The new i10 is small but versatile

A FEW weeks back when writing about the huge Hyundai ix35 I said that Hyundai could claim to be Ireland’s fastest growing car brand.

No doubt some of that success must also be due to the Korean company’s smaller cars like the new i10, which I drove last week.

This is the smallest car in the Hyundai range, but somehow I feel that using a small

‘i’ and the number 10 together doesn’t make for strong branding. I do wish they would use names like Santa Fe and Veloster, which are other cars in the Hyundai range.

But that’s the name they are using and we have to live with it. Really it’s no problem

‘living with’ this neat city car. It would be a great second car for a family, but if your family cannot afford a second car you could make do with the i10 on its own.

It’s a super mini and will be competing with the likes of the Nissan Micra, Ford Ka, VW Up! and its cousin the Kia Picanto. It has the same 1.0 petrol engine as the Picanto.

Last week I had to pay a visit to my local recycling centre. Although the boot is very small, by leaving down the back seat I was able to pack in a fair bit of

‘rubbish’ and get good value for my e15 fee at the recycling centre.

I drove a white version and in the motoring world it certainly seems like

‘white is the new black.’ Peugeot said that white is also popular for their new 308.

As I mentioned previously in these pages I don’t like white cars in Ireland, but maybe we are gradually adapting towards European traditions.

White outside and thankfully not too much black inside. In fact the interior was very bright thanks to several touches of blue on the dash, seats and doors.

The front seats are comfortable enough, while in the back you could just about squeeze in three adults, but I’m sure it would be much more comfortable with two people in the back.

The controls on the dash are well laid out and easy to use. Overall the dash didn’t feel too plastic.

I also had to make a reasonably long motorway journey last week, but thankfully the road noise was not bad for such a small car.

But I suppose it’s best suited to urban driving; the engine is frugal and it’s so easy to park. You only get 66 horse power, but it certainly can move when you work your way through the five-speed gearbox.

At the front there are attractive LED lights while the back of the car might remind you of the Toyota Yaris. As mentioned earlier the boot is small, but underneath there is a

‘mini’ spare wheel.

So if you want a neat city car for just under e12k, then look no further than the i10. Prices start at e11,995 for the Classic version, while the Deluxe version that I drove will cost you e13,495. There is also an automatic version. Only available in petrol and the road tax of e190 is high for such a small car.