Hyundai i10 (2008 – 2014) Review

Hyundai i10 (2008 – 2014) At A Glance

3/5

+Cheap to own. All models have airc on, five seatbelts and flat folding rear seats. Rides and handles quite well for its size. 99g/km Blue model from early 2011.

-1.1-litre best avoided. Achilles heel is rapidly corroding and otherwise failing brakes.

Insurance Groups are between 9–12
On average it achieves 77% of the official MPG figure

Fun to drive, cheap to run and attractive to the eye, the i10 was a huge step forward for Hyundai. Demand exceeded supply by more than 50 per cent as the public became i10 converts.

The 1.1-litre engine romps along quite respectably on the motorway, and despite low gearing of 20mph per 1000rpm in 5th, it isn’t too noisy. The steering is decently direct, doesn’t wander or give you that eerie feeling the car is about to fall over on long sweeping bends. The i10 actually handles very well considering the upright torsos inside are not ideal for its centre of gravity. 

There’s plenty of headroom and legroom in the back, easily accessed by decent sized rear doors. Luggage capacity, all seats fully occupied, is a sensible 258 litres. The rear seats fold down to provide a much better load platform than the standard Panda and C1 clones. There’s a space saver spare under the floor rather than a can of glop that can’t fix a blowout. And the i10’s relatively long wheelbase gives decent ride quality. 

If you're looking for the newer version, you need our Hyundai i10 review.

Real MPG average for a Hyundai i10 (2008 – 2014)

RealMPG

Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.

Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.

Average performance

77%

Real MPG

28–57 mpg

MPGs submitted

775

Diesel or petrol? If you're unsure whether to go for a petrol or diesel (or even an electric model if it's available), then you need our Petrol or Diesel? calculator. It does the maths on petrols, diesels and electric cars to show which is best suited to you.

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Ask Honest John

What's the best car for a learner for £2500?

"What's the best secondhand car I can get for a learner? Budget £2500. "
For a learner driver we would suggest a hatchback with a small engine to keep running costs as low as possible. We would suggest looking at cars like the Kia Picanto, Hyundai i10, Toyota Aygo and Nissan Micra, all of which would be available within your budget.
Answered by David Ross

Air conditioning problems with Hyundai i10 - should I bother with a repair?

"I own a 2010 Hyundai i10 and have been spending a lot on it recently for essential repairs. The latest thing to go wrong is the air conditioning compressor, which my local service centre says is totally worn out and in need of immediate replacement. They have quoted me £500 for this repair, which includes replacing the compressor and regassing the whole system. Do you think that this is a fair price?"
The cost of the repair is fairly typical for a new compressor and regas for a car of this size. However, due to the age and history of the vehicle, I'd question the value of fixing the air conditioning system. If the car is already suffering from costly wear and tear issues then it may be approaching the end of its mechanical life. Most cars in the UK are scrapped at 13 or 14 years, due to the fact they become uneconomical to repair. It may be better to have the AC system disconnected and save the £500 for future repairs or a replacement vehicle.
Answered by Dan Powell

Hyundai i10 - how should the central locking work?

"I have just bought a 2011 Hyundai i10 Comfort 1.2 and I need a bit of advice regarding the central locking. My key opens all the locks (except boot), but does not lock all the locks when I try locking it. It isn't a remote fob type of key. There are no batteries and it just looks like a normal key. Is it normal for the key to unlock all the doors but not lock them (except driver's)? As I have never had a car like this I don't know how the central locking is supposed to work. "
The Hyundai i10 Comfort of this age should have remote central locking. It sounds like you've been sold a car with just the spare non-remote key and not the original keyfob. All the doors should lock when you lock the driver's door, so there may be an issue here - we'd recommend speaking to a dealer or Hyundai specialist as they can advise regarding getting a new key or fixing the locking.
Answered by Lawrence Allan

Should I reject a vehicle or let the dealer fix it?

"I purchased a 2011 Hyundai i30 diesel estate from a Honda dealer three months ago. I have begun having issues with starting. I've taken it back to Honda who have advised one glow plug has a broken tip. They are going to remove the plugs along with the injectors and have these sent away for testing etc. They advised this could be a very expensive repair and the 12 month warranty only pays out up to £2,000. The car is on finance for £4,500. I quoted the "right to reject". To which they have stated the dealership will cover the costs. However, I value your opinion whether it would be more prudent to reject than repair. I cannot afford to have a car that will have very expensive repair needed. "
The 2015 Consumer Rights Act is very clear about this: the dealer can be held liable for any serious faults that develop within the first six months. Why? Because the problems are deemed present or developing at the time of sale. The dealer is entitled to be given the opportunity to fix the car (again, as per the 2015 Consumer Right Act). But if the dealer cannot give you a reasonable timeframe for the repairs to be completed then you may have grounds to reject the car. Any rejection will need to be agreed upon with the dealer and the finance company. For your rights, see: https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/how-to-reject-a-car-your-consumer-rights/
Answered by Dan Powell
More Questions

What does a Hyundai i10 (2008 – 2014) cost?