Hyundai's quest for constant improvement means that it's set a high bar for itself with the third generation version of its smallest car, the i10. Jonathan Crouch drives the revised version.

Ten Second Review

We're going to see far fewer citycars on the market in the coming years, which is welcome news for Hyundai, who has reaffirmed its commitment to the segment by introducing this third generation version of its popular i10 tiny hatch. It's billed as the most hi-tech citycar ever.

Background

Sometimes, the stars just align perfectly for a car manufacturer. Such was the case back in 2009 when two largely unrelated circumstances coincided. The introduction of the government's Scrappage Scheme saw a number of tired old cars being taken off our roads and resulted in a commensurate quantity of buyers with a modest sum of cash in their hands looking for something to buy. Fairly new onto the market and having just replaced the underwhelming Amica was the rather appealing Hyundai i10. Sales skyrocketed and for a short while, the i10 was the country's best selling car. It didn't last. While i10 sales continued quite strongly, the end of the Scrappage Scheme saw buyers return to their usual buying habits. Since then, Hyundai has tried hard to keep citycar buyers interested. It rejuvenated the i10 in second generation form in 2013, but it still didn't quite have the quality or the fashionable appeal of rivals like the Volkswagen up!, Skoda Citigo and SEAT Mii triplets. But this MK3 version, launched in 2019, has done better and here, has been usefully upgraded.

Driving Experience

Engine-wise, not much has changed, so as usual in an i10, there are two primary options, a three cylinder 1.0-litre 67PS Mpi unit and a four cylinder 1.2-litre 84PS 'Kappa' Mpi powerplant. Both engines can be had with either five-speed manual transmission or a (rather jerky) five-speed automated AMT auto gearbox. Both units offer decent pulling power by class standards - 96Nm in the 1.0-litre and 118Nm in the 1.2. Maximum speed in the 1.0-litre version is 97mph and the rest to 62mph sprint in the manual variant occupies 14.8s. There are a few things you want to tick off as soon as you get yourself seated behind the wheel of a good citycar. The first is visibility. If you're going to be jinking from lane to lane, you need great all-round sightlines. This i10 scores well in that regard, with good mirrors, windscreen pillars that aren't too obtrusive and a fairly high seat height. This MK3 model's reduced beltline at the front (11mm lower) and rear of the vehicle (13mm lower) provides drivers with a better view of the road on both sides, as well as a sleeker design. In combination with less C-pillar obscuration, now 11.9-degrees and down from 13.1-degrees, drivers have better visibility when performing parking manoeuvres. At the top of the range lies the flagship model, the i10 N Line. Here, you get the 1.0-litre Gdi three cylinder turbo engine from the larger i20 supermini, complete with 100PS and 172Nm of pulling power. If you don't mind paying supermini money for this top variant, you'll find that it'll deliver you quite as much spark as you'll need from a car of this kind. And, thank goodness, it only comes with the 5-speed manual gearbox.

Design and Build

As part of this update, Hyundai has given this little citycar what it calls 'a sportier stance' but if you happen to be familiar with this third generation i10 design, it's the lighting changes you're likely to notice most. The inner part of the multi-face reflector headlamps, as well as the front and rear LED signature, have been redesigned. The front LED Day Running Lights have been integrated into the wide front grille, which features a new honeycomb mesh design. Additionally, the rear LED-combined lights now display an 'H' on the horizontal tailgate line. And this model also features newly designed 15-inch alloy wheels. There are 16-inchers on the i10 N Line' variant, which gets bespoke bumpers, inserts, and red touches. Inside in the mainstream i10, there are now blue mood lamps in the front seats. A new colour package, the Purple Package, aims at extroverts, with tartan fabric seats featuring vertical purple lines, as well as purple touches in the stitching and air vents. Grey touchpoints with a purple sheen, as seen in the crash pad and lower central console, aim to add extra style. On the 'N Line' version, the backs of the seats feature triple red line fabric. For both versions, the 8-inch centre screen continues from before, but there's a new 4.2-inch LCD instrument cluster. It's as spacious as before of course. This i10 was always a good pick if you wanted a citycar with an interior nearly as big as a supermini. Hyundai reckons that a couple of big adults will now be quite comfortable in the rear - an achievement for a car of this kind. And, at a pinch, you might even fit a third person in too. Out back, as before, there's a decent 252-litre boot, which remains class-leadingly big. By contrast, a Volkswagen up! offers 251-litres, so Hyundai just squeaks in above the class benchmark. It's 1,050-litres with the rear bench folded.

