By 
ENGINES – A small car demands a small petrol engine, and Hyundai’s i10 was launched with a 1.1-litre unit that was later upgraded to a 1.2-litre unit. There’s not much between the two, but the latter is a little more refined. Both offer good levels of fuel economy and a willingness to perform that surprised critics first time around.
EXTERIOR – City cars tend to share many similar styling cues as it’s hard to reinvent the wheel when it comes to compact modes of transport. However, the i10’s rounded edges and friendly face help make the urban crawl and more pleasant one.
INTERIOR – For such a small car the i10 is surprisingly accommodating. You might think that its five-door shape is an optimistic one when it comes to attracting occupants, but there’s more room than you think inside. Granted, the rear seats suit children better than adults for long trips.
DRIVING – Nippy, agile – just two of the many words you could use to describe the i10. It’s not the fastest car in the world but its petrol motors do a fine job around town and, so long as you’re realistic, there’s no reason why motorway journeys can’t be tackled either. The ‘thrummy’ sound from the engines adds to the car’s character and, predictably, its compact size makes city driving a breeze.
OWNERSHIP – Everything is small with the i10 and that includes the running costs. With the potential for exceptionally wallet-friendly savings in the fuel consumption and road tax department, the i10 can easily be run on a shoestring budget. It’s also a simple car, which makes the ownership prospect an appealing one and one that requires little effort over and above regular servicing duties.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR – Being a car that’s likely to have lived permanently in the city it’s important to check for evidence of the predictable parking dents and kerbed wheels. The latter could be hiding more serious steering damage, which makes the test drive all the more important. Also, for such a relatively new car make sure there’s a full service history as evidence of a pampered existence.
MODEL HISTORY
2008: Hyundai launches its new city car, the i10. A five-door hatchback, the car is offered with a small capacity petrol engine – a 1.2 motor replacing the original 1.1 in 2009. Standard equipment levels above average for this class of car, with the likes of electric windows, air-con and a quality audio unit available even on low-end variants.
REASONS TO BUY – value for money, easy to drive, equipment levels, refinement
REASONS TO BEWARE – used and abused urban-only examples, neglected low mileage cars, modest legroom in the back for adults
PICK OF THE RANGE – i10 1.2 Comfort
WHAT TO PAY
2008 58 4,965
2009 09 5,490
2009 59 5,775
2010 10 6,405
2010 60 6,600
2011 11 7,410
2011 61 7,770
Figures relate to showroom prices for cars in A1 condition.
