Hyundai i10 – a real little big car

AS a general rule there are certain types of journey you wouldn’t have top of your list when driving a city car.

Like blasting along the motorway to make a deadline in another town – though those last few miles round narrow, congested streets wouldn’t be too bad.

To the latest generation Hyundai i10, smallest of the Korean brand’s line-up, it’s more a case of taking things in its stride.

So much so that you forget the size – and price – of vehicle you’re driving. That’s how accomplished the i10 has become, a real little big car.

And it’s all down to the car’s dynamics and refinement, from the impressive traction and solid feel on the road to the effective sound-proofing and poise in its slower paces.

Two petrol engines – a new 1.0-litre three cylinder unit producing 66PS and a 1.2-litre with 87PS – are up for grabs in a choice of four trim grades with prices from £8,995 for a 1.0 five-speed manual S model.

The tested variant in high spec Premium SE trim ups the ante considerably to £12,800 and while it has plenty of kit to attract buyers it’s not where the real value lies.

What buyers of any version of the i10 are getting though is a car that’s extremely well built and looks stylish.

According to Hyundai, design is currently the number one reason why European customers choose to buy its cars.

And in the case of the i10 it has what the company calls a ‘cascading grille’ showing off a downward tapering shape that is becoming the family identity for Hyundai models of the future.

Inside, everything is simply laid out, the two-tone cloth seats are comfortable and there’s plenty of room up front.

On the downside, rear space is very limited – a real tight squeeze in the centre position – and despite scooped out front seats backs, is almost non-existent if the front seats need to be slid back.

However, the boot is deep and surprisingly useful for the size of car and to keep things looking bright there’s a choice of nine solid, metallic and pearl finishes for the paintwork.

Every version comes with the likes of electronic stability control and vehicle stability management, plus a tyre pressure monitoring system, seatbelt reminders and automatic central locking.

Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are included in the Premium SE spec as well as a refreshingly simple to use navigation system with a seven-year free subscription to LIVE Services.

Lively around town and deceptively swift when you give it some revs on faster roads, the i10 really is a treat to drive and should comfortable return an average 48-49 miles per gallon.