Hyundai i10 Pre Model 1.2 Style 5dr Car Review - March 2012

The i10's 1.2-litre petrol engine develops 85bhp and 89lb-ft of torque. This translates into a top speed of 105mph and a 0-62mph time of 12.2 seconds which is perfectly adequate for undemanding city driving. However, on the open road the i10 would benefit from a bit more power and feels very asthmatic.

The handling is very good thanks to the i10's short wheelbase and it feels very agile around town. The steering is precise and direct, making the little Hyundai great fun to drive.

The i10 looks very stylish and doesn't make the big mistake that many other small cars make - trying too hard.

The interior is a big improvement over Hyundais of old; it's still basic but it feels well made and the plastics are much less rattly than they used to be.

Standard kit includes alloy wheels, air-con, electric windows all round and a CD player with MP3 connectivity.

As a city car it is no surprise that this vehicle does not have masses of boot space. When the rear seats are folded the car provides 910 litres of boot space, and when the seats are upright there is 225 litres on offer.

The i10 received four stars in the Euro NCAP safety tests which is pretty respectable for a car of this size and driver, passenger and side airbags are all fitted as standard.

Reliability should not be