CHEAP TO RUN — AND A DREAM IN THE CAR PARK

By Mary McBride - Friday, May 16, 2008

The i10 has winning styling, with an attractive interior and good load space. Picture by PETER BOAM.

ON THE ROAD
THESE days motoring is all about getting the most for your money: more miles per gallon, cheaper vehicle excise duty (VED), longer warranty.
A new car that ticks those three important boxes is the Hyundai i10, which was launched on the Island over Easter to become an instant hit with Island drivers.
All models of the i10 have petrol engines, and two of the three style trims, the Classic and the Comfort, give CO2 ratings that qualify for the £35 per year low rate of VED and, with it, the IW Council’s free parking deal.
The top-of-the-range Style model I was loaned by Wight Motors CarZone, at Sandown, falls just outside this bracket, at 124 g/km CO2, possibly because of its wider wheels and natty rear spoiler.
All three i10s offer the fantastic Hyundai five-year warranty, so comprehensive it includes exhaust and trim. It’s also fully transferable to the next owner if you decide to sell within five years.
The first thing you will notice about the i10 is how it offers most of the advantages you would expect from a much larger car, without the bigger price ticket or running costs.
For instance, the i10s all have five doors, making it convenient for transporting passengers and fitting youngsters in and out of their child seats. Storage is convenient, with an under-seat storage tray to keep valuables, such as phones and MP3 players, out of sight, front drink holders and rear coat hooks. The Style model comes with an electric sunroof.
Simple air conditioning is fitted as standard across the range. In the boot, a false floor gives more hidden storage for greater security.
Hyundai technology means clever design and the i10 is no exception, with impressive touches such as easy-tune radio and an overhead console with clearly marked cockpit light switches.
It’s a small point, but even the in-car clock impressed me. It was correct to the second, clicking over just in time to the BBC pips, and also re-set itself to British Summer Time. Magic.
Of course, a car is more than its component parts, however natty they may be. So potential buyers of the Hyundai i10 will be interested in how the car drives.
Roadholding is excellent, with a solid, safe feel when taking wet Island bends and a firm, capable feel to the suspension.
All the Hyundai i10s come with 1.1-litre petrol engines, which give a nippy and energetic feel and return impressively economical consumption figures, up to 56.5 mpg in the Style and Classic models.
Parking was easy, with good visibility and nothing much at the back to worry about anyway.
Looks will impress, with chrome grille, alloy wheels on the Comfort and Style models and a choice of five colours — electric red, alpine blue, oyster grey (the car I drove), sleek silver and stone black.
Safety features include four airbags, ABS safer braking and electric power steering.
The Hyundai i10 range starts at £6,495 on the road, the Style model I drove will cost you £7,595.
You can find out more about this and other Hyundais on the website www.wightmotors.co.uk

CHEAP TO RUN — AND A DREAM IN THE CAR PARK

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