Market and Model

Pricing starts at around £16,000, which is well over double what the first generation version of this car cost when it debuted back in 2007. Your wage slip probably hasn't become 100 per cent bigger in that time but c'est la vie. Anyway, that base figure applies to the base 'Advance' level of trim. Many will stretch to mid-range 'Premium' spec costing around £1,300 more. Either way, there's £650 extra to pay if you want the optional AMT 5-speed auto gearbox with this car. The four cylinder 1.2 MPi engine costs an £800 premium over the 1.0-litre unit - and again with that, the AMT auto is £650 more. Even the base 'Advance' model gets a DAB radio with an 8-inch central display, now with wireless 'Apple CarPlay' and 'Android Auto' smartphone-mirroring. Plus there's Bluetooth, air conditioning, electric windows, a leather steering wheel and gear lever, electric mirror adjustment and cruise control. The i10 also now comes as standard with more Hyundai 'Smart Sense' safety features. Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) for 'City', 'Interurban', and 'Pedestrian' has also been expanded to include 'Cyclist'. FCA helps detect and avoid potential accidents with obstacles ahead. Lane Following Assist (LFA) uses steering control to help the car stay in the current lane of travel. Rear Occupant Alert (ROA) reminds the driver with a message in the cluster if the rear door had been opened during the journey - to prevent anyone or anything in the rear seat from being left behind. We should also mention the top 'N Line' model, which costs from just over £18,000 and only comes with Hyundai's 1.0-litre T-GDI 3 cylinder turbo petrol engine. Here, exterior design enhancements include unique bumpers and grille giving a dynamic look that space supposed to have been inspired by Hyundai's engagement in motorsport. And 'N Line' buyers also get exclusive 16-inch alloy wheels, plus an i10 sign in red font, as well as a skid plate and diffuser.

Cost of Ownership

The i10 shouldn't cost much to run. Let's get to the WLTP figures. The 1.0-litre three cylinder MPi manual variant in base 'Advance' form manages 54.3mpg on the combined cycle and 119g/km of CO2 emissions. For the 1.0-litre AMT auto with 'Advance' trim, you're looking at 51.4mpg and a 126g/km CO2 figure. For the four cylinder 1.2-litre variant, it's 52.3mpg and 124g/km for the manual model and 49.6mpg and 129g/km for the AMT auto. There'll be a fractional reduction in the figures just quoted if you opt for the 'Premium' level of trim with its larger 16-inch wheels. And obviously, the top 1.0 T-Gdi turbo 'N Line' sporting variant will be a fraction less frugal still; think 52.3mpg and 123g/km. The Idle Stop and Go (ISG) is a standard feature for all powertrains, which contributes to lower fuel consumption, lower CO2 emissions and higher efficiency. The fuel savings of using the ISG are especially apparent when driving in urban areas, as the ISG automatically switches off the engine when the car comes to a halt. Satisfied owners will tell you that the i10 proposition is about a whole lot more than just a five year warranty with a car thrown in for good measure, but there's no doubt that the comprehensive after-sales package does remain a major attraction for city segment customers. It's a really good unlimited mileage deal that also includes annual vehicle health checks and roadside assistance to add peace of mind.

Summary

Having seen off many of its main segment rivals, this improved MK3 model i10 looks set to consolidate its strong position in the citycar segment. Try one of these and it's genuinely hard to imagine why you'd want to pay a lot more for a Corsa-sized supermini. This little Hyundai gives you almost as much rear passenger room and boot space but will cost less to run and will be easier to park. Now that its cabin has been slightly upgraded, you don't even feel too much like you've bought into a budget-segment car either. In summary, citycars have evolved. These used to be models people went for because they had to. Now, so often, they're little runabouts customers own out of choice. For all the industry plaudits the affordable little first and second generation i10 models received, they weren't cars you'd ever have felt especially joyful about owning. But specified correctly, this improved third generation version might be.

Body Glass

Electric front windows

Electric rear windows

1 speed non intermittent rear windscreen wiper

Front intermittent wipers

Privacy glass - Rear windows and tailgate

Heated rear window

Brakes

Brake assist function

Hill start assist control (HAC)

Electronic stability control

Traction control

Anti-lock brake system (ABS)

Carpets/Rugs

Floor mats

Communication

eCall emergency call system

Bluetooth connectivity with voice recognition

Apple car play/Android Auto

Wireless charging pad

Roadside assistance

Driver Aids

Lane follow assist

Lane departure warning system with lane keep assist - LKAS

Intelligent speed limit assist

Power assisted steering

Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) - Pedestrian/Cyclist

Driver attention alert system

Rear parking sensors

Front USB-C charging and USB-A data

Rear view camera with guidelines

Bluelink mobile remote connectivity

Cruise control

Driver Convenience

Start/Stop function

Tailgate

Driver Information

12.5" touchscreen centre console display audio with navigation, mapcare and live services

