Hyundai i10 review

It feels decently roomy inside the i10 – compared with previous models at least – the wheelbase grew by 40mm with the third generation, and it’s also 20mm wider and 20mm lower. Fitting a couple of adults in the back isn’t too much of a squeeze, although they won’t thank you for taking them on a long journey. Likewise the 252-litre boot is a decent size for the class.

Said boot gets a split floor, which is a nice touch, and in the cabin itself you get big door bins and a large glovebox with a handy little shelf above it. The i10 is a narrow car, so there’s no storage between the driver and passenger seats (be prepared to accidentally grab your front passenger’s knee rather than the gear lever), but there is space for your phone in the cubbyhole under the air conditioning controls. There are convenient USBs, and on high end i10s this is where you’ll find the optional wireless charger. 

Material quality reflects the i10’s size and price – the cabin plastics are hard but solid and not really tinny or scratchy. The bits of the interior you touch the most, the steering wheel and gearstick, are finished in leather as standard. It’s a little thing, but it makes a big difference. 

The dashboard is attractive enough to look at with a bit of texture, especially if you go for the brighter interior, and it’s all very easy to use. You can appreciate that Hyundai has put a little effort in here. Most i10s get an 8.0-inch touchscreen with smartphone mirroring – the graphics are sharp, and a fast processor means swiping through menus is almost smartphone quick. You can add navigation to the infotainment set-up, but it’s not worth the bother when you can use Apple or Android apps easily. 

It’s a comfortable car, the i10. But the driving position isn’t the best – the seat itself is fine, if a bit flat, but it’s set just a little too high and the steering wheel doesn’t adjust for reach.