Hyundai i10 Review 2024

All versions of the Hyundai i10 are easy to drive, cheap to run and backed by a comprehensive five year unlimited mileage warranty. The Hyundai i10 is also bigger than the average city car, meaning more interior space and a bigger boot. But what makes it stand out is its blend of comfort and handling. True, the i10 might not be quite as much fun to drive as the Volkswagen Up, but the i10 makes a compelling case for the best city car on the market. Read our Hyundai i10 review to find out more. 

At face value, the Hyundai i10 sits at the higher end of city car prices, when compared models such as the Volkswagen Up, Toyota Aygo and Peugeot 108. Mid-spec models with a couple of optional extras easily exceed £14,000.

But you do at least get a lot for your money with the Hyundai i10, both in terms of space and equipment. In fact, it can easily be seen as a cheaper alternative to cars like the Ford Fiesta.

That’s because in terms of size, the Hyundai i10 sits between the traditional city car and the class above. And this means much better interior space than most city cars and a bigger boot too. In fact, the interior is a real highlight on the Hyundai i10. Yes there are the usual hard plastics but it doesn’t feel cheap and the design is both attractive and simple to use. 

As with previous generations of the Hyundai i10, this latest version is petrol-only. From launch, buyers get the choice of two engines: a 1.0-litre MPi three-cylinder with 67PS and 96Nm torque, as well as a 1.2-litre MPi four-cylinder with 84PS and 118Nm torque. 

The best, by far, is the 1.0 MPi: it has lots of low-gear acceleration and is reasonably hushed on the motorway. Advertised fuel economy is 58.8mpg. We think this is the model to go for and it’s ideally suited to zipping around town thanks to the fact it’s a three-cylinder engine. 

While it would make a great first car, Hyundai is open about the fact that the i10's market is predominately made up of the over 40s. Hence why its set-up is very much geared for comfort. The ride quality is smooth, the steering is light and all of the controls are easy to use. 

The handling is not as rewarding as the Volkswagen Up, but it's a big improvement on previous generations of the i10. The motor driven steering system is light at low-speeds, but firms up once you hit 50mph so you get a good feel for grip and road conditions. 

The main blot on the Hyundai i10's report card is the crude and clunky five-gear automated manual transmission - a replacement for the traditional auto gearbox used in the old model. You’re better off sticking to the manual.

Standard equipment levels are very good and there are no basic models in the line-up. The entry-level SE model has a leather trimmed steering wheel, DAB audio, air conditioning and a height adjustable driver's seat. Although you do have to suffer steel wheels.

The i10 also gets a comprehensive array of safety tech as standard, which includes high beam assist, cruise control, lane keep assist, autonomous emergency braking, speed limit warning and a system that will tell the driver to pull over and take a break if it detects tiredness.  

The third-generation i10 is easily Hyundai's best small car to date. Drivers who want a bit more fun will be better suited with the rewarding Volkswagen Up, while those wanting a cheaper alternative will look no further than the Kia Picanto and its seven-year-warranty. However, for if you want a refined, comfortable and affordable small car, the latest Hyundai i10 will not disappoint.

Looking for a second opinion? Why not read heycar's Hyundai i10 review.

With a boot volume of 252 litres, the Hyundai i10 has enough space to carry two large suitcases or the weekly shop. The rear seats also have a 60/40 split and can easily be lowered, but do not fold completely flat.

The high boot lip and narrow opening also makes it a little awkward to make the most of the i10's bootspace, but the maximum boot capacity isn’t too short of the class leaders - a Ford Ka+ has 270 litres. However, there’s no adjustable boot floor so you do have to lean in to lift out heavy objects.

There’s good storage with decent sized door pockets and a couple of cupholders by the gear lever while the glovebox is actually big enough to be useful. What really makes the Hyundai i10 stand out against the average city car is the extra space, most notably in the back. It means more room, not just for adults, but crucially, for child car seats and children’s legs.

In-keeping with its value-focus, the Hyundai i10 is only offered with cloth seats. However, while the dull coloured fabrics might not look particularly impressive to the eye, the seats are extremely comfortable with firm padding and a wide base that supports the lower back and upper leg muscles. 

Like its small car rivals, the cabin of the i10 is covered in hard plastics. These are hardwearing and easy to clean, but also manage to look reasonably good. It certainly doesn’t feel cheap. There are some nice touches and SE Connect versions get a much more attractive touchscreen infotainment. 

Premium trim adds heated seats and a stylish honeycomb 3D pattern to the door inserts and dashboard facia.

SE models come with a black and white radio which does the job but looks very ‘hire car’. That’s why we’d go for an SE Connect that has a much better looking 8-inch touchscreen.

The system is not quite as well laid out as the infotainment in a Volkswagen, but it is easy to use and has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which makes it simple to pair a smartphone for music, maps and navigation. A factory-fit navigation system and a wireless charging pad can be added as an optional extra but we’d not bother given the cost.

Thankfully, operating the heating and air conditioning controls is easy with Hyundai retaining the traditional buttons and dials, located under the touchscreen. An additional row of buttons next to the gear stick operate the heated steering wheel and seats.

