Hyundai axes the i10 in the UK

• No more factory orders for Hyundai i10
• Move leaves larger i20 as Hyundai's cheapest car
• Smallest Hyundai is the electric Inster

Hyundai has pulled the plug on the i10 hatchback, with factory orders for its smallest car no longer available.

Since its introduction back in April 2008, the i10 has been a smash hit for Hyundai, but the market move towards electrification means manufacturers are increasingly incapable of maintaining non-hybridised small cars.

When it was first introduced, a new i10 could be picked up for as little as £6495. Prices inevitably crept up over time – the cheapest i10 is now £18,350 – but it is still one of the most affordable new cars on sale.

With the demise of the i10, the Kia Picanto is the only pure-petrol small hatchback available in the UK, although there are a few (more expensive) mild-hybrid options, such as the Fiat 500. The move leaves the larger i20 as Hyundai's most affordable option and the electric Inster as its smallest car.

If you do want a brand-new i10, dealers still have stock, but once that runs out you'll have to look to the used market. There's no news yet on a replacement for the i10, but even if one is developed for other markets, there's no guarantee it'll come to the UK because of restrictions around polluting emissions. An electric alternative is more likely.