Introduction

The i10 is to Hyundai what the Swift is to Maruti Suzuki or the Nano to Tata Motors; a segment defining model that went on to change the brand’s perception in the minds of Indian buyers for the better. When it was introduced in 2007, the i10 was not only a successor to the ageing Santro but a genuinely global product with good build quality and oodles of appeal.

Eight years on, the Hyundai i10 still makes for a convincing family hatch in the used car market, with early examples ranging between Rs 1.8 to Rs 2.8 lakh.

Why I'd buy it

Why I’d buy it

The i10 is an urban-friendly small car in true sense. With its diminutive footprint, thin A-pillars and a fairly large glasshouse, the i10 is the perfect tool to thread through city traffic. Add the light steering and the dashboard-mounted gear lever into the mix and you end up with a car that’s properly user friendly for the kind of roads that we have.

At 865kg, the i10 is among the lightest hatchbacks in its class. That said, it features a surprisingly well-built cabin that has stood the test of time. So finding a car with a rattle-free cabin shouldn’t be as much of a hassle compared to say a similarly old Maruti Suzuki Swift.

Why I'd avoid it

While the ride quality is adequately comfortable at city speeds, the i10 tends to get noticeably bouncy when the pace is increased. Like all old Hyundais, the i10 bobs and pitches a fair amount over undulated roads and on the highways. Thankfully, the bigger Grand i10 is a lot more composed at high speeds.

The other downside to living with the i10 is the general lack of zest from the original 1.1-litre iRDE engine. Taken off the Santro, the engine makes just 66bhp and as a result, has to work relatively harder to keep up with other motorists. And it isn’t a particularly refined motor either so you often end up restraining it by upshifting early and letting the mid-range do all the work. In this regard, the bigger 79bhp 1.2-litre Kappa unit is a lot more responsive and allows the i10 to sprint to 100kmph from rest in just 12 seconds.

My favourite version

Hyundai introduced the i10 with several trim levels and that means one can pick up a used example from a variety of models with additional features, a bigger engine option or even an automatic gearbox. Our favourite version though remains the Sportz 1.2 Kappa2 (O) which gets a driver side airbag, audio system with Bluetooth connectivity, steering wheel mounted audio controls, central locking and power windows as standard. This version also gets the 1.2-litre Kappa engine that offers decent pep for daily driving.

Quick facts

Price (used): Rs 1.8 to Rs 3.8 lakh

Engines: 1.1-litre four-cylinder petrol, 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrol

Gearbox: 5-speed manual, 4-speed automatic

Fuel Efficiency (ARAI): 11 to 13kmpl