The ‘City Car’ is king, and Hyundai has thrown down the gauntlet.
Every brand has their own. Just think how many great choices there are; the Ford Ka, Vauxhall Adam, Seat Mii, Skoda Citigo, Vauxhall Viva, Suzuki Alto, Citroen C1, Peugeot 108, Renault Twingo. The list goes on. Except, it doesn’t anymore.
Without anyone noticing, the booming trade in ‘City Cars’ has died with a murmur. Every one of the models you’ve just read, is either no longer available or won’t be available by the end of the year – The King is dead, long live the king.
The ‘City Car’ is the UK’s smallest class of car. It is a staple of the UK’s roads, but for how much longer? If you only needed a car to get to work & back, and occasionally pick up a passenger, the City Car was perfect. Manufacturers bought into the market’s need, but then customers began to expect more. So, manufacturers started adding luxury extras as standard; like Reversing Cameras, Panoramic Sunroofs, and Touchscreen Sat-Navs.
Well, as a result of a loophole in the new EU rules on emissions, manufacturers that used to be champions of this exciting category of nippy small car, have given up the title and simply walked away.
With the country’s biggest brands pulling up the roots to products that have bloomed, the results of decades of hard work, you’d expect someone to stand up and take advantage. And that’s exactly what Hyundai have done.
This is the new Hyundai i10.
It has time-and-time again been one of the country’s best-loved small cars. A result of quirky good looks, nippy handling, and a long track-record of happy i10 owners.
Looks:
There is only so much you can do with a small car. It has to be small on the outside, and spacious on the inside – which logically means pushing the exterior to all four corners. However, if you put the previous Hyundai i10 next to the current i10 you’ll notice huge changes.
The new model has a much more angular design, with flowing dynamic lines, making it stand out and instantly recognisable. The design language seems a lot more intentional – the new i10 wants to be noticed as you drive by. The front day-time running lights are now not just a feature but a distinctive highlight, set in a big European style grille. ‘Premium’ models come with a choice of two-tone roof, which does a great job of making this classy looking little car stand out from the crowd.
The longer wheelbase make it appear larger without the vehicle’s footprint growing any more. This instantly benefits the drive, which feels a lot more refined and grown-up. Look out for the new turbo-charged ‘N Line’ model, due later this year – It’s guaranteed to be a head turner.
Interior:
The cabin of Hyundai’s smallest model is where the new i10 has really raised its game. The dashboard flows seamlessly into the Touchscreen. It’s given driver’s the saloon car feel, but at a City Car price tag. The front seats have plenty of room for even the tallest drivers – trust me, I’m 6ft 4”. The back seats will easily accommodate two grown-ups and offers more head room than most of the i10’s traditional competitors.
Hyundai say the 8” touchscreen in the new i10 is the largest in its class – which does everything well. The touchscreen software has long been a strength for Hyundai. Designed in South Korea, the same place as your Samsung smartphone & LG televisions, you’d expect the software to run smoothly and be incredibly user friendly. Android Auto & Apple Carplay work instantly, without any need for configuration. Play Spotify or Audible, send voice-dictated text messages, search for new Sat-Nav locations, and so much more by simply pressing the Voice Command button on the steering wheel.
And it’s not just the aesthetics that have improved; thanks to the wheels being pushed further into the corners, those sitting in the front and rear benefit from extra leg room.
Engine:
The Hyundai i10 has two engines, and a third on the way. Choose between an economical 1.0, a nippy 1.2, or the ‘N Line’ exclusive 1.0T. Each has its merits, but for just £500 you can upgrade the standard 1000cc to the more refined 1200cc. You’ll thank yourself later.
Car buyers often lament about the struggle to find a small automatic, and now City Cars are facing extinction, there is less choice than ever. But, the Hyundai i10 may be the answer, as both of these naturally aspirated engines are available as automatics – and again, at just a £500 premium. To the uninitiated, that may sound like a lot of money to go automatic, but most manufacturers charge between £1,200 – £1,500 to upgrade to a handsfree automatic box.
The Competition:
Competitors to the new i10 are few and far between. Manufacturers are ditching City Cars almost as quickly as they disposed of diesel engines after VW’s Diesel-gate scandal.
The Toyota Aygo is a popular choice. It offers as much tech gadgetry as the i10, but at a cheaper price. However, once you compare the two side-by-side, you’ll realise that your money could be better spent – the Hyundai is a significantly more grown-up affair. It’s quieter, smoother, and feels more solid on the road.
Since VW killed off the Skoda Citigo & Seat Mii, there are only two real competitors to the new mature Hyundai i10. The first is the VW Up. Both start at roughly the same price (~£12,500), but the i10 features a lot more safety features than its 9-year old competitor. And, the both have a ‘hot’ version, the iconic VW GTI vs Hyundai’s new ‘N Line’ – lead by former staff of BMW’s ‘M Sport’ division.
The other is the i10’s sister; the Kia Picanto, and it’s sporty twin stunt-double, the Picanto ‘GT Line’ & ‘GT Line S’. The Hyundai offers a five-year / unlimited mileage warranty while the Kia offers seven-year / 100,000 mileage warranty. If you’re choosing a small car that either of these will leave you satisfied with your decision.
Business User:
From personal experience, this isn’t a car I’d expect to see many company directors in – though I look forward to being proven wrong. In reality, the new i10 is going to be the ideal business pool car. Something any one of the staff can hop in, drive safely, and complete chores. Covered in company colours and business branding, it is going to make a great first impression and will be instantly recognisable. Coupled with a choice of efficient nippy engines and the latest safety features, it makes a strong case to sit in your company’s car park.
Island User:
The Island is a happy home for a little car like the Hyundai i10. The new longer wheelbase means it’s going to be even more comfortable in the corners of those twisting country lanes. The i10’s light weight makes it fun to drive, and the reversing Camera (standard on most of the range) makes this tiny car easy to live with.
The small engines are ideal for short journeys, as they reach optimum temperature sooner, and provide fuel economy figures close to hybrid equivalents. Though I often prefer the characteristic thrum of a three-cylinder, the four-cylinder 1.2 is going to better for those that escape the Island’s shores more than a few times year – and for those that do, maybe consider upgrading to the automatic gearbox too.
Choices:
The Value Choice: Hyundai i10 ‘SE’ 1.0 Manual
The Range Topper: Hyundai i10 ‘Premium’ 1.2 Automatic
The Local Favourite: Hyundai i10 ‘N Line’ 1.0T Manual
Verdict:
The City Car was once the bastion of your first new car, and with less choice currently on the market that would be expected to change. But, the Hyundai i10 makes a fantastic case for itself. Not just for first-time drivers, but also for those that need a second car, or simply don’t need anything larger.
The longer wheelbase makes the ride refined and comfortable – as adept on town streets as it ever was, but just at home on those longer motorway journeys.
When you’re looking from website-to-website, showroom-to-showroom, struggling to find something suitable small, fun, and reliable, the new Hyundai i10 could be what you were looking for all along.
Other brands have renounced their claim on the ‘City Car’ crown, while the Hyundai i10 stands tall. Long live the king.
Review by Richard Winter
Fossil fuel cars will devalue so fast as pure electric becomes more popular, look at the top three bestsellers in the last two months !