Car of the Year Awards 2021: Best small car for the city

What makes a great city car? Compact dimensions certainly help, so while the Hyundai i10 isn’t as minuscule as a Smart Fortwo, it’ll squeeze into spaces a Ford Fiesta could only dream of. Then there’s the great visibility when you’re looking straight ahead or to the sides, with a rear-view camera fitted as standard to our chosen SE Connect trim to help out when reversing.

When you want to give more than one friend or family member a lift, the i10 rises to the challenge better than the closely related Kia Picanto, because it offers a bit more head and leg room in the rear seats. Even a couple of six-footers won’t grumble about sitting in the back – a remarkable feat in a car that takes up so little space on the road.

This particular i10 doesn’t even feel out of its depth when you need to head out of town, thanks to a 1.2-litre petrol engine that has enough oomph for stress-free motorway journeys. Ride comfort is impressive at all speeds – even compared with many of the larger cars in this class.

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