Test drive Hyundai i10 1.2 MPi 87 CV: the humility of doing things well

In the road test section we are going to analyse a very curious car because I admit it has been winning me over day by day. Perhaps I had in mind other Hyundai models that I might have found more interesting to test than a Hyundai i10, but after a week with it I recognise that the level of practicality of this city car is very high. The unit we tested is the most fully equipped Hyundai i10, with the 1.2 MPi 87 CV petrol engine and Tecno trim (with the Tecno Plus pack), although the i10 starts at 8,540 euros.

Design: a refreshed exterior and an interior squeezed to the maximum

Despite being a segment A car, that is, pure city car, the design of these models has been progressing and is increasingly eye-catching and, above all, youthful. The i10 has received an update that suits the front end very well, the new daytime LED lights and the redesigned front bumper give it a sporty touch that combines with the new headlights (although the lighting could be better).

Both the rear and the side profile have barely changed, standing out the new alloy wheel design and the redesigned rear bumper. Its small size (3.66 m) does not prevent a spacious interior compared with other models in the same segment. In fact, the first thing that surprises inside is the space and practicality, since in the front seats there is more than enough room for both feet and head, and the width stands out especially (despite its reduced dimensions). The two-tone interior combination gives it an eye-catching touch, while the materials used have more than correct fit and finish; hard plastics abound but they are all pleasant to the touch and of decent quality.

The driving position is slightly raised, with good visibility; the steering wheel can be adjusted both for reach and height, but the angle of the seat cushion, slightly tilted, detracts from comfort. As it is a city car it has no armrests (common in the segment) and overall, behind the wheel, it is a comfortable car.

In the rear seats two adults can travel correctly, with enough space for feet and headroom. Moreover, the central tunnel is not too high, which gives more legroom, especially if a person travels in the rear middle seat. The doors have pockets to leave a half-litre water bottle or some other object.

The boot has a capacity of 252 litres, and considering the size of the car it is a good figure (a Mini 3-door has a boot of 211 litres), although the loading lip is slightly high. In terms of storage, it has a main glovebox of considerable size and storage spaces in the central tunnel where you can keep several objects, in addition to two cup holders and door pockets where a half-litre bottle and even a small notebook fit. You can tell they have made the most of every nook and cranny of the interior; there are mid-size saloons with fewer or less practical storage spaces.

Engine and performance

The Hyundai i10 relies on two engines: the 1.0 three-cylinder with 66 CV and the 1.2 four-cylinder with 87 CV. This reliable 1.2 MPI 87 CV engine is more than sufficient to move the i10 with agility and ease, being smooth and progressive when gaining speed. That said, you need to use the five-speed gearbox a lot to get the most out of the engine, but without doubt it is more pleasant to use than a three-cylinder engine.

Below 2,000 rpm there is no power, and if we have to overtake or merge we will not feel its 87 CV until the needle nears 4,000 rpm, although once you get used to playing with the gear lever, the engine can move the Hyundai i10 with spirit and ease, more than we imagined before starting this test.

The five-speed gearbox is well spaced and a sixth gear is not necessary even on motorways, because at 120 km/h the engine turns at around 3,000 rpm, a good figure for motorway driving, maintaining a correct response and very acceptable consumption.

Handling

Agility is the characteristic that best defines the behaviour of the Hyundai i10 with this 87 CV petrol engine. At first it may seem lazy, especially if you are used to typical turbo engines, but as the days and kilometres pass with the i10 you realise it is a very agile car; you only need to play with the gearbox to get the most out of each of those horses.

The ideal environment for getting around is the city. With its small dimensions and the 87 CV engine, it is not only agile but also practical when manoeuvring or parking, thanks also to the feel of its steering. Its engine offers an extra degree of reliability in this kind of environment (it has no turbo, no feared diesel particulate filters, and it is not pushed to the limit to deliver its 87 CV). On the road it moves with relative ease, low consumption and maintains reasonable stability; we will only notice that we lack horsepower when overtaking (at that point you have to rev it to obtain its maximum torque of 120 Nm). Even when tackling a winding road, it surprises with its agility and composure, always with predictable reactions and a very decent cornering ability for a segment A model.

On the motorway, after a journey of more than 400 km, we found that it moves with more ease and comfort than expected; even the level of acoustic insulation at 120 km/h is more than correct. It is true that to merge or even tackle some prolonged gradient we need to drop a gear (or two, depending on the gradient and how many passengers the car carries), but being able to take the motorway with a pure city car without losing dignity is a point in its favour.

Consumption

The good thing about small engines is consumption; even petrol ones, the i10 is as economical as a diesel engine. On country roads we managed to run at around 4.8 litres per 100 km, and while driving completely carefree the figure rises to 5.5 litres per 100 km. In town, during our usual test loop, it hovers around 6.2 litres per 100 km and finally, on the motorway, average consumption after 400 km was 5.8 litres per 100 km.

Equipment

We always begin the review of equipment from the point of view of safety. The Hyundai i10 achieved four -out of five- stars in the EuroNCAP crash tests, with a score of 79% for adult occupant protection and 80% for child occupant protection. This is a good result. It is true that it does not have every driver assistance system that would surely help it gain one more star, but looking at the crash-test report it is clear that it is a safe vehicle, despite its size.

From the base trim –Klass– it already comes with front, side and curtain airbags, stability control, a sound system with USB input and two speakers, front electric windows, air conditioning, among other features. The trim with the best value for money in terms of equipment is the Tecno (the one on our unit), which adds LED daytime running lights, LED fog lights, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear lever, four electric windows, Bluetooth, among other features. If you add the Tecno Plus Pack, 14-inch alloy wheels, a touchscreen navigation system with four speakers and automatic climate control are added. The most complete trim, Style, adds automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, keyless start, a sunroof, rear parking sensors, among other features.

The navigation system stands out in the equipment; although it is not transcendental, it is a curious detail that many city cars do not even offer as an option, and it has a correct touch-based operation. The same goes for the sound system, with four speakers when fitted with navigation, but four real speakers, with excellent quality for what one expects, since there are German compacts with 8 standard speakers that distort at lower volume than this Hyundai i10.

On the technology side, besides Bluetooth with steering-wheel controls, you can also use your phone from the navigation screen thanks to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. What is missing is a rear-view camera or sensors, which are only available on the most complete trim in the range.

Prices and personal opinion on the Hyundai i10

The Hyundai i10 starts at 8,540 euros with the 66 CV engine and Klass trim, promotional discount included. Our tested unit, the i10 1.2 MPI 87 CV Tecno, has a price of 9,865 euros, which rises to 10,615 euros with the Tecno Plus Pack added.

The Hyundai i10 is not a model that excites. In fact, I myself had a prejudiced image of the car, an image that changed throughout the test until I came to consider it an excellent and sensible option. Personally I think it is a car modest in its ambitions but whose weak points are hard to find, with a truly good value-for-money equipment ratio (for 10,615 euros it is fully equipped), a vehicle with outstanding practicality that handles very well in all kinds of environments, with more than reasonable interior quality and all kinds of technology on board.

Its ideal habitat is the city and the outskirts of urban areas, where it is agile and even fun in daily traffic. That said, if at some point it is necessary to drive on the motorway or country roads, the i10 responds and lets us get out of any situation with ease, and even the engine, with its 87 CV well used, is not afraid of any type of terrain. For anyone looking for a city car for weekend getaways, practical and spacious, with restrained consumption, an engine that has been thoroughly proven for reliability and a 5-year warranty with no mileage limit, the Hyundai i10 is without doubt an interesting alternative to consider.

Photos | Diego G. Moreira

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