The 1.2-litre engine adds more power to Hyundai’s i10 city car with few discernable drawbacks. Steve Walker reports
Hyundai’s i10 is a well-rounded city car product and city car products look likely to become increasingly popular in the future. With its nimble driving experience and low costs, the i10 is well suited to the modern urban environment and the extra power of the 1.2-litre engine only adds to its appeal.
In the current climate, it doesn’t take a psychic to predict a motoring future that’s very different to the one we know today. Even the briefest bout of crystal ball gazing will show small, economical cars playing a larger role in years to come and we’re already seeing the initiation of that trend. Hyundai’s i10 city car seems to capture the zeitgeist rather well but with a 1.2-litre engine installed, is it enough to paint the future in a positive light?
There’s no question that a 3.5-metre-long car with a 1.2-litre engine isn’t everyone’s idea of automotive nirvana but in the real world where motorists are shedding increasing amounts of cash on the way between A and B, such vehicles are looking more of an attractive option. Hyundai’s traditional strength of producing affordable, uncomplicated cars married to the brand’s more recent strides on the perceived quality front are embodied by the i10 and the 1.2-litre models at the top of the range are tasked with boosting desirability further.
The 1.2-litre 76bhp engine is the powerhouse of the Hyundai i10 range which doesn’t say a great deal for the 1.1-litre engine that sits below it in the hierarchy. Needless to say, performance is not blistering but the 1.2-litre i10 can cover the 0-62mph sprint in 12.8s which is almost three seconds faster than the entry-level car and respectable in the context of the wider city car market. Torque of 118Nm puts the i10 ahead of most equivalently-powered rivals and this, more than its 60mph sprinting ability, makes the i10 1.2 a flexible and lively companion for driving around town. A top speed of 102mph is also well up on the 94mph where the 1.1 tops out and the 1.2 is well capable of keeping up with traffic on motorway jaunts, even if the experience will be on the loud side.
"Hyundai is a brand that’s on the up and the i10 1.2 demonstrates that very succinctly…."
Despite its ability to venture further afield should the need arise, the i10 is definitely at its best around the houses. The modern urban motoring for which the car was designed places a very specific set of demands on a vehicle and the i10 rises to the challenge very well in 1.2-litre form. The manual gearbox which you get plenty of practice with in city traffic is a slick piece of work, with a punchy action to complement the car’s impressive agility. The optional auto ‘box provides the opportunity to rest your left leg but is sometimes slow to respond when faster progress is called for. The steering is quick and well-weighted for urban use while the i10’s 9.2m turning circle will help get you out of (or into) many a tight spot. The disc brakes on all four wheels means the i10 can stop, if not on a sixpence then on a manhole cover.
The interior is the area of the i30 hatchback that most impressed observers. Not because it achieved anything particularly new or groundbreaking but because it managed to ape its leading European rivals so effectively. The i10’s cabin looks to do the same and the design is simple but appealing. The vibrancy and ingenuity that characterises the best small car interiors doesn’t appear to be in evidence but Hyundai looks to have concentrated on getting the fundamentals right. There’s plenty of room inside and the majority of the materials used are of a good quality. There are still elements that hark back to Hyundai’s less salubrious past but in a car of the i10’s price, it would be wrong to complain too vociferously.
The i10’s long wheelbase has been achieved by pushing the wheels right into the corners of the car so as not to increase overall length by too much. At 3,565mm long and 1,595mm wide, the i10 remains usefully compact. It’s actually 166mm shorter than the Toyota Aygo and around 25mm longer than a Fiat Panda. The exterior design is appealing in an unadventurous kind of way. The city car market was once riddled with non-descript wheeled boxes whereas modern offerings tend to lay on the cheeky style as thick as possible and the i10 falls somewhere between these two stools. The gentle curves around the front end work well and the rear is a little sharper with its angles but the overall shape is neatly integrated.
Prices start at £7,545, a premium of around £800 on the entry-level 1.1-litre model. It’s possible to buy the 1.2-litre i10 in Comfort or Style trim and the optional automatic gearbox tags £800 onto the price if you tick that particular box. In typical Korean style, the equipment list is generous whichever trim level you choose. All i10s have air-conditioning and Hyundai’s appealing 5-year warranty but the Comfort models also feature14" alloy wheels, electric door mirrors, remote central locking and front fog lights. Upgrade to the Style model and the alloy wheels are 15" in diameter, there’s an electric sunroof and a rear spoiler makes and appearance. In addition, there’s leather trim for the handbrake, gearlever skirt and steering wheel at this level.
Safety equipment in the i10 is also generous for a city car. Front and side airbags are standard as is an advanced anti-lock braking system and the 1.2-litre cars can also be specified with ESP stability control.
Buyers deciding to step up from the entry-level 1.1-litre i10 benefit not only from the improvement in performance but from fuel economy and emissions that are identical to those of the less powerful car. Combined cycle economy is measured at 56.5mpg and the emissions creep under the 120g/km barrier at 119g/km, making this an extremely affordable vehicle to run.
Hyundai has another major trick up its sleeve in its bid to break into the European market mainstream – a five-year unlimited mileage warranty. This is a major USP in a market where keeping costs down is of paramount importance for the majority of buyers. Only Hyundai’s sister company Kia can match this package and if you’re after peace-of-mind motoring, it will prove a tough one to pass up on.
As time goes on, it seems likely that more and more motorists are going to be forced into smaller and smaller cars. In urban areas particularly, compact, low cost vehicles are better able to ease the growing problems of a congested road network and a rising cost of motoring. For drivers who have become accustomed to larger vehicles, this might seem a nightmare scenario but vehicles like Hyundai’s i10 1.2 should be able to allay some of those fears. The Hyundai may be small but it’s safe and spacious enough for four adults, the running costs are low, there’s a lively driving experience and build quality is good. The Hyundai’s design is short on flair and there are more fashionable options out there but on capability alone, the i10 1.2 is tough to beat at this price.
Hyundai is a brand that’s on the up and the i10 1.2 demonstrates that very succinctly. The car feels well engineered with a fine gearbox and a very competitive engine. It’s also packaged well with a good amount of interior space considering its size. Add in Hyundai’s generous specification as well as the attractive warranty and you have a neat but low key solution to the perils of modern motoring.
Facts At A Glance
CAR: Hyundai i10 1.2
PRICES: £7,545-£7,995 – on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 2
CO2 EMISSIONS: 119g/km
PERFORMANCE: Max Speed 102mph / 0-60mph 12.8s
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (urban) 46.3mpg / (extra urban) 64.2mpg / (combined) 56.5mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: four airbags, ABS
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: length/width/heightmm 3565/1595/1540