Hyundai i10 road tests and consumer car reviews

Hyundai i10 2012

I cannot think of any other small car currently on sale in the Uk that can compete with the i10 for value for money and all round competence. The car is much easier to get into than my partners 2011 Polo and offers more room in the footwell. Overall build quality is fine, with only a slightly misfitting drivers door letting the side down. Performance from the 1.25 engine is more than adequate, coupled with a brilliant gearchange. The interior is a sea of black plastic, but what do you expect in this price bracket? I have not done enough miles to give an opinion on fuel consumption, but I would be amazed if the car managed to get anywhere near the urban consumption figures. I think mid 40’s is a reasonable expectation for town use. Both ride and handling are more than competent being complemented by light and accurate steering. If I have any gripes it would be an occasional fluffiness on the accelerator on pick up, the need to remember to put down the parcel shelf after loading the boot and the extortionate price of the IPOD lead required to connect to the stereo (try an aftermarket cable at around £40 less than Hyundai). Other than that the i10 is a brilliant piece of kit, backed by a 5 year warranty and breakdown cover. Certainly one to consider if you are shopping around for a car in this bracket.

Hyundai i10 Classic 85 2011

Nice little car but could be improved. It’s good on the motorway and revs at just over 3,000rpm at 70mph and is quiet at all speeds. It has plenty of space and is comfortable on most surfaces. I find 1st and 2nd gears too low and also find the accellerator too edgy for smooth gear changes. I would also prefer larger tyres, 165/65/14 instead of the 60 profile ones fitted. These tyres would give a better ride and make the wheels appear larger. At the moment the car looks like a roller skate. Build quality is excellent and presently I’m achieving 49/50 mpg during mixed driving. The new front styling is great and it deserves to be a big success.

Hyundai i10 2010

Mine is an ex-demonstrator car I bought in July 2011. I’m very disappointed with fuel consumption as I can only get 34.6miles to the gallon. In the 1950’s I had an Austin A40 which could better this by at least 10 mpg more. The Brochure quotes an urban figure of 50.4, and a combined figure of 61.4 What’s wrong with Hyundai?

Hyundai i10 2008

Did my research as needed a town car and Hyundai i10 ticked all the boxes: nippy, easy to park, cheap on fuel/tax, 5-door, air-con and haven’t been disappointed. Brilliant on long trips too as am quite tall female and appreciate leg room. On holiday in Cornwall with family, we ditched the 4-wheel drive in favour of the i10 and it easily accommodated 3 adults, 2 children, 1 dog, surfboards etc etc. Only down-side on my model is lack of rear windscreen wiper and wish now had paid extra for central locking. Although consider myself capable driver, sometimes this little gem of a car can be an irresistable target for the occcasional "bully boy drivers"! But I love this car and wouldn’t buy any other now - price is also unbeatable, really good value for money.

Hyundai i10 2008

My wife bought an i10 from a local garage and with just 6300 miles on the clock it just had to become her chosen motor. We drove 349 miles in it yesterday 02/04/11 and the i10 returned just over 56 mpg, which is not wildly adrift from the manufacturer’s claim for an average speed of 56mph. The left (clutch) foot rest is a mixed blessing, nice to have but not quite at the right angle to keep the average driver’s foot at a comfortable angle. But as most cars do not have such extras as standard it is nice to find. The downside of the large glass area is rapid overheating of the interior fortunately the standard air-con system is very fast turning a sauna into a fridge in very short order..shame it is not intelligent so it can be left on to maintain a preset temperature but on a £7K car one can expect only so much. Would I buy another? A good question. I love 3-cylinder engines so may find myself whizzing about in a White i10 Blue if I can afford it... Yes, the boot is small and legroom behind the driver is tight, but other than these minor set backs the i10 deserves to be on the must try list of anyone looking for a small economical four seat city car. As a Yummy Mummy Chariot it is probably too small for all the paraphernalia needed to entertain and carry small bodies, But for shifting tweenagers and adults they will probably find it acceptable...but not cool.

Hyundai i10 1.2 comfort 2009

The i10 is an amazing little car, the 1.2 engine is a very responsive unit with lots of low down poke, plus it will cruise along happily at 80mph at only just over 3000 rpm, the gear box is slick and smooth and the amount of kit on it is quite amazing for a car of this price including alloys, power windows all round, air con, discs all round, remote locking, a cracking CD and stereo, tinted windows and even a spare wheel, instead of those ridiculous pump up things you get on most small cars. 50 mpg is obtainable if you drive carefully, the car is quite comfortable and has seats for five, the rear ones fold flat, plus a decent boot. A word of warning, some early models had clutch problems causing judder and difficult gear changes, this has been resolved with a new clutch design, but if you get one of the affected ones you will find it hard to convince Hyundai to replace the clutch, the problem was intermittent and unless they experienced it themselves they would not help, they knew there was a problem otherwise why would they change the design. This led me to reluctantly selling mine, that apart an excellent package.

Responses to this review

Dave, are you sure the i10 is only doing just over 3000rpm at 80? Most 1600 cars do 3250 rpm at 70mph. I presently own a 52 plate KA which is a fantastic cruiser but need a new car and the i10 has the most appeal. Please check your rev counter when you next hit 80. Many thanks - Neil Duckworth from England

Hyundai i10 2010

I am extremely disappointed with the fuel consumption of this car. I cannot get anymore than 34.5 miles to the gallon. I used to have a 10 year old Fiesta which did nearly 50 to the gallon. They are selling these cars as economical on fuel. They are not economical.

Responses to this review

50 to the gallon, no problems; 55mpg on the long run - Sodha Ashok from England

Our family runs two i10 automatics, very pleased with them. Both give 34 to 36 mpg under mixed driving conditions. They are so lively we can’t resist the performance... Martin Russell from Suffolk

Hyundai i10 2008

Hi, I had a 2007 Ford Focus TDCi Zetec which was rubbish (everything went wrong with it) until I wrote it off in November 2009. While I was waiting to find out if it was a write off the insurance supplied me with an i10 1.2 Comfort and I loved it. It was better equiped than my Focus, the Hyundai had MP3 Aux set up, 4 electric windows, Air Con, Alloys, Heated seats all for £7995!! And it was quite nippy and fun to drive. The cabin is solidly built and is very smart looking and its made with materials you can see are good quality compared to the usual c**p like the new Ka and Fiat 500. The only problem I encountered was being seen in it! It is a stylish little car but it isnt the type of car a 21 year old boy wants to be caught in, it’s a shopping trolley to be honest or a roller boot as my friends called it. If it wasn’t an old persons car and it had a diesel I would buy one. I now have my new 2010 308 2.0 HDi Sport 136 and I miss my i10, not the focus (it was awful, worst car I have ever bought).

Hyundai i10 Classic 2008

So far I have done less than 1,000 miles, but I am enjoying every one. Cute external design that compares well with European options (and a lot cheaper), BIG on the inside with AC and CD/Radio as standard. Willing engine but no motorway mile muncher, really an ideal town car and I would not be surprised if teenagers take to it as a first motor, very stylish, fashionable even - all in all a good buy. Plus amazing 5 year unlimited mileage warranty. Great!

Responses to this review

Its service is due - Andy from Nottinghamshire