Hyundai is moving its image upmarket, leaving the budget market to the likes of the Dacia Sandero and Suzuki Celerio.

It may not be cheap, but that’s not to say the Hyundai i10 is not good value for money either. At launch, prices start at just under £13,000 for an SE but you do get a lot of car with things like air con, DAB and a leather steering wheel. A basic Kia Picanto costs just £10,000 and an Aygo starts at close to £9500 but both come with less standard equipment as you’d expect. Plus of course, they are that bit smaller.

Move up to the SE Connect and it’s another £1000 on top while the AMT automatic costs £500. Again, it’s not worth paying extra for as it’s a poor gearbox. Unless you must have an auto, save your money.

At close to £15k new, the Premium looks expensive for a city car, albeit a very well equipped one. That money gets you a lot of Volkswagen Up. However, if you’re looking at pre-registered cars, you can find a Premium with delivery miles for several thousand pounds less than the list price. There aren’t huge numbers on the market, so you may have to be patient, but most dealers will throw in delivery to sweeten the deal.

Both engines are easy on fuel and will prove cheap to run. The most economical model in the range according to the official WLTP figures is the 1.0-litre MPi SE Connect - which is the version we recommend. The claimed figure is 56.5mpg and you should see at least 50mpg. That’s the going rate for all manual models (the figures vary depending on trim). 

Opt for the ATM automatic and this drops to the mid 40s. Another reason not to choose it. One quirk of the auto though is that it is cheaper to insure, sitting in insurance Group 3A.

The SE and SE Connect with the 1.0-litre MPi engine are group 5A for insurance, which is an increase on the Group 2A of the previous i10. This may not seem a big jump, but it will make a significant difference in insurance premiums, especially for younger drivers. As a comparison, the Ford Ka+ and Volkswagen Up are both Group 1E.

In terms of long term reliability, there’s every reason to have plenty of confidence in the i10. Hyundai has a strong track record for durability and we get very few readers reporting problems. Plus of course it comes with Hyundai’s five-year warranty. This may not match the seven years of Kia, but there is no mileage limit.

The Hyundai i10 is designed for the city and its responsive steering and good visibility mean it’s ideal in urban environments. You can easily get it into a small parking space and it’s a doddle to manoeuvre around a multi storey. It’s this combination of ride and handling that makes the i10 so attractive.

Motorway travel is an area where the i10 has improved greatly, with wind noise and vibration kept to a minimum. The steering is light and lacking in feel below 50mph, but it develops a lot of feedback at motorway speeds and this makes it easy to build confidence with the i10.

Regardless of which engine you choose, the i10 is comfortable to drive and refined. The supple suspension does a good job of controlling body travel when cornering, and most lumps and bumps are absorbed with ease on 14 and 15-inch wheels. Admittedly, things get a little more bumpy on 16-inch wheels, but the i10 remains on the comfortable side of firm on all but the roughest of roads.

There are only two engines to choose from with the Hyundai i10, both petrols, with the star performer being the excellent turbocharged 1.0 MPi. 

The three-cylinder unit might not sound all that capable on paper, with 67PS and 0-62mph taking almost 15 seconds, but on the road it is actually very good, with low levels of noise and lots of low-gear pull. Unusually for a small engine, it is apt for pulling the i10 along in a high gear at low revs. 

The 1.2 MPi petrol misses out on turbocharging, but gets an extra cylinder to develop 84PS and 118Nm of torque. However, despite its power boost, the 1.2 MPi struggles with hills and overtaking. 

Like its rivals, the i10 gets a five-speed gearbox as standard, which works extremely well. A five-speed automated manual is the only automatic option, but we wouldn't recommend it. It’s extremely crude with poor anticipation that produces lots of unnecessary gear changes and body vibration.

All versions of the Hyundai i10 get automatic (halogen) headlights and high beam assist that dips the beam when oncoming vehicles are detected. 

Cruise control is also fitted as standard, along with a comprehensive package of safety tech that prevents the i10 from straying out of its motorway lane. It will also automatically apply the brakes, if the system thinks an impact is imminent, or urge the driver to take a break if it detects poor driving caused by fatigue. 

This i10 has not been crash tested by Euro NCAP yet but we expect it to achieve the maximum five star rating given the high level of active safety equipment. The previous i10 was awarded four stars.

The SE is the entry-level model in the Hyundai i10 range - there’s no bog standard S model. It comes with all the essentials like air con, DAB radio, Bluetooth and things like a leather steering wheel and gear lever. It’s an ideal choice if you want a simple small car. 

However, we’d suggest the Hyundai i10 SE Connect as the best model in the range. This replaces the steel wheels with 15-inch alloys, plus you get extras like the proper 8.0-inch touchscreen and a rearview camera. It gives it a much more upmarket feel. If you’re looking on the used market, there should be plenty around.

The top model is the Hyundai i10 Premium which looks quite pricey new. However, it does come really well equipped with luxuries such as heated seats and even a heated steering wheel, something we’ve not seen on another city car.