Skip advert
Advertisement
In-depth reviews

Hyundai i10 review: our favourite little city car is a Tardis on wheels

The Hyundai i10 is a capable, comfortable and surprisingly practical city car, offering decent onboard tech in a simple, smart-looking package

Overall Auto Express Rating

4.0 out of 5

Price
£15,400 to £18,950
  • Decent on-board tech
  • Roomy cabin
  • Smart looks
  • Automatic gearbox
  • Lacklustre base engine
  • Dull interior
Find your Hyundai i10
Offers from our trusted partners on this car and its predecessors...
Or are you looking to sell your car?
9/10 sellers got the price they expected
Advertisement

The Hyundai i10 is a strong contender in a shrinking city car market, especially at a time when people are looking for ways to cut down on their running costs when traversing heavily congested city streets. Our 2023 City Car of the Year, Hyundai’s smallest car is more comfortable and refined than ever, while the diminutive size, tight turning circle and light steering make it an absolute doddle to drive around town. 

Advertisement - Article continues below

Don’t judge the i10 solely by its dimensions though, as the cabin is surprisingly spacious and features a decent amount of onboard technology, including wireless smartphone connectivity and several safety features. The regular i10’s petrol engines are very frugal too, or if you want something with a little more attitude, then the souped-up i10 N Line has that covered.

Our choice: Hyundai i10 1.2 Premium

About the Hyundai i10

The city car is something of a dying breed these days, as the likes of the Toyota Aygo, Citroen C1, Peugeot 108, Skoda Citigo, Volkswagen up! and Ford Ka have all kicked the bucket. Thankfully some brands haven’t given up on the segment yet, and the Hyundai i10 is very much alive and well, having received a facelift and boost in equipment levels in 2023. 

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Although the city car competition has reduced in numbers, the i10 is not yet in a class of its own, so it must be able to prove itself against the Toyota Aygo X, Suzuki Ignis and its own sister car, the Kia Picanto. The Dacia Sandero and Citroen C3 superminis also pose a threat to the i10 as they’re offered at similar prices with more space.

The i10 range features three standard petrol engine options, with no hybrid, diesel or fully electric versions available. A 1.0-litre, three-cylinder unit with 66bhp is the entry point to i10 ownership, followed by a 1.2-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 83bhp. The top-of-the-range 1.0 turbo three-pot petrol delivers 99bhp but can only be found in the sporty N Line version. All cars feature a five-speed manual gearbox as standard. The 66bhp and 83bhp engines are available with an automated manual transmission, but we would not recommend it for reasons we’ll explain later.

Advertisement - Article continues below

There are just three trim levels to choose from: Advance, Premium and N Line. Standard kit includes 15-inch alloy wheels, an eight-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity, Bluetooth, a multi-function leather-wrapped steering wheel, a 4.2-inch display in the instrument panel, keyless entry, rear parking sensors and a reversing camera. Meanwhile, safety features include collision avoidance assist, pedestrian detection, speed limit assist, lane keep and follow assist.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Higher-spec models get a wireless charging pad, heated front seats and steering wheel, 16-inch rims, LED interior lighting and electric folding door mirrors. Premium trim models also feature tartan upholstery and purple stitching, while N Line cars come with an aggressive styling kit, lots of red accents, brushed metal pedals and bespoke seats. 

With a starting price of over £15,000, the Hyundai i10 is still one of the cheapest new cars you can buy in the UK right now and undercuts its Aygo X by several hundred pounds. Unfortunately, it can’t beat the sub-£14,000 price tag of the most basic Dacia Sandero.

Used and nearly new

The original i10 of 2008 was a big success for Hyundai – especially in the UK, which accounted for more than a third of the 110,000 sales the city car notched up in Europe in the six years it was available. Designed to replace the brand’s underwhelming Amica and Getz, the i10 served up a surprising amount of sophistication for such a small car, not to mention loads of standard kit. It was also backed by Hyundai’s five-year and unlimited-mileage warranty.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The second-generation car had big boots to fill when it arrived in 2014, but impressed immediately with its handsome looks and grown-up driving dynamics. The Mk3 that arrived in 2019 built on these strengths with even sharper style, a roomier interior and all the latest tech, and was then updated in 2023 to add more safety features and a few bits of extra kit.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Hyundai i10 history

