Hyundai i10 review

To understand the appeal of the Hyundai i10, try thinking of watches. You can spend a gazillion quid on a Rolex, but it'll tell exactly the same time as the Casio you paid twenty quid for. Budget small cars like the i10 are the digital watches of motoring.

Yes, a luxury car will massage you as you squeeze it through urban traffic, but when it comes to getting you from the suburbs to the city centre, a small car like the i10 will do the job just as ably. In fact, because it's less than 3.7 metres long, you’ll have a lot less stress finding a parking space when you arrive.

Regardless of which version you go for, the i10 is designed to carry up to five people and some luggage, and while it's not as big as some value cars (the Dacia Sandero for example) it's still relatively practical.

It sounds as though the Hyundai i10 has all the basics covered then – but don’t forget the alternatives. There's the closely related Kia Picanto for a start, plus the Fiat 500 Hybrid and the Toyota Aygo X. Read on to find out how they compare...

The Hyundai i10's entry-level 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine is strong enough in town, and gets you away from the lights briskly enough. It can feel quite breathless on A-roads and motorways though, so be prepared to work the five-speed manual gearbox quite hard (0-62mph takes 15.6 seconds). With the optional automatic gearbox fitted, acceleration is even slower.

We'd recommend spending a bit extra on the more powerful 1.2-litre engine. It's a four-cylinder engine with a meatier 78bhp and feels stronger lower in the rev range and revs out more willingly. Its 0-62mph time is still a fairly leisurely 13.2 seconds, which again is increased if you choose the auto gearbox.

If you want more oomph, you'll need to go for sporty N Line trim, because that gets a turbocharger 1.0-litre petrol engine with 89bhp as standard. It's the most spritely of the engines on offer (0-62mph in 11.4 seconds) but in most situations doesn’t feel that much quicker than the cheaper 1.2-litre petrol.

City-focused small cars are not usually the comfiest modes of transport, but the i10 is one of the best. Even on the largest 16in wheels, it takes the sting out of vicious potholes and resists fidgeting over pimpled surfaces.

In short, the i10 is more comfortable than a Fiat 500 Hybrid, Kia Picanto, Suzuki Swift or Toyota Aygo X. For a smoother, more relaxing ride, you'll need something bigger (and more expensive) such as a Peugeot 208 or VW Polo.

Let’s cut to the chase: the i10 is a decent drive despite its low price. Even looking at it practically, the tight turning circle and light steering make town driving a breeze.

The steering weights up enough at faster speeds, and is precise enough to make the i10 an easy car to place on faster roads, even though the Picanto resists body lean a little better and the Aygo X is slightly more playful through tight bends.

The i10's entry-level 1.0-litre petrol is a surprisingly refined engine that’s smoother and quieter than the equivalent motor in a Dacia Sandero or Toyota Aygo X. The same goes for the turbocharged 1.0T 90 petrol, although it has a fruitier sound that’s in keeping with the N Line's sportier demeanour.

The 1.2-litre petrol is the quietest of the lot thanks to its extra cylinder improving the engine’s smoothness. No matter which engine you go for, wind and road noise at 70mph is better contained than in a Fiat 500 Hybrid or a Picanto. 

The standard manual gearbox has a light, slick and precise action. We’d avoid the optional auto box unless you really don't want to change gear yourself because it's pretty lethargic at changing gears.

"Some rivals, such as the Toyota Aygo X, are frustratingly sluggish but I found acceleration in the 1.2-litre i10 perfectly adequate." – New Cars Editor, Lawrence Cheung

All versions of the Hyundai i10 get a supportive, height-adjustable driver’s seat and a height-adjustable steering wheel. As is the case in most small cars there’s no reach adjustment for the steering wheel, although that didn’t stop our testers getting comfortable behind the wheel.

What’s more, the steering wheel lines up well with the pedals and seat, so you’re not driving with a crooked posture, and there's far more room for your left leg in the footwell than in a Fiat 500 Hybrid. After a couple of hours behind the wheel, we didn’t have any aches or pains.

Add in the sensibly placed controls, which are supremely easy to use on the move, and the i10 has a great driving position by budget small car standards.

The i10 has slender front pillars that give you a clear view straight ahead, and diagonally when pulling out of junctions. To the rear, it's easier to see out of to the rear than the Kia Picanto despite the rear window being shallower.

To make reversing even easier, every trim level gets a rear-view camera and rear parking sensors as standard. Unlike some versions of the Picanto, the i10 isn't available with LED headlights.

Every i10 comes with an 8.0in touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone mirroring and a sat-nav app installed.

The infotainment system is similar to the one in the closely related Picanto, which means it's easy to use and fairly quick to respond to presses. It's far better than the infotainment in a Fiat 500 Hybrid.

Upgrading to mid-spec Premium trim or above adds a wireless charging pad to the standard equipment list, but every version of the i10 has a USB port in the front for charging your phone.

