment,” he said.

The safer variant is expected to address concerns surrounding the existing models, including the absence of side and curtain airbags.

Other safety equipment upgrades include the Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) as a standard feature, which Hyundai said it hopes will improve both occupant protection and on-road stability.

Anderson notes that this update underscores the Korean automaker’s intent to stay competitive in the entry-level market, while reinforcing the brand’s values through incremental innovation and feature-led differentiation.

Existing safety features on all models include rear parking sensors with a reverse camera, ABS with electronic brake-force distribution, and ISOFIX child seat mounts.

Going forward, South Africa’s second-best-selling hatchback will continue to be offered in its existing guises, with the Executive added to the line-up rather than replacing existing models.

Buyers will still be able to choose from a 1.0-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine that produces 49kW and 94Nm, or a 1.2-litre version with improved outputs of 61kW and 114Nm.

The smaller motor is coupled with a five-speed manual transmission and averages a consumption of 5.5l/100km, while the 1.2 is joined by a four-speed automatic gearbox and averages 5.9l/100km.

The hatchback range features standard equipment that includes a touchscreen infotainment system with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, a multi-function steering wheel, front and rear USB ports, and manual air conditioning with rear-seat vents.