Hyundai i10 review (2020 - 2025)

The i10 is the smallest car that Hyundai makes, a supermini that aims to package up everything you need from an everyday runabout into a compact and very affordable product.

We’ll let you make your own mind up about the styling of this new model of i10, released in 2020, but we reckon it’s a smart little thing, especially if you spec or find one with the optional two-tone paint.

More importantly, current emissions regulations mean that the city car class is a dying breed, so the i10 is one of only a handful of options at this end of the market. Happily it’s one of the best, plus it’s backed by Hyundai’s excellent five-year unlimited mileage warranty and breakdown cover. Rarely does buying something so affordable come with such peace of mind.

The interior of the i10 doesn’t feature the most daring design in the world, but it's very well thought-out. For instance, the dashboard looks smart and all the major controls are handily sited, including the touchscreen infotainment that sits up high in your eyeline. Sure some of the plastics are a little scratchier than we’d like, but overall the car is robustly built and well up to the demands of hard-working family life.

Speaking of which, while the i10 is a small car on the outside you shouldn’t dismiss it as practical transport. For starters it’s available exclusively with a versatile five-door bodystyle, while in the back there’s a surprising amount of space - even two six-footers should have no problem getting comfortable.

Upfront you’ll find good visibility and supportive seats, while the driving position is comfortable despite a steering wheel that adjusts up and down but not in and out. There’s also a decent array of storage, including some deep door bins, a large glovebox and some cupholders between the front seats. There’s even a tray ahead of the gear lever to place your smartphone, which on the top models is also available with an optional wireless charging pad.

The boot’s a reasonable size for this type of car too, with a capacity of 252-litres, which is two litres more than you’ll get in a VW up!. All versions get 60/40 split/fold rear seats, which when lowered free-up a very useful 1,050-litres of carrying capacity. That said, doing so will leave a step up between the boot floor and the folded seats though, but that’s the price for a lower boot floor and a bit of extra practicality.

And of course, don’t forget that being a small car makes the Hyundai one of the most hassle-free ways to get about, particularly around town. There aren’t many gaps into the traffic you won’t be able squeeze into, while parking is as quick and stress free as you’d imagine, with no need to worry whether you’ll fit between the white lines.

On the road, it’s often difficult when designing a car to strike a balance between comfort and the ability to keep a vehicle composed through corners, as soft suspension can often mean wallowy handling. This is especially true of cars of this price point where complicated, expensive suspension systems aren’t an option. So it’s hugely pleasing to find that not only does the i10 dismiss even vicious potholes with a wave of its hand, it’s also very well behaved when threading it down country roads, and always feels safe, secure and planted on the road. When it comes to cars of this size and price, there’s very little that’s as good as this.

Note, however, that the N Line model has stiffer springs, due to its sporty image, and that will firm up the ride somewhat in the search for nippier handling. All versions have an impressively small turning circle though, and light steering means it’s a breeze to manoeuvre around town. Yet the steering still feels connected enough to the front wheels to make for precise inputs through the bends.

You can choose from four trims and three different petrol engines. We’ll cover the trims shortly, but when it comes to power we’d skip over the entry-level engine, the 1.0-litre MPi, as while it’s OK if you’re only driving around town, it’s not got enough puff when you get to motorway speeds. Instead, look at the 1.2-litre MPi, which has more power, enough to avoid that gutless feeling as you urge it up towards 70mph. If you want even more punch, you could look at the 99bhp, turbocharged 1.0-litre T-GDi, which offers enough performance to surprise some bigger and more expensive machines. However, it’s only available in the top-spec N Line trim, and will therefore cost you more.

Gearboxes? Most i10s will come with a reasonable five-speed manual gearbox, but the two MPi engines have the option of a five-speed automatic.

The range starts with the entry-level SE trim, replete with 14-inch steel wheels and manual air conditioning, as well as high beam assist, which automatically dips the headlamps when it senses another car approaching, before reapplying full beam when the road is clear.

Upgrade to SE Connect trim and you’ll get 15-inch alloy wheels and a rear-view camera (something that’s absent from much more expensive cars than this), as well as an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment display with all the smartphone connectivity.

For a small amount more, you can opt for the Premium trim, which adds 16-inch alloy wheels, some glossy black exterior bits and heated steering wheel and front seats, which are a godsend on a cold morning. You’ll also get snazzy LED daytime running lights and front fog lights, as well as tinted rear glass. Opt for a car with the Tech Pack and you’ll get sat nav included, as well as a wireless charging pad for your phone, but for our money the various navigation apps available on smartphones do the job just as well.

The i10 N Line is the top-spec trim, only available with the most powerful engine. It’s the sportiest i10 (for now, at least), and gets different 16-inch alloy wheels, a sportier look and rear brake discs (rather than drums) for better stopping power. There’s some N Line-branded stuff inside too, including the steering wheel and gear stick, but you’ll miss out on the heated steering wheel and seats.

There’s not a massive difference in prices between the new Hyundai i10 models if you’re buying as a new car, with less than £3,500 separating the entry-level model with the top of the range. That’s likely to pass down to used models too, although at the time of writing the i10 hadn’t been on sale for long, so it’s too early to give more details.

We can give you other running cost information though, and when it comes to fuel economy, the entry-level 1.0-litre engine, with a manual gearbox, will return an official fuel economy of 5.65mpg. But with the 1.2 returning 55.4, we’d still recommend opting for that, as the difference is so minimal. Cars with an automatic gearbox won’t get quite as strong MPG figures, and the more powerful engine found in the N Line model will return 52.3mpg.

If you’re a company car driver, the entry-level 1.0 SE might appeal as it sits in the 25% bracket for Benefit in Kind tax thanks to its low CO2 emissions. But no model sits higher than 29%, so you may decide that some extra zip and a few more features are worth the extra cash.

When it comes to insurance, the cheapest model will be the 1.0 MPi SE Connect model, which sits in insurance group 3 of 50. The most expensive – the N Line model – is in group 10, so no i10 is likely to break the bank. Curiously, you’ll get cheaper insurance on automatic models; the 1.2 MPi Premium model sits in group 5 if you get the automatic, but group 9 for the manual. The i10 needs a service every year or 10,000 miles. Go through the official dealer network and the first will cost you between £130 and £150, while the second will be a bit pricier at around £230.

The i10 is too new to have shown any established reliability issues, but a look at the previous generation model is very encouraging, as it tended to give owners very few problems.

Hyundai as a brand has an excellent reputation, sitting third overall in JD Power’s 2019 UK Vehicle Dependability Study, which ranks all the major manufacturers. The company also sits well within the top half of Warranty Direct’s Reliability Index, which looks at the reliability of older models. That confirms that Hyundai’s reputation has been well-earned for many years. All of this suggests you’d be unlucky to have any major issues with an i10.

Hyundai offers a five-year warranty on a new i10 so second-hand models will still be covered for years to come. Several rivals only offer three-year warranties, although Hyundai’s sister company, Kia, offers seven years of cover on its Picanto.