Hyundai i10 hatchback (2014-2019)
"The Hyundai i10 is a superb city car, with neat looks, plenty of interior space and minimal running costs"
Pros
- Very comfortable
- Spacious interior
- Fun to drive
Cons
- Lack of badge appeal
- No diesel engine available
- Interior quality poor in places
The Hyundai i10 is one of the strongest offerings in the city-car class and counts other impressive models like the Skoda Citigo, SEAT Mii, Volkswagen up! and Toyota Aygo as its rivals.
The i10 was given a makeover in 2017 to help maintain its good reputation; changes included a new front bumper and alterations to the suspension to make the ride more comfortable.
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The engines available have remained the same, so buyers still choose from 1.0- or 1.2-litre petrols. Our recommendation is the 1.2-litre, as the extra power it delivers makes the i10 a better all-rounder. City cars aren’t intended for the kind of driving that makes diesel engines desirable, but the official economy figure of 51.4mpg for the 1.2-litre is quite thirsty for a city car.
The i10 won our Best City Car award in 2015; it’s nippy and agile to drive, and practical for such a small car, too, but it's now been replaced by a newer model that's even better.
Hyundai has equipped all i10 models with a decent amount of standard kit. The entry-level S model (only offered with the 1.0-litre engine) has electric front windows, 60:40 split-folding rear seats and USB connectivity, which isn’t bad for a basic city car. Moving up to the SE model brings air-conditioning, cruise control, Bluetooth and DAB radio, and these are extras worth having if you can afford the £1,300 extra cost.
A black interior is standard on the car, but if you fancy brightening things up, Hyundai offers the option to switch to red or blue at no extra cost. You also have the option to pay for a safety upgrade, which brings lane-departure warning and forward collision warning systems.
Inevitably, the higher-spec i10 models look like less of a bargain, because they cost more, but the more luxurious extras included, such as the seven-inch touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, are appealing.
The Hyundai i10 finished 82nd out of the 100 cars ranked in our 2019 Driver Power owner satisfaction survey of cars currently on sale in the UK. However, the fact it only scored four out of five stars in Euro NCAP crash tests will be a result Hyundai will be hoping improves with the next-generation i10.