Should you buy a Hyundai i10?

Yes, the Hyundai i10 is a very good city car and easily one of the best-in-class. With a stylish body, TARDIS-like interior and more safety equipment than anything else in this class, there’s something for everyone here, and we wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it. Alternatives aren’t as plentiful as they once were, but there’s still strong competition from the Kia Picanto and Toyota Aygo X especially.

We’re really pleased that Hyundai still sees life in the city car sector – where so many manufacturers have decided to cut their losses at this end of the market, the South Korean brand has gone in at full strength. The resulting car doesn’t feel at all like a downgrade from a larger model, and rivals some of the very best – feeling very grown up with its impressive levels of refinement and comfort.

What is it?

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The Hyundai i10 is a city car that sits at the entry-level point of the South Korean manufacturer’s vast range of cars. Available as a petrol only, it’s an ideal city car or first car and fills an important hole in a market that is now disappointingly short of choice.

The reason why the i10 has so few competitors now is because it’s notoriously difficult to make money on a modern city car without charging astronomical prices. Thank the wide array of sensors and cameras needed for the latest safety regs for that. However, buyers simply aren’t prepared to spend huge sums of cash on such small cars – especially when there are larger superminis and crossovers available that only cost a little more money but offer a lot more space.

But these slim margins haven’t stopped Hyundai from loading the i10 with equipment. Its trim levels compare with cars from two segments above, with the mid-range Premium model gaining features such as a heated steering wheel, a wireless phone charger and more active safety technology than you can shake a hi-vis vest at.

You can even specify the i10 in a sporty N Line specification that adds a more aggressive body kit, racy alloys, some red accent and a slightly more powerful 90hp engine. It’s a far cry from the company’s N division hot hatchbacks, but it’s still good fun.

Over the next few pages, we’ll assess each aspect of the Hyundai i10. Our review will consider the car’s practicality, safety, interior quality, technology, driving experience and running costs. We’ll then offer our final verdict on the car and let you know whether it’s worth spending your money on. Click through to the next page to learn more.