In the competitive world of the city car, the Hyundai i10 could be the be the top trump
The Hyundai i10 comes with just one petrol engine. This is a 1.0 three cylinder with 65bhp. It is mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox with a choice of an automatic transmission with the Deluxe trim. This may not sound like a lot of power, but the i10 is a light car so it doesn’t feel that underpowered. The up side to this is that it is remarkably economical. It’s brilliant around the city, as you would hope, but be prepared to drop a gear for steeper inclines or getting up to motorway speeds.
The i10’s ride is quite a stiff one and for that reason, it’s tackles Ireland’s B roads with good effect. It’s steering is quite light but it’s precise and direct and it grips well, adding to driving enjoyment. The stiffer ride also means it’s not the best at absorbing larger bumps and imperfections on B roads. But this car is about getting around towns with ease and the i10 is brilliant at this. Its high seating position, great visibility and manoeuvrability combined with its smooth manual gearbox and light steering means it champions the city.
The Hyundai i10 comes with a choice of three specifications Classic, Deluxe and Premium. There is also the option of a Deluxe Auto which comes with an automatic gearbox. The i10’s setup is quite stiff at lower speeds but it smooths out on the motorway and is quite comfortable at cruising. Inside the Hyundai i10 you are instantly met with a smartly designed dashboard with a number of customisable options. You can choose a number of colours for the dash that come with complimenting gear knob and seat trim. It looks and feels very smart.
There is a use of top quality materials throughout the i10’s cabin and the dashboard is of solid and excellent build quality. The best value for money is the Deluxe trim which affords a great level of kit as standard. This includes a number of exterior options that colour codes pretty much the whole exterior of the car and gives you additional creature comforts on the interior including leather and chrome steering wheel and gear knob. Overall the cabin has a slick and stylish finish that you’ll feel perfectly at home in.
The Euro NCAP crash safety test has recently been given an overhaul with even more stringent rules being implemented. This is a good thing for the consumer overall. The i10 scored 4/5 stars in the most recent test. Had it been the old test, it would have achieved full marks like its rivals the Volkswagen Up! and Skoda Citigo which were tested under the old rules back in 2011. It is a very safe and well built city car. As standard it comes with a full host of airbags, electronic stability control and tyre pressure monitoring.
The i10 comes in five door guise only so practicality box number one is ticked almost immediately. Not only is there comfortable rear access, head and legroom is not bad either for a city car. Two adults can sit comfortably back there, possibly not for too long of a journey, but it’s spacious. For the driver, there’s plenty of adjustability in the front seat and steering wheel to find a comfortable driving position. Boot space is the best in its class too standing at 252 litres with split folding rear seats that open the cabin up to 1046 litres. This car impresses all round.
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