Review: Hyundai i10 N-Line
Hyundai i10 N-Line Car Review
Modern cars are getting bigger, heavier and more complicated. Across the motoring landscape, the growing number of SUVs and crossovers has meant that the number of smaller, less feature-laden cars has dropped even though these types of cars make a great deal of sense to all types of drivers.
But the Hyundai i10 N-Line flies in the face of all that, attempting to deliver a no-frills motoring experience that’ll make getting from A to B inexpensive yet still good fun. Hyundai has added a little extra jazz to the i10 setup, too, with a new sportier N-Line specification, which is what we’re looking at today.
What’s new?
The i10 is the smallest car that Hyundai currently offers, but it’s still able to deliver big on features to make it as value-orientated as possible. A standard five-year warranty is competitive too, reflecting Hyundai’s iron-clad reputation for reliability - this isn’t a car which should cause too many mechanical headaches.
Hyundai also brims its cars with safety assistance equipment and the i10 is no different. You get lane-keep assist, intelligent speed limit assist and a full electronic stability system - to name just three - to help keep this pint-sized car as safe as can be. It’s little wonder why the i10 is traditionally such a hit with first-time drivers.
What’s under the bonnet?
Though the N-Line looks a lot sportier on the outside, it remains much the same as the rest of the i10 range underneath. It’s powered by a 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine with 99bhp and 175Nm of torque, driving the front wheels through a five-speed manual gearbox. Though those outputs aren’t the highest, it means that the i10 will go from 0-60mph in a shade over 10 seconds and will carry onwards to 115mph flat-out.
Efficiency is a big focus with this engine, however, which is why the i10 is particularly good at sipping fuel. Hyundai claims up to 52.3mpg combined, though CO2 emissions are a little high for an engine of this size at 123g/km.
What’s it like to drive?
The little i10 N-Line might not have a lot of power, but this doesn’t stop it from being a whole lot of fun behind the wheel. With light yet agile handling, it’s a joy to take down your favourite twisty road but it’s surprisingly composed on the motorway - though a lack of a sixth gear does mean it can feel a little buzzy when you’re travelling at greater speeds.
On its slightly bigger alloys, the i10 does have quite a firm edge to its ride, but it’s not too overbearing with only the biggest of potholes upsetting it. This Hyundai’s compact size also makes it a breeze to drive around town.
How does it look?
If you’re after a car with a bit of character, then the N-Line version of the i10 could be for you. With its go-faster touches and nicely designed alloy wheels, it does invoke the spirit of Hyundai’s full performance ‘N’ models, while the number of red highlights is a nice touch as well.
You’ve even got chrome twin exhaust pipes and while the i10 might not be as quick to drive as it looks, it’s nice to have a car which feels a bit special from the outside.
What’s it like inside?
Of course, a car as small as the i10 is never going to be the last word in spaciousness, but it’s not bad at all. Its boxy dimensions mean it’s got more headroom than you’d think, while the boot is deep and easy to access. The seats up front are comfortable and simple to adjust, while N Line models get heated front chairs too and a heated steering wheel to go along with them.
There are some harder plastics dotted here and there, but they’re in areas where you’d want more hard-wearing materials to be placed anyway. There’s a nice finish to the upper parts of the dashboard which contrasts this, too.
What’s the spec like?
The N-Line gets loads of features as standard, with highlights including the aforementioned heated seats and wheel, a full climate control system, cruise control and a well-sized infotainment system which includes both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. Both of these smartphone mirroring systems work well and integrate seamlessly with the i10’s main controls.
Though the i10 is incredibly dinky in proportions, you still get a standard reversing camera alongside parking sensors to make positioning it even easier.
Verdict
The i10 brings a lot of charm for such a small car, packing a whole lot of equipment and features into quite a compact vehicle. It’ll prove cheap to run, too, but this frugal quality doesn’t come at the expense of character, which is something this N-Line version really delivers.
It’s actually a car with very few drawbacks. When you throw in the bumper level of equipment that this N-Line brings, you have a car which delivers a great all-round experience.
