Which surprises the Hyundai i10 in the practical test

Small cars like the VW Up or the Toyota Aygo look like from the past against him: While the competition is saying goodbye to extra small models, Hyundai has once again gone to great lengths with the new edition of the i10. And the result is impressive.

Berlin (dpa-infocom) - The Hyundai i10 goes into the next round: While competitors like VW no longer give the small car with a view to expensive exhaust gas cleaning and put cars like the Up on the hit list, the Koreans have once again turned up the pace.

The third generation of the city runabout, which has been available from retailers since spring at prices starting at 10,990 euros, therefore not only offers more space in almost the same area, but above all lots of new technology. And the i10 now looks better too.

Space wonder with a trendy design

As before, the i10 is only 3.67 meters long. But because Hyundai has expanded the width by two and the wheelbase by four centimeters, the interior is noticeably more spacious: it is no longer so tight around the shoulders, and if necessary, an adult can now sit in the back without pulling on the legs . In addition, more can be stored in the shelves and storage compartments, and the trunk volume is now 252 liters and can be expanded to 1050 liters.

The i10 not only wants to be practical, it also wants to offer a little prestige. This can also be seen in its revised design. Particularly striking are the cascade-shaped grill, which he has adopted from the other Hyundai innovations, and the serrated headlights. A rising window line along the flank underlines the idiosyncratic appearance. Upon request, the Koreans can also paint the roof in contrasting colors. Those who like it even more extravagant should wait until summer. Then a so-called N-Line comes out, which not only promises more performance, but also an even more spirited look.

Equipment like a big one

Inside the i10, it's the technical standard that's surprising. Because thanks to a large touchscreen and a modern infotainment system, the little one can keep up with the big ones. The advances in assistance technology are even more remarkable: even in the basic version, the city car has an autonomous emergency brake assistant and active lane guidance, and for a surcharge there are high-beam and attention assistants, traffic sign recognition and a reversing camera.

And because the small car is fully networked, not only does the navigation find the desired destinations online, but there is even an app connection with which you can control your vehicle remotely. A glance at the smartphone is all it takes to read out parts of the on-board computer, lock or unlock the doors and program the navigation from home. Many other manufacturers do not even offer this in higher vehicle classes. With all these extras and comfort features such as seat and steering wheel heating, LED headlights or automatic climate control, the price increases, which can then climb over 20,000 euros.

Small motors, great comfort

While the equipment seems quite ambitious, the drive remains rather down-to-earth. The i10 is only available as a petrol engine with a three-cylinder engine with a displacement of 1.0 liter and 49 kW / 67 hp in the basic model, or for 700 euros more with a 1.2-liter four-cylinder engine with 62 kW / 84 hp. You can't make big jumps with it. But firstly, the main territory of the i10 is the city, secondly, that pushes consumption down to values ​​of 4.2 liters at best (CO2 emissions 97 g / km), and thirdly, the small car also has a small weight and therefore does not need quite as much Power.

That is why the i10 with its maximum of 118 Nm still feels comparatively lively in an urban environment. But on country roads and highways you need a little more patience with a sprint value of 12.5 seconds from 0 to 100 km / h. Because even if 171 km / h top are not bad for such a tiny one, the i10 takes a bit of time. This is all the more unfortunate because it doesn't otherwise feel like a small car. Because the steering and chassis look so grown-up and so confident that even longer distances can be mastered comfortably.

Conclusion: no other small is more modern

Trendy drawn, with a lot of space in a small space and above all equipped with a lot of technology - the Hyundai i10 proves that the demand for a new car does not depend on the format and that even in a small city car you hardly have to do without anything. Competitors such as the VW Up or the Toyota Aygo, on the other hand, look pretty good from yesterday - because no other small is currently more advanced than the i10.

Data sheet: Hyundai i10 1.2

All data according to the manufacturer, GDV, Schwacke