Hyundai Australia are currently entrenched in building the business case for bringing the Hyundai i10 to Australia. Having just spent a week chasing the Rallye Monte Carlo WRC i20 around the Cote D'azur in the Hyundai i10, Carshowroom.com.au can confirm Hyundai has winner on their hands.
The Hyundai i10 is a model designed, engineered and manufactured in Europe. If the Hyundai i10 makes it to Australia it will bring a European styled and built supermini at a price that other brands can only dream of.
Hyundai i10 Overview
Like the rest of the Hyundai passenger range Carshowroom.com.au expects the Hyundai i10 to land in Australia in three trim levels Active, Elite and Premium.
Hyundai have been at the forefront of delivering cars with great levels of standard equipment and the Hyundai i10 is no different.
In Europe the Hyundai i10 includes steering wheel-mounted cruise control, speed limiter, heated leather steering wheel and front seats, hill assist control, Smart key with engine start/stop button, LED running lights, as well as full automatic climate control.
Mid-specification i10's, include features that young buyers expect, such as front and rear power windows, remote central locking and height adjustable driver’s seat.
The base model includes central locking, trip computer, daytime running lights and a high level of active and passive safety.
Hyundai i10 Engine
The Hyundai i10 employs two engines from the ‘Kappa’ line-up, entry is 1.0-litre, three-cylinder petrol engine and the more powerful 1.2-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine. Drive to the front wheels is through five-speed manual or four-speed automatic gearboxes.
The 1.0-litre engine produces 49kW @5,500rpm and 94Nm of torque from 3,500rpm, fuel economy is an impressive 4.7-litres per 100kms.
The 1.2-litre engine produces 64kW @6,000rpm and 120Nm of torque from 4,000rpm, the more powerful engine doesn't come at cost to fuel economy with only a 0.2-litre increase to 4.9-litres per 100kms.
Hyundai i10 Interior
Jump in to the supportive drivers seat and you are meet with a dashboard that is well laid out, the stereo system is easy to use and placed at the right height in the middle of the centre console. The multi-function steering wheel could be adjusted for height but not reach.
In highly trafficked areas Hyundai have used 'soft touch' materials and areas not likely to be felt the use of hard plastics has been used.
Passenger space in the i10 is amazing, we easily sat four adults in the car on reasonably long journeys and not once did anyone one complain. Hyundai have delivered decent storage space with cubbyhole, big bottle holders in both doors and cup holders in the centre console.
Luggage space with the rear 60/40 seats in place is an adequate 252-litres, once the seats are folded flat the cargo space jumps to a very usable 1046-litres.
Hyundai i10 Exterior & Styling
Having spent considerable time on the roads in Europe we think that i10 is one of the bester looking cars when compared to it's competitors. Some even say that the rear of the i10 pays a little homage the BMW 1-series to it.
The i10 measures 3665 millimetres in length making it one of the longest car in its segment. Also the Hyundai i10 is also one of the widest models in the supermini segment measuring 1660mm, giving the i10 great cabin space.
Upfront LED day running lights made the i10 standout on the road,
Hyundai i10 On the Road
In it's natural habit the Hyundai i10 performed extremely well in and around town, soaking up minor bumps and secondary urban roads. Once we got out on to some country roads the i10 was a little slow in dealing with larger pot holes. However we expect Hyundai Australia to enhance the i10 with a local tuning and suspension programme tailored to our conditions.
We punished the Hyundai i10 and found the performance and engagement to be first rate. Yes, if you push too hard in to a corner the car will understeer before the ESC kicks in, yes you will have some body roll through corners but which car in the segment doesn't?
Road noise levels inside the cabin are remarkably low, tyre and wing mirror noise barely penetrated the cabin, the only really noise came via the engine once the rev's nudged past the 4,500rpm mark.
Hyundai i10 Challenges
The lack of reach on the steering wheel makes it difficult to find the right seating position to start with, however after a few goes you will settle in to the correct position.
Hyundai i10 Competitors
If the Hyundai i10 does make our shores it will be in up against both European and Japanese rivals.
Expect the Hyundai i10 to be priced around the $12,5000, this price point pits it perfectly against the Nissan Micra priced from $13,490, Mitsubishi Mirage $12,990 and the Volkswagen Up! from $13,990
Hyundai i10 Verdict
We spent five days driving the Hyundai i10 around the south-east of France, across conditions the car is unlikely ever to see in Australia. We put the small inner city Hyundai i10 through some very high-speed motor ways and tough mountain loops, some of the loops were actually used in the WRC and the Hyundai i10 performed impeccably.
The Hyundai i10 is right up there with the best in its class, we think that Hyundai i10 just might be one of the best cars Hyundai has ever produced. With a plethora of cars due to arrive over the next few years, Hyundai look set to continue its rise up the sales charts.
