i10 is one of the best cars I’ve driven this year!
Korean giant Hyundai knows how to make small cars and the tiny i10 is the firm’s best car yet! With a price of €11,995 the town car is a bit of a bargain.
It is always hard to get excited about ‘city’ cars as they have to be functional and compact at the same time. This invariably leads to an all too familiar one box shape but while i10 clearly is a city car the exterior is quite interesting. Yes, the baby Hyundai is tall and chunky, but when you take a closer look particularly at the front you’ll see some nice design touches. The bonnet is a case in point as it has more design detailing than it really needs and that’s nice.
i10 sits on large 15 inch alloy wheels that add a serious level of sophistication for its class, but let’s not get too carried away this is economical motoring personified not a pinup!
Inside the driver gets a fully adjustable seat and steering wheel that can deliver a descent driving position. There is seating for five and generally access is good. It comes with a lot of standard equipment like four electric windows, front and side airbags, a CD stereo with an iPod jack etc.
The boot holds a mere 225 litres (a few shopping bags) but if more cargo space is needed the rear seats can split 60/40 and fold flat to make more room. The interior is bright and reasonably fresh. The switchgear has a quality feel and all the controls fall nicely to hand. Sadly i10 is let down somewhat by Hyundai’s failure to appeal to a more youthful market in the way Fiat has with the 500 or Toyota/Peugeot and Citroen has with the Aygo, 107 & C1. Inside i10 could do with a bit of colour to liven things up.
On the go the little i10 is a bit of a laugh. It is as lively as anything and can stop very quickly when required thanks to class leading brakes. Power comes from a 1.1 litre petrol engine that generates 67bhp. As for fuel consumption it can average 5/100km, which is saint-like. A four speed automatic version is available also (€13,995, 5.8/100km).
City cars aren’t meant to be any good on the open road but the i10 is a hoot. It feels as tight as anything and very nimble also. In traffic it will shame many a bigger car by its eagerness to nip about. The five-speed manual gearbox is light and well spaced. At motorway speeds the car is relatively quiet for a city car, which is a bonus.
i10 comes with a three year unlimited mileage warranty and three years AA membership. I get to drive hundreds of new cars each year and it is always nice to come across a gem like the i10 that does what it say it can do and more. Hyundai i10 is a great little car.
Michael Sheridan
