Category: City Cars 
Price Range: £7,600 to £8,700
Well-equipped, cheap, roomy, economical, five-year warranty.
Looks dull, very slow with auto gearbox, noisy at high speeds.
Not fashionable, but a practical, cheap and usable runabout.
The i10 rides surprisingly well for something so small, coping with potholes and road imperfections without too much fuss, although the engine can get noisy at higher speeds. Despite the good driving position, the seats are rather flat and unsupportive for longer journeys, with a short seat-base and no side bolstering or lumbar support.
Interior space and legroom is excellent for such a tiny car, however - adults really could fit into the rear, even three abreast, and the five-door bodystyle gives easy access to those back seats.
A boot capacity of 258 litres is enough for a couple of rucksacks or a bit of shopping; the rear seats fold, but they don't slide, tumble or disappear fully flat into the floor.
Top marks to Hyundai for equipping all versions with air conditioning and a CD player. Entry-level Classic models also have electric front windows and central locking (not remote).
Comfort versions add electric rear windows, remote locking, a height-adjustable driver's seat, an underfloor luggage box, and colour-coded door handles and mirrors.
Style spec adds 15" alloys, heated front seats, metal-trim fascia, a rear roof spoiler and an electric sunroof.
The i10's cabin - well-finished, with a dark dashboard and simple layout - doesn't feel cheap and nasty. However, there's no feelgood factor or the eye-catching and unique details of (more expensive) cars such as the Fiat 500 or Mini. It's plain and no-nonsense.
Latest Readers' Drives About the Hyundai i10
wrote on 05 06 2008
wrote on 03 03 2008