REVIEW: Hyundai i10 (2017)

This is my 2017 Hyundai i10 SE. It’s a 5-door compact hatchback with a 1.0-litre, 3-cylinder petrol engine producing 65 brake horsepower – and with a kerb weight on the lighter side of a ton, it’s the perfect vehicle for nipping around town.

On the outside, it’s smart and discrete yet shows a lot of personality, from the flared vents each side of the bumper, to the rally-inspired circular daytime running lights.

The ‘SE’ is a mid-level trim which includes body-coloured door handles and mirror caps. Inside, you have air-conditioning, cruise control, Bluetooth and DAB radio as standard, as well as the no-cost option of red or blue interior trim pieces.

So you get a stylish piece of kit, both outside and in – with Bluetooth compatibility on your centre console screen, accented with a splash of colour. Climate controls, dashboard backlight settings, electronic headlight and mirror angle adjustment – even the back windows are electric.

The power-assisted steering feels light and easy to handle, making it a breeze to park and manoeuvre. You sit in a relatively upright position, giving you great visibility. The blindspots are tiny. And that practicality is just what you want in a city car, but you can also glide along all varieties of roads where the car remains both sturdy and responsive.

The cabin is spacious, with impressive legroom and headspace for a car of its class, thanks to the taller nature of the roofline. Plus, you aren’t shrouded by big screens, flashy lighting and complex trim pieces.

The i10’s main competitors include the Fiat Panda, Skoda Citigo, Peugeot 108 and its own cousin, the Kia Picanto. But what makes this car special? Well it’s reliable, simple yet adequately equipped, roomy, cheap to run and most attractive is the price tag.

Of course, this is an old generation of i10, but when this facelift was introduced in 2017, you could buy the entry-level S trim for just £9,250 brand new – second hand you’re looking at almost half that. And for that price, this is a brilliant first car to runabout with mates or take your nan to the shops. The world’s your oyster with four wheels and an engine.

Honest drawbacks have to begin with the engine size. Getting up a hill with the 1.0-litre, 65 bhp option is a hard task – especially with passengers – but the i10 Premium SE trim level does come with a 1.2-litre variant producing 86 bhp. Another drawback is the boot capacity – it’s large enough for a suitcase – maybe a bag as well – but nothing else. However, folding the rear seats, like the rest of the i10, is a piece of cake – and massively expands the cargo space. 

It’s cheap to tax, and for first-time drivers, it’s also relatively cheap to insure.

So it’s a practical eco box that’s easy to drive and pleasant to look at. It’s decently-equipped, and as long as you aren’t taking the whole family it’s quite nippy too. Overall, I love the i10 and have no regrets buying it as my first. It’s a strong competitor financially and rarely leaves you needing more.