The Hyundai i10 is part of a new class of urban motoring. A purpose built micro car, or supermini, the i10 is designed with the city in mind. It’s made for squeezing into tiny parking spaces and darting around tight urban roads. It sips fuel gently when stuck in traffic, and it’s comfortable and practical to boot. But, how does it fare against the growing microcar market?
Verdict
Quite simply, the Hyundai i10 is the class leader in the micro car category. It leads the field in terms of style, performance, and practicality. It’s built for the city, but it doesn’t feel out of its depth on the motorway either. This is a fantastic small family car, and it comes highly recommended.
Competitors
Before we dive into the main details, let’s take a look at what the i10 is up against. The micro car category has flourished in the last five years. Surrounding the Hyundai is a series of formidable competitors. Not least, the Skoda Citigo, the Volkswagen Up! and the Seat Mii. At the upper end of the price range is the Fiat 500. However, where most of the micro cars share parts with each other, the Hyundai is a custom built model.
Style
The first thing you notice about the Hyundai i10 is its stylish good looks. That’s no easy feat when you’re working with a small car like this. It has a sleek exterior, and a fierce little grill at the front. The i10 has personality and character. It looks ready to pounce, where some of its competitors look weak and unstable.
Running costs
These city cars are all built with running costs in mind. They’re cheap to fill up with petrol thanks to their small engines and good fuel consumption. They’re easy and cheap to maintain; the i10 itself comes with a five year guarantee. It’s also incredibly cheap to tax and insure. Lucas Velez from ComparaEnCasa tells us that the i10 is in the lowest insurance bracket. As for tax, the super efficient entry model is completely free to tax.
Engine and performance
No-one is buying a micro car for its top speed, and the i10’s statistics aren’t setting any records. Despite that, it feels quick when you get behind the wheel. Thanks to the lightweight body and responsive steering, it’s a joy to drive. It feels nippy, and it’s no slouch off the line. Take it over 70mph, and you might start to push the comfort zone! But, that’s not what the i10 is all about.
Safety
One thing that does worry buyers about this new class of micro cars is their safety credibility. They tend to feel quite vulnerable out on the road. This is where the i10 excels. It feels secure and sturdy compared to its rivals. It also received a reliable four stars under Euro NCAP safety testing.
Overall, the Hyundai i10 is a wonderful little city car. It is lightyears ahead of its rivals in terms of build quality, performance, and sheer driving joy. Take the new model for a test drive, and try it for yourself.