Hyundai i10 - front

Hyundai i10 Mk3: 2019 to present

One of our favourite small cars, the third-generation i10 melds sophisticated style with cutting-edge tech and infotainment. It’s also good to drive, with composed handling and the sort of refinement you’d expect from a bigger car. Yet its smooth, small-capacity engines also blend eager performance with penny-pinching running costs.

hyundai i10

Hyundai i10 Mk2: 2014-2019

Faced with brilliant rivals such as the VW up!, Hyundai's engineers aimed to deliver a small car that was even more grown-up to drive and sit in. Overall, they hit the bullseye, because while the i10 wasn’t as much fun to drive as some, it set the standard for comfort, refinement and practicality. You can read our full Hyundai Mk2 used buyer’s guide here.

Hyundai i10 Mk1: 2008-2014

Replacing the lacklustre Getz, the i10 was the city car that proved Hyundai meant business. Slightly bland looks aside, it was easy to drive, surprisingly spacious and great value for money. In top-of-the-range form, it even offered enough kit to make an executive saloon driver green with envy. It was a big hit following the UK’s 2009 Scrappage Scheme, with thousands of drivers trading up to the Hyundai from their old bangers.

For an alternative review of the Hyundai i10, visit our sister site carbuyer.co.uk...

Frequently Asked Questions
Our 2023 City Car of the Year, the Hyundai i10 is a cinch to drive around town, economical and looks smart, yet despite its size, is surprisingly spacious and now comes with plenty of safety features previously reserved for larger, more expensive cars.
Skip advert
Advertisement

Which Is Best

Cheapest

  • Name
    1.0 MPi SE 5dr
  • Gearbox type
    Manual
  • Price
    £13,166

Most Economical

  • Name
    1.0 MPi SE 5dr
  • Gearbox type
    Manual
  • Price
    £13,166

Fastest

  • Name
    1.0T N Line 5dr [Nav]
  • Gearbox type
    Manual
  • Price
    £17,830
News reporter

As our news reporter, Ellis is responsible for covering everything new and exciting in the motoring world, from quirky quadricycles to luxury MPVs. He was previously the content editor for DrivingElectric and won the Newspress Automotive Journalist Rising Star award in 2022.

Skip advert
Advertisement

More on i10

Cheapest cars to insure in the UK 2024
Cheapest cars to insure - header image
Best cars & vans
8 Mar 2024

Cheapest cars to insure in the UK 2024

Looking for a car that’s cheap to insure? We’ve listed the cars with the cheapest insurance group ratings on sale in the UK today
Best small cars to buy 2024
Best small cars - February 2024 header
Best cars & vans
16 Feb 2024

Best small cars to buy 2024

Small cars come in all kinds of shapes, if not sizes. Here we highlight the best new small cars on sale
Used Hyundai i10 (Mk3, 2020-date) review: one of the very best city cars
Used Hyundai i10 Mk3 - front
Used car tests
24 Jan 2024

Used Hyundai i10 (Mk3, 2020-date) review: one of the very best city cars

A full used buyer’s guide on the Hyundai i10 covering the i10 Mk3 that’s been on sale since 2020
Skip advert
Advertisement
Top 10 best first cars for new drivers 2024
Best first cars - header image
Best cars & vans
19 Jan 2024

Top 10 best first cars for new drivers 2024

A new car for a first time driver should be cheap, easy to drive and safe. Here are the 10 best first cars
New Hyundai i10 N Line 2024 review: souped-up city car proves size doesn’t matter
Hyundai i10 N Line - front
Road tests
19 Jan 2024

New Hyundai i10 N Line 2024 review: souped-up city car proves size doesn’t matter

The Hyundai i10 N Line arrives with a host of sporty tweaks and the popular city car is all the better for it
Cheapest cars to run 2024
Cheapest cars to run - header image
Best cars & vans
17 Jan 2024

Cheapest cars to run 2024

When it comes to total cost of ownership, cut-price entry-level models aren’t always the best. So what are the cheapest cars to run in the UK today?
Best city cars to buy
Best city cars - header image
Best cars & vans
17 Jan 2024

Best city cars to buy

There are plenty of appealing city cars to choose from, so here’s our guide to the best urban runabouts
Best used small cars 2024
Best used small cars - header image
Best cars & vans
16 Jan 2024

