Hyundai i10 Blue is an appealing high-value proposition

What is it?

It’s a car that Hyundai reckons could become a serious rival for eco-superminis like the VW Polo Bluemotion. No, seriously.

The three-pot version of the revised i10, called Blue, could be a worthy contender. Its new 1.0-litre motor has 68bhp and trims a second from the 0-62mph of the old 1.1 i10. But the Blue also comes with stop-start, low-resistance tyres and a gearshift indicator, so it delivers 67.3mpg, a rise of 8.4mpg over the 1.1, and CO2 emissions of just 99g/km.

Elsewhere, the i10 gets a mild styling refresh and extra toys in the cabin (air-con is now standard across the range, and some of the interior fabrics have been improved). It still feels basic, but in a rugged, well built way.

What’s it like?

The good news is that on the road, the i10’s key strengths - a willing, neutral chassis, feelsome steering and a super-slick, short-throw gearshift - are all still present. Even with just three cylinders, the Blue is a hoot around town. The trick tyres are a little noisier and they don’t help the ride, but nor do they ruin it.

There is a catch, though - and it is that the smallest engine no longer sits at the bottom of the range. Those green mods - and the stop-start system in particular, one suspects - lift the Blue’s price to £9195; that’s over a grand cheaper than any other sub-100g/km car, admittedly, and almost £6k less than the Polo Bluemotion, but it’s £1000 more expensive than the refreshed i10 1.2 Classic.

Should I buy one?

If you simply must have a green supermini, then, the Hyundai is an appealing high-value proposition. But in the realm of i10s, we’d save a few quid on the list price and stick with the 1.2.

John McIlroy

Hyundai i10 Blue

Price: £9195; Top speed: 93mph; 0-62mph: 14.8sec; Economy: 67.3mpg; CO2: 99g/km; Kerb weight: 1000kg (est); Engine: 3 cyls, 998cc, petrol; Power: 68bhp at 6200rpm; Torque: 70lb ft at 3500rpm; Gearbox: 5-spd manual

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W124 7 February 2011

Re: Hyundai i10 Blue

I drove them back to back on a Hyundai press thing the other day. The 1.2 is much better though both are good and comparable in ride/handling to the Ka and 500. I like the i10. It's character is real, not stuck on like the Fiat. It's a jolly thing and with the 1.2, actually rather a hoot to drive it must be said. You could get a basic 1.2 and have a grand left over for congestion charge pre pay. Unless you drive into the zone every day the 3 cyl makes no sense.

Big S 7 February 2011

Re: Hyundai i10 Blue

I'd be great if Autocar could do a back-to-back comparison between this car and the 1.2 Classic, driving the same speeds over the same route to see if the CO2 benefits pan out into real-world savings. The 1.2 Classic itself is fabulously complete and characterful little car - especially if you were smart enough to get one for £4995 when the scrappage deal was on :-)

Leslie Brook 7 February 2011

Re: Hyundai i10 Blue

LP in Brighton wrote:
Yes, the arithmetic doesn't make much sense. Going by the claimed fuel figures, the 1.0 litre model would save 25 gallons of petrol per year (at 12,000 miles pa), or about £150 at today's fuel prices. So even with the small road tax saving, you're not going to break even any time soon..
As mentioned above, if you live in London the arithmetic does make sense. It would save £10 a day just in congestion charges before any other economies were taken into account. In other words, to paraphrase a current Vauxhall ad, the savings in Congestion Charge would pay the finance on the car.