Hyundai Axes Aura And Grand i10 Nios’ Diesel Variants

Hyundai has discontinued its most fuel-efficient engine, the 1.2-litre U2 CRDi unit, found in the Grand i10 Nios and Aura. The move arrives possibly owing to declining demand for the cars’ diesel variants and due to the shrinking price gap between petrol and diesel fuels.

The sub-4m sedan and hatchback will continue to be available with 1.2-litre petrol, 1.2-litre petrol-CNG, and 1.0-litre turbo petrol powertrains. 

The 1.2-litre U2 CRDi was a three-cylinder turbodiesel three-cylinder mill tuned to make 75PS and 190Nm in both the Aura and i10 Nios. It was paired with either a 5-speed manual gearbox or a 5-speed AMT. 

In the Aura, the diesel engine was only offered on the S variant with a manual transmission and on the SX+ trim level with the AMT. Whereas, in the i10, it was limited to a single Sportz trim with both manual and automatic gearbox options on offer. 

• 2019 Hyundai Grand i10 Nios : First Drive Review 

• 2020 Hyundai Aura: First Drive Review

Which engines are currently available in the Hyundai Aura and Grand i10 Nios? 

The Hyundai Aura and Grand i10 Nios are still offered with an identical set of naturally aspirated petrol, petrol-CNG and turbo-petrol powertrains. Their specs and transmission combinations are as follows: 

After the discontinuation of the diesel engine, you’ll only be able to get an automatic in the Hyundai Aura or Grand i10 Nios if you opt for the base naturally aspirated petrol motor. 

Why did Hyundai discontinue the 1.2-litre U2 CRDi Diesel Engine? 

Hyundai hasn’t stated a reason explicitly, but the cost of the U2 CRDi engine’s production and the resulting high prices of the diesel-powered models, especially when compared to their NA petrol counterparts, are likely to blame and so is the declining sales of diesel variants given that the gap between the prices of petrol and diesel fuels is no longer wide.

For example, the now discontinued Aura diesel-manual S variant cost Rs 8.06 lakh – a premium of Rs 1.13 lakh over the equivalent petrol variant! In fact, the Sportz variant of the petrol-powered i20 from a segment above can be had for the same price (all prices are ex-showroom Delhi). 

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The Grand i10 Nios diesel was priced at a similar premium of over Rs 1 lakh over the Sportz manual and automatic versions. 

After the switch to BS6, many Indian carmakers, such as Tata, discontinued their smallest diesel engine mostly found to do duty in compact hatchbacks and sub-4m sedans. Hyundai’s engines were updated and retained but came at a lofty premium. Market trends have since nudged buyer preferences toward petrol engines, and the Hyundai Aura and Grand i10 Nios are likely to keep going strong with these powertrains.