Rating
Quick Summary
Recommended. Hyundai's city car is cheap, but that doesn't stop it being well stocked with kit, and it offers a lot of space for such a small car.
Road Test
Hyundai has revolutionised its range over the last few years, but the smallest of the lot - the i10 - remains the most important car to the Korean company as it looks to continue its meteoric rise up the sales chart.
Originally launched in 2008, Hyundai has treated the i10 to a mid-life facelift, with the most noticeable change being to the grille. This sees the nose take on the hexagonal look which is slowly spreading across the company's range, while there are also minor tweaks to the wing mirrors, lights and the interior.
The new look is not radical, but will be enough to satisfy the repeat customers that Hyundai says it is getting following the government's scrappage scheme. The big change is to the car's efficiency, with the arrival of a new 1.0-litre petrol engine that takes emissions beneath the 100g/km barrier for the first time for the brand.
The i10 is the first five-door petrol car to make it under the crucial tax threshold, and, while three adults might feel the squeeze in the back, two should sit quite comfortably. Apart from having plenty of headroom, this is aided by the generous amount of space beneath the front seats that allows rear passengers to slot their feet under in comfort.
This seat height does mean you feel a little like you are somewhat perched when in the front two seats, but it also enables you to enjoy a clear all-round view, helping with visibility for low-speed manoeuvres. It also makes you feel like you are in a bigger car than is actually the case. The boot doesn't stretch this perception, but it is equal to many of its rivals at 225 litres. While it is of a decent size, it would be nice if the entry lip was a little smaller to ease loading and emptying.
One of Hyundai's biggest selling points has been its value for money - the manufacturer claims the i10 it is the cheapest sub-100g/km car on sale at under £10,000. To get equipment such as air conditioning and electric windows as standard on the entry-level 'Blue' trim is impressive, while the Style comes with 14-inch alloy wheels, four electric windows and a sunroof included as standard.
The downside of a cheap price is the less-than-robust feel to the interior plastics, which don't come across as very high quality on the door panels. They will likely pick up marks over time and don't look that attractive, but will probably be robust enough to deal with most i10 owners' needs.
The low-emission engine, while frugal and efficient, does have the downside of not being very quick, and feeling laboured under acceleration, but it is perfectly happy around town and is pleasingly quiet. Although it will not make an adept regular motorway cruiser, it should take the occasional trip in its stride well enough to be all you could ever need if you are after a small car for everyday use.
Next: ratings and breakdown
