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Small outside but quite big inside

AUTOBAM

By Bam Santiago Olivares

06/16/2009

My family and I decided to travel south one weekend in a Hyundai I 10 1.1 GLS automatic subcompact car. Being the designated driver I was amazed that even with all seats occupied, this vehicle still handled well at high speed and maintained the speed even on an uphill road. The Hyundai I 10 1.1 GLS automatic has a maximum power of 66ps/5,500 rpm and maximum torque of 10.1 kg-m/2,800 rpm. It has front 13” disc brakes/7” rear drum brakes powered by an 8” diameter vacuum booster with no ABS that could stop the vehicle with one pump on the pedal. When I drove the Hyundai I 10 1.1 GLS a/t on a semi bumpy road, the gas type shock absorbers in collaboration with the Macpherson type front suspension and rear tubular beam axle kept the vehicle stay in lane and on the road, despite that fact that the vehicle only had 149 mm. minimum ground clearance. The 14” steel rims with full wheel cap matched with 165/60 r14 tires also contributed to the stable ride.

Inside the Hyundai I 10 1.1 GLS a/t at first glance you would see that everything is in place from the bottle holders to the switch knobs. Even under the front seat there is a place to stash some stuff, as well as in door pockets, seatback pockets and also under the trunk. The instrument cluster dials are simple and easy to read. The audio system is tuned with the times — it has 4 speakers, a 1 din in dash am/fm/cd/mp3/wma and I-pod cable ready front aux input. Entry/exit from any door is done with ease and seats are comfortable enough even on an out of town trip. The air-conditioning system maintained coolness inside the cabin throughout the trip and the duration of the test drive. For security and safety a shelf trim cover is in place at the rear end of the vehicle to protect belongings inside the trunk from theft. For a vehicle in this price level, it seems that the Hyundai engineers and designers were more than generous to provide all these features.

The exterior design of the Hyundai I 10 1.1 GLS a/t is very European inspired, probably for the simple reason that it’s intended target market was Europe. It was designed to be fuel efficient, small but functional to fit small parking slots and roads, and durable enough to withstand everyday use. This perfectly matches our needs here in Metro Manila, which is the reason why we see a lot of Hyundai I 10 on the road. It is accepted by motorists since it is a very “practical” and reasonably priced vehicle. With our erratic fuel pump prices on the rise, the Hyundai I 10 is a good economical solution for local motorists.