Used Hyundai i10 Hatchback 2008 - 2013 review

When the Hyundai i10 was introduced in 2008, it represented a step change in quality, performance and desirability for its maker and was immediately popular with buyers of city cars, such as the Toyota Aygo, Kia Picanto and Skoda Citigo.

The i10 found favour for its excellent blend of space, road manners, attractive pricing and low running costs, and was backed up by Hyundai’s excellent five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty.

There are three petrol engines to choose from – a 1.0-litre three-cylinder and two four-cylinder units with capacities of 1.1 and 1.2 litres. All models get air-con, electric front windows, central locking and a six-speaker stereo.

With a practical five-door bodystyle, getting in and out of the i10 is easy, and it’s even possible to squeeze three people in the rear for short trips. Despite its diminutive size, luggage space isn’t bad for a car in this class, while with the rear seats folded the i10 is a surprisingly practical proposition.

The i10 is also pretty good to drive, offering a decent ride and the sort of handling that is safe and reassuring, if not particularly inspiring. What’s more, it doesn’t feel at all out of its depth on long journeys.

A facelift in 2011 resulted in the 1.1 engine being dropped and the arrival of the Blue variant, which was powered by an emissions-busting 99g/km version of the three-cylinder 1.0-litre engine. At the same time, there were some exterior and interior enhancements, but the changes weren’t so dramatic as to make a pre-facelift model less attractive as a used buy.

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If you’re on a really tight budget and don’t mind an i10 with a high mileage, you can buy one for as little as £1,000, but upping your initial outlay by another £500 will get you a sub-100,000-mile (just) example that would be a much better prospect.

That said, as most i10s have been used predominantly as city cars, mileages tend to be lower than average; for £2,500, you’ll be able to buy a 2010 1.2 model in the higher-spec Comfort or Style trim with 30,000-40,000 miles on the clock.

£4,000 will get you a facelifted 1.2 from 2013. If you want the 1.0 Blue model, prices start at £3,000 for a 2011 model and rise to £4,200 for a very late model that has covered less than 30,000 miles.

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That depends on the engine size and gearbox. For example, the worst offenders are the 1.1 and 1.2 models equipped with the automatic gearbox, costing £130 a year in road tax.

However, at the other end of the scale is the 1.0 Blue, which attracts a zero rate. Sitting in between are the vast majority of i10s, which will cost £20 or £30 depending on the model.

All i10s are pretty fuel efficient, with the two auto models again the exception to the rule, dipping below 50mpg, according to official figures.

Manual 1.1 and pre-facelift 1.2 models have official figures of mid to high-50mpg, while the facelifted 1.2 records an impressive 61.4mpg and the 1.0 Blue 67.3mpg. As these are official figures, they’re not representative of what you’ll get realistically, especially if you do most of your driving in town, but 45mpg is achievable.

Servicing won’t break the bank, with a base service costing from £99, an interim service at around £159 and a full service from £219, all at a franchised dealer. These will throw in 12 months of roadside assistance, even with the least expensive interim service.

There are five different trim levels to consider as well as engine options, but unless you’re really after the cheapest possible running costs, we’d be looking at the 1.2-litre-engined Hyundai i10, preferably in its post-2011 facelift guise.

It’s almost as frugal as the 1.0-litre, and as it’s significantly more powerful, it’s a better performer, too, especially on the motorway. Avoid the 1.1-litre model, however, as this engine is neither as smooth nor as flexible as the other options, and the 1.0-litre is more efficient too.

All i10s were well equipped but when it comes to used pricing there isn’t a huge differentiation between the standard Classic trim level and the plusher Comfort or Style models. All cars got air conditioning and with front and side airbags, but Comfort added alloy wheels, electric mirrors, front fog lights, height-adjustable driver’s seat, electric rear windows and remote central locking.

The range-topping Style added an electric sunroof and heated front seats to the Comfort’s already impressive spec. On facelifted cars the Comfort trim level changed its name to ‘Active’ but offered the same equipment.

Our favourite Hyundai i10: 1.2 Active

If you would like a badge with more kudos than Hyundai's, it's be hard to ignore the Volkswagen Up, or its sister models, the Seat Mii and Skoda Citigo. All have smarter interiors than the Hyundai and better to drive, but the i10 is less expensive and should be cheaper to run, too.

The Toyota Aygo, meanwhile, is similarly frugal but offers less luggage space while head room is compromised in the rear, and the Kia Picanto, while not great to drive, offers a similar experience to the i10 with a longer, seven-year warranty.

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