Best used small cars 2024

Our guide to the best used small cars, covering the top second hand city cars and superminis
Best car leasing deals 2024
Best car leasing deals header - January 2024
Best cars & vans
11 Jan 2024

Best car leasing deals 2024

Car leasing can be a cheaper alternative to other kinds of car finance deal and help get you behind the wheel of a new car for less. Here are some gre…
Skip advert
Advertisement
Deal of the Day: Is this £5-a-day Hyundai i10 the UK’s cheapest new car?
Toyota Aygo X vs Hyundai i10 vs Fiat 500 group test - Hyundai i10 front tracking
News
13 Oct 2023

Deal of the Day: Is this £5-a-day Hyundai i10 the UK’s cheapest new car?

Our favourite city car – a small car with big talents – for £146 a month
Top 10 cheapest cars to buy
Cheapest cars - header image
Best cars & vans
15 Aug 2023

Top 10 cheapest cars to buy

In need of a new car bargain? These are the cheapest cars on sale in the UK right now
Skip advert
Advertisement
City Car of the Year 2023: Hyundai i10
Hyundai i10 - City Car of the Year 2023
Awards
5 Jul 2023

City Car of the Year 2023: Hyundai i10

The Hyundai i10 is the 2023 Auto Express City Car of the Year, with theFiat 500 and Toyota Aygo X commended
Best value cars
Best value cars - header image
Best cars & vans
10 May 2023

Best value cars

The UK's biggest motoring bargains go head-to-head
New 2023 Hyundai i10: pricing and specifications revealed
Facelifted Hyundai i10 and i10 N-Line - front static
News
6 Apr 2023

New 2023 Hyundai i10: pricing and specifications revealed

Hyundai has given its smallest model a facelift this year
Hyundai i10 vs Kia Picanto: 2022 twin test review
Kia Picanto vs Hyundai i10 - front tracking
Car group tests
8 Sep 2022

Hyundai i10 vs Kia Picanto: 2022 twin test review

These city cars are at home in town or on the motorway, but which is best?
Skip advert
Advertisement
Toyota Aygo X vs Hyundai i10 vs Fiat 500: 2022 group test review
Toyota Aygo X vs Hyundai i10 vs Fiat 500 group test - three cars in front of London city skyline
Car group tests
12 Jun 2022

Toyota Aygo X vs Hyundai i10 vs Fiat 500: 2022 group test review

The Toyota Aygo X goes to town with SUV style, but are its Hyundai and Fiat rivals better?
Used Hyundai i10 (Mk2, 2014-2019) review
Hyundai i10 used guide - front tracking
Used car tests
4 Jan 2022

Used Hyundai i10 (Mk2, 2014-2019) review

A brilliant combination of space, refinement and low running costs make the i10 and brilliantly capable and desirable small car choice
New Hyundai i10 N Line 2020 review
Hyundai i10 N Line
Road tests
15 Jul 2020

New Hyundai i10 N Line 2020 review

A slightly livelier, slightly sportier version on the excellent Hyundai i10 city car makes lots of sense...
New Hyundai i10 N Line pricing announced
News
7 Jul 2020

New Hyundai i10 N Line pricing announced

Sporty Hyundai i10 N Line city car arrives in the UK at the end of July, with prices starting from £16,195
Hyundai i10 vs Toyota Aygo vs Kia Picanto
Hyundai i10 group test
Car group tests
24 Feb 2020

Hyundai i10 vs Toyota Aygo vs Kia Picanto

We try the new Hyundai i10 out for size against its city car rivals, the Kia Picanto and Toyota Aygo
New Hyundai i10 2020 review
Hyundai i10 - front driving
Road tests
31 Jan 2020

New Hyundai i10 2020 review

The Hyundai i10 is aiming to prove that the city-car sector is still alive and kicking...just.
Skip advert
Advertisement
New Hyundai i10 Play 2019 review
Hyundai i10 Play - front
Road tests
31 May 2019

New Hyundai i10 Play 2019 review

The new Hyundai i10 Play comes with plenty of extra kit, but does that make the i10 a more desirable option in the city car class?
Hyundai i10 and i20 Play special edition versions launch
Hyundai i20 Play front
News
2 Apr 2019

Hyundai i10 and i20 Play special edition versions launch

On sale from 8th April 2019, the new Play special editions are priced from £11,195 for i10 and £14,495 i20