Item: Used Hyundai i10 Hatchback 2008 - 2013
Rating: 4
Author: Steve Huntingford

If you would like a badge with more kudos than <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/hyundai">Hyundai</a>'s, it's be hard to ignore the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/up/hatchback/review/n9">Volkswagen Up</a>, or its sister models, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/seat/mii/hatchback/review/n11">Seat Mii</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/citigo/hatchback/review/n10">Skoda Citigo</a>. 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 <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/toyota/aygo/hatchback/used-review/n853">Toyota Aygo</a>, meanwhile, is similarly frugal but offers less luggage space while head room is compromised in the rear, and the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/picanto/hatchback/review/n58">Kia Picanto</a>, while not great to drive, offers a similar experience to the i10 with a longer, seven-year warranty.

Find a used Hyundai i10 in the What Car? Classifieds <a href="http://www.whatcar.com/classifieds/used-cars/hyundai/i10">here</a>

For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter <a href="https://pages.haymarket.com/whatcar/wcar-form.html">here</a>

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All three engines appear to be standing up well with no particular problems rearing their ugly heads, although some owners have noted engine noise when starting from cold after not having used the car for a while, probably due to the oil draining away from the hydraulic lifters.

Of more concern are reports that clutches can be somewhat fragile, with many owners complaining either of clutch judder or clutches becoming worn out and slipping at lower than expected mileages. Check the clutch operation carefully when road-testing a potential purchase – the pedal should not bite too high and second gear in particular should engage cleanly. Proving premature clutch wear to be a manufacturing defect can be notoriously difficult, so don’t assume this will be a warranty repair if your car is still covered by the five-year warranty.

Stereos have also proven problematic, either refusing to remember stored radio stations or failing altogether, and rear brakes can seize after a lack of use on earlier models.

Hyundai as a manufacturer scored an above-average nineth out of 31 car brands in the 2018 What Car? reliability survey – a fine result. Generally speaking, it has very few faults and owners are more than satisfied.

If you would like to see the full reliability list, head to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2018-what-car-reliability-survey/n17798">What Car? Reliability Survey</a>&nbsp;pages for more information.

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Hatchback

Hyundai has transformed itself from a maker of oddball hatchbacks that sold in small numbers in the UK, to a major rival to the likes of Ford, Vauxhall and Volkswagen.

The Korean firm’s Ioniq Hybrid is particularly impressive, having beaten the trend-setting Toyota Prius when we tested the cars back to back.

Meanwhile, at the extremes of the Hyundai range you find the tiny i10 city car – a four-time What Car? award winner – and the stylish yet family-friendly Santa Fe SUV.

As a bonus, all of these cars come with the reassurance of a five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty, whereas most of Hyundai’s rivals offer only three years and 60,000 miles of cover.

HYUNDAI

With a practical and roomy interior, low running costs and a pleasant driving experience, the Hyundai i10 makes a great used city car.

Used Hyundai i10 Hatchback 2008 - 2013 

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.

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With a practical and roomy interior, low running costs and a pleasant driving experience, the Hyundai i10 makes a great used city car.

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.

<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/car-valuation/">Check the value of a used Hyundai i10 with What Car? Valuations</a>

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 <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/hyundai">Hyundai</a> 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

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<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Clever interior space </li> <li>Quiet and comfortable ride </li> <li>Good visibility </li> <li>Plenty of safety tech </li> <li>Low running costs </li> <li>Outstanding value for money</li></ul>

City cars are all about diminutive size and manoeuvrability because they invariably spend most of their time on our increasingly crowded urban streets.

They do need to be big enough for a couple of adults, with back seats that’ll suffice for occasional use by people – or as a dumping ground for a couple of large shopping bags – but they must also be small enough to nip in and out of traffic, and squeeze into tight parking spaces.

Out-and-out acceleration isn’t crucial, but there must be enough oomph in the lower gears to scoot into gaps that appear in the traffic. Running costs should be low, too.

Fortunately there’s never been a better line-up of city cars on offer. Kia's Picanto mixes a neat, functional interior with tidy handling and a surprisingly big boot, while the Skoda Citigo and Suzuki Celerio are cheaper and even more frugal.

City

Being a city car, you should check any potential purchase carefully for parking damage, dings in the doors and wings, and scuffs on the bumpers. And don’t forget to examine wheels, wheel trims and tyre sidewalls for any kerb damage sustained during ham-fisted parking manoeuvres.

There have been a few isolated reports of rust spots on early&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/hyundai">Hyundai</a>&nbsp;i10s, so watch out for this on any prospective purchase, although it’s by no means common.

While the i10 is no luxury car, many models do sport a surprising number of gadgets, so take your time to check that they all work. Does the air conditioning blow cold, does the central locking work properly from the remote and do the rear electric windows work?

Like many city cars, the i10 may well have been used extensively on the school run and to transport children around town, so check the rear seat area hasn’t suffered unduly and that the seats haven’t been damaged or marked by the careless installation of child seats.

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&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/toyota/aygo/hatchback/used-review/n853">Toyota Aygo</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/picanto/hatchback/review/n58">Kia Picanto</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/citigo/hatchback/review/n10">Skoda Citigo</a>.

The i10 found favour for its excellent blend of space, road manners, attractive pricing and low running costs, and was backed up by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/hyundai">Hyundai</a>’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.

<a href="http://www.whatcar.com/classifieds/used-cars/hyundai/i10">Find a used Hyundai i10 in the What Car? Classifieds here</a>

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Used Hyundai i10 Hatchback 2008 - 2013  review

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Looking for alternatives to the used Hyundai i10 2008 - 2013? The expert What Car? review team guide you through some great options.

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.,Find a used Hyundai i10 in the What Car? Classifieds hereFor all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter here 

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