Introduction The new-generation Hyundai i10 is an exciting new development for the city car segment. On sale in the UK from 30 January 2014, the new i10’s starting price of £8,345 is the same as its predecessor. At the same time the car has taken a large step forward compared to the previous generation i10 in many areas, particularly in refinement, safety and styling. Hyundai is upbeat about its new model especially considering the previous model sold over 110,000 units in the UK alone since April 2008. However the new i10 faces plenty of competition, rivals include the Fiat Panda, the Chevrolet Spark and the Volkswagen Up. The i10 is a five-door model only and though it’s not the cheapest city car, it has a lower starting price than the £8,560 five-door Volkswagen Up. While the Up’s five-door siblings, the Seat Mii and the Skoda Citigo, starts from £8,410 and £8,340 respectively. Nevertheless the Hyundai i10 offers low costs and plenty of value for money. Performance 4.0/5 From launch there are two petrol engines available for the new i10, both mated to a five-speed manual transmission as standard. The more basic engine choice is a 1.0-litre three-cylinder unit with 65bhp. This gives the city car a zero to 62mph sprint time of 14.9 seconds and a top speed of 96mph. There’s also a 1.2-litre four-cylinder engine with 86bhp, which can take the i10 from a standing start to 62mph in 12.3 seconds. The top speed meanwhile is 106mph. The mid-range i10 with the 1.2-litre engine can be specified with an automatic gearbox. We tested out both engines with the manual gearbox and the performance of both feels more than adequate for negotiating your way through urban city environments. With either engine, particularly the 1.2-litre, the new i10 is both comfortable at speed compared to rivals on B-roads and the larger motorway network. So while the performance numbers look modest it never feels like a strain to drive. The 1.0-litre model does struggle a little bit going uphill but it fares better compared to certain city car rivals. Remember to use your gears wisely. Ride & Handling 4.5/5 The driving experience of the new i10 feels like a considerable improvement over its predecessor. However tight the corner may be, the car is very manoeuvrable thanks in large part to the light and precise steering. It would be better if the steering was a little more weighted but it’s still more entertaining to drive than rivals like the Chevrolet Spark for instance or even the Volkswagen Up. The i10’s quick and easy gear changes with the manual stick are particularly welcome. The new i10 is also easy to park and the ride is generally smooth and comfortable. Only on very poor quality roads do the undulations become noticeable. What’s especially impressive about driving the new i10 is the level of refinement, a major step forward over its predecessor. With either the 1.0-litre or 1.2-litre, the car’s engine is very quiet even when pushing at speeds as high the national speed limit. Equipment 4.0/5 There are three trim levels for the new Hyundai i10 range. The basic ‘S’ trim includes electric front windows, daytime running lights and a CD tuner with USB connectivity. If you want air conditioning, however, then you’ll have to step up to the ‘S Air’ model which starts from £8,995. The mid-range ‘SE’ trim i10 starts at £9,295 and adds electric rear windows, body colour door handles and mirrors, and a height-adjustable driver’s seat. The range-topping ‘Premium’ trim begins from £9,995. This version of the i10 is well packed for a city car, filled with luxuries and safety kit. Included as standard is Bluetooth connectivity with voice recognition, steering wheel controls and rear speakers. Standard safety equipment includes six airbags, electronic stability and a Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS). Practicality 5.0/5 Sitting in the front of the Hyundai i10, it’s surprising just how wide and spacious it feels within. Compared to its predecessor, the i10 also looks way classier in regards to the design language on the exterior and especially the interior. The cabin’s controls and displays look smart, tidy and professional. There’s also a decent amount of headroom all round the cabin for adults, legroom is still tight at the back for adults though. Rear boot space has grown, however, to the point that hardly any competitors can touch it in this particular category. With the rear seats up, the minimum boot space of the new i10 is 252 litres, that’s 27 litres more than the previous i10. It also comfortably beats many rivals including the Chevrolet Spark (170 litres) and the Fiat Panda (225 litres). The Volkswagen Up and its siblings, with 251 litres, have nearly an identical amount of space. Put the rear seats down in the new i10 and the load capacity expands to a very respectable 1,046 litres. That’s over 100 litres more compared to the VW Up. Running Costs 5.0/5 The i10’s petrol engines should bring fairly low costs to run. In standard form, the 1.0-litre petrol returns around 60mpg combined and emits 108g/km, putting the city car in band B for Vehicle Excise Duty (VED). With the 1.2-litre i10 CO2 output increases to 114g/km, moving the car to band C for VED. The Hyundai lands in band F though if you choose the 1.2-litre automatic model, which emits 142g/km. For the cheapest running, the pick of the i10 range is the ‘SE Blue Drive 1.0-litre Manual’, which has four seats rather than the standard five. Benefitting from stop-start engine technology, this i10 model emits just 98g/km, meaning free Road Tax. Motortorque Verdict 5.0/5 The new Hyundai i10 is one of the trendiest and most enjoyable city cars to arrive. It’s easy to drive and park and more fun than many other city cars and even models in larger segments. While some may still prefer the slightly smaller VW Up and its siblings, the new i10 is a worthy alternative. It has no real weaknesses and most importantly of all it does feel like value for money, which should go down well with customers.
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