The one car that’s an SUV, hatchback, and sedan in South Africa

There is one car in South Africa that is sold in three different body types – a hatchback, a sedan, and an SUV.

The model in question is the Hyundai Grand i10, as the Korean carmaker has been widening its selection of entry-level models over the past year to better align itself with our cash-strapped market.

A new strategy

The Grand i10 has been available as a hatchback in South Africa for several years, acting as the second most affordable model in Hyundai’s stable after the Atos.

However, the Atos was discontinued in March 2023, allowing the i10 to take up the mantle as the brand’s entry-level vehicle.

A few months later, in August 2023, the i10 received a major update, which brought a surprising change to its line-up with the introduction of a new sedan body type, in addition to the familiar hatchbacks.

Both of these cars brandish the Grand i10 nameplate, but there is actually a third model in South Africa that uses the same platform – the Exter.

The Exter went on sale this September and is intended to serve as the carmaker’s new starting crossover below the Venue.

The end result of all of these introductions is that Hyundai essentially now has three different versions of the same car to suit customers’ various needs.

Of course, the different body types have different pricing and model selections, as you can see below:

Hatchback

Grand i10 1.0 Premium Hatch – R224,900
Grand i10 1.0 Executive Hatch – R269,900
Grand i10 1.2 Premium Hatch – R269,900

Sedan

Grand i10 1.2 Executive Sedan Manual – R279,900
Grand i10 1.2 Executive Sedan Auto – R309,900

SUV

Exter 1.2 Premium – R269,900
Exter 1.2 Executive – R289,900
Exter 1.2 Premium Auto – R294,900
Exter 1.2 Executive Auto – R314,900
Exter 1.2 Elite – R334,900

The i10 Hatch is obviously the most affordable of the group, as it costs R45,000 less than the Exter and R55,000 less than the i10 Sedan.

A big reason for this is that the hatchback is the only unit with access to a 1.0-litre, naturally-aspirated petrol engine with 49kW and 94Nm.

Every other vehicle on the platform is equipped with a 1.2-litre powerplant, which generates 61kW and 114Nm.

The pricing and model line-up help to give a sense of what each build is intended for, as the hatch is the cheapest while the sedan is the most expensive option to start with.

The sedan is also the most exclusive of the three styles with only two units on offer.

Sedans have largely fallen out of favour with South African buyers in recent years with the exception of luxury models like the BMW 3 Series, but a few motorists still prefer the classier shape if they can afford it.

The longer body style is also popular with e-hailing drivers for apps like Bolt or Uber, giving the Grand i10 Sedan an additional niche.

As for the Exter, crossovers and SUVs are the most sought-after vehicle type in the world at the moment, so the Exter offers an appealing sales pitch as an i10 with a trendy appearance and better ground clearance (185mm vs 157mm).

Every Hyundai in South Africa is sold with a 5-year/150,000km warranty with an additional 2-year/50,000km engine warranty.

However, it’s worth noting that the Exter comes with a longer 3-year/45,000km service plan compared to the Grand i10 hatch and sedan’s 1-year/15,000km coverage.