Full-width 4.2" LCD instrument cluster

Trip computer

Driving Mirrors

Body coloured door mirrors

Indicator light on door mirrors

Electric folding door mirrors

Electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors

Entertainment

Steering wheel audio, phone and cruise controls

Rear USB-C device charger

2 front/2 rear speakers

Exterior Body Features

Body coloured bumpers

Body colour door handles

Rear roof spoiler with integrated LED brake light

Black finish on B pillars

Front grille in glossy black

Rear side wing doors

Flat metal emblem

Exterior Lights

LED DRLs diamond mesh design

Headlights inner with Black Blade design

High beam assist

Front fog lights

Halogen bi-function headlights

Heating/Cooling/Ventilation

Air conditioning

Interior Features

12v power outlet - front

Cloth upholstery

Glove compartment

Heated steering wheel

Rear door pockets

Front door pockets

Leather multifunction steering wheel

Height adjustable steering column

Bottle holders in front/rear doors + front centre console

Interior Lights

Auto light control

Cabin and luggage compartment interior lighting

Front LED blue mood lighting

Safety

Airbags - front, front side and curtain airbags

Front and rear seatbelt reminder

Autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with forward collision warning system

Passenger airbag deactivate switch

Tyre pressure monitoring system

3x3 point rear seatbelts

Childproof rear door locks

Front seatbelt pretensioners

Seats

Heated front seats

60/40 split folding flat to floor rear seats

Single front passenger seat

Vertical adjustment rear head restraints

Isofix child seat preparation

3 seat bench in 2nd row

Front Head Restraints - Vertical and Horizontal Adjustment

Driver's seat height adjustment

Security

Immobiliser

Rear occupant alert

Remote central locking

Speed sensitive auto door locking

Second remote key

Smart key with motion sensor

Perimeter alarm

Vanity Mirrors

Driver + passenger vanity mirrors

Driver/passenger sunvisors with ticket holders

Wheels - Alloy

16" alloy wheels

Wheels - Spare

Tyre repair kit

Emissions - ICE

Standard Euro Emissions: EURO 6

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Comb: 120

Engine and Drive Train

Cylinders - Stroke (mm): 84

Gears: 5 SPEED

Transmission: MANUAL

Compression Ratio: 11.0:1

Engine Layout: FRONT TRANSVERSE

Catalytic Convertor: No

Fuel Delivery: MULTI POINT FUEL INJECTION

Camshaft: DOHC

Number of Valves: 12

Cylinder Layout: IN-LINE

Cylinders: 3

Cylinders - Bore (mm): 71

CC: 998

Fuel Consumption - ICE

WLTP - MPG - Medium: 58.9

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Comb: 5.2

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Extra High: 5.7

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - High: 4.5

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Medium: 4.8

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Low: 6.4

WLTP - MPG - Comb: 54.3

WLTP - MPG - Extra High: 49.6

WLTP - MPG - High: 62.8

WLTP - MPG - Low: 44.1

General

Generation Mark: 3

Vehicle Homologation Class: M1

Badge Engine CC: 1.0

Badge Power: 63

NCAP Overall Rating - Effective February 09: 3

NCAP Safety Assist %: 59

NCAP Pedestrian Protection %: 52

NCAP Child Occupant Protection %: 75

NCAP Adult Occupant Protection %: 69

Timing Belt Interval Frequency - Months: N

Insurance Group 1 - 50 Effective January 07: 3E

Coin Series: Premium [Nav]

Coin Description: N

Did at least one aspect of this vehicle's safety give cause for concern?: 0

Timing Belt Interval Mileage: N

Based On ID: N

Special Order: 0

Special Edition: 0

Performance

Engine Torque - LBS.FT: 69

Engine Power - BHP: 63

Engine Power - PS: No

Engine Power - KW: 47

Engine Torque - NM: 93

Engine Torque - MKG: 9.5

Test Cycles

Emissions Test Cycle: WLTP

RDE Certification Level: RDE 2

Tyres

Tyre Size Rear: 195/45 R16

Tyre Size Spare: TYRE REPAIR KIT

Wheel Type: 16" ALLOY

Tyre Size Front: 195/45 R16

Wheel Style: N

Alloys?: No

Space Saver?: 0

Weight and Capacities

No. of Seats: 5

Exterior Body Features

Metallic paint

Special solid paint

Additional pearlescent paint

Interior Features

Metallic grey dashboard finisher with Black air vent rings, black/light grey C-pad and light silver garnish console

Paint - Metallic

Metallic - Lucid lime

Paint - Pearlescent

Pearl - Phantom black

Pearl - Dragon red

Pearl - Aurora grey

Pearl - Mangrove green

Pearl - Meta blue

Pearl - Lumen grey

Pearl - Vibrant blue

Paint - Solid

Special solid paint - Atlas white

Trim - Cloth

Cloth - Shale grey

Cloth - Black, Tartan design with purple stitching and vertical purple lines