You won’t find any soft-touch plastics in the i10's interior, but it's the same story in the Fiat 500 Hybrid, Kia Picanto and Toyota Aygo X. True, the Picanto's hard plastics are textured in a way that makes them look less shiny and low rent, but the i10 feels well just as well screwed together inside.

The dashboard buttons and dials all feel substantial, too, working with a precision that wouldn’t be out of place in a more expensive small car. Similarly, the soft leather on the steering wheel and gearknob feels good to the touch.

You'll get sportier touches if you go for N Line trim, including red highlights on the air vents and gear knob, but the interior doesn't feel any more upmarket.

''I'd like a bit more lumbar support from the driver's seat but it's only really an issue on longer drives." – Neil Winn, Deputy Reviews Editor

Up front, the Hyundai i10 offers a similar amount of head and leg room to the Kia Picanto which means plenty of space even if you're six feet tall. The main difference is that the i10's interior is slightly wider.

Storage space is good too. There's a tray in front of the gearlever – big enough for a smartphone, wallet or keys – and you'll find another that's perfect for a small umbrella above the glovebox.

The i10's glovebox is a good size, as are the door pockets, and there are also a couple of cupholders.

Unlike many city-focused cars, the i10 is a five-seater. That immediately makes it more versatile than the Fiat 500 Hybrid and Toyota Aygo X (both are four-seaters).

Admittedly, putting three adults in the back is a bit of a squeeze, but there's sufficient leg and head room for two six-footers to fit without feeling crushed. Mind you, the Dacia Sandero offers even more room in the back.

In the i10, the hump that runs along the middle of the floor is low and there's a good gap between the floor and the bottom of the front seats, so there's plenty of space for your feet. The door pockets are big enough for a small bottle of water – a feature that's rare in a city car.

The i10’s rear seat back splits in a 60/40 arrangement and can be folded down by pressing buttons next to the rear head restraints and pulling the seat forwards.

While many rival small cars also offer this, the Fiat 500 Hybrid and Toyota Aygo X have less versatile 50/50 split-folding rear seat backs.

The i10 has a 252-litre boot, which is only fractionally smaller than the Picanto’s impressive 255-litre load bay. There's enough space for three carry-on suitcases below the parcel shelf, with some room leftover for soft bags.

There's a fairly high drop to negotiate from boot lip down to the floor, although it isn't as big as the one in the Aygo X. It's a pity that no i10 has a height-adjustable boot floor, so you're stuck with a step in the floor of the extended load bay when you fold down the rear seats.

If you need a bigger boot and you're on a budget, consider the Dacia Sandero – it can carry five carry-on cases below its parcel shelf.

'The amount of room in the back of the i10 is remarkable, but I also found it really easy to get in and out." – Steve Huntingford, Editor

The cheapest Hyundai i10 is priced roughly in line with the Toyota Aygo X and costs a little more than an entry-level Kia Picanto. That means it's a well-priced small car rather than a bargain-basement offering like the Dacia Sandero.

Relatively strong predicted resale values mean that PCP finance payments are normally competitive, and insurance and servicing costs are also low.

On paper, the entry-level 62bhp 1.0-litre petrol is the most frugal engine, but in the real-world we've found the more powerful 1.2 almost as frugal – especially out of town. However, the Aygo X will return more miles to the gallon.

The i10's entry-level Advance trim comes with plenty of kit. That includes automatic headlights, cruise control, air-con a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gearlever, touchscreen infotainment and parking aids. It's out favourite trim.

That said, we can see why you might decide to upgrade to Premium, which adds some extra creature comforts, including 16in alloy wheels, heated seats and a heated steering wheel, keyless entry and climate control.

N-Line is the most expensive, with your money going mainly towards the sportier styling, inside and out, and the more powerful turbocharged 1.0-litre engine. We think there are better cars to choose from for the price.

The i10 was reported to be one of the most dependable small cars in the 2023 What Car? Reliability Survey behind only the Suzuki Swift and the Toyota Yaris. As a brand, Hyundai did well, finishing in seventh place out of 32 manufacturers.

The i10 comes with a five-year unlimited-mileage warranty plus 12 months' roadside assistance. Kia trumps that with its seven-year, 100,000-mile cover, while Toyota will cover the Aygo X for up to 10 years and 100,000 miles (although you have to get your car serviced at one of its dealerships each year).

The i10 was given three stars out of five for safety by Euro NCAP. The crash test found that the driver's chest isn't particularly well protected in a frontal impact, and chest protection of a child was "poor" when subjected to a lateral impact.

The rating is better than the Dacia Sandero (just two stars) but still not great, and is beaten by, for example, the Toyota Aygo X (four stars). The Renault Clio scored five stars but that's a larger and more expensive car.

As standard, the i10 gets automatic emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection. It also has lane-keeping assistance and speed-limit assist.

"I think it's a shame there isn't a really basic trim level for buyers on a tighter budget." – Will Nightingale, Reviews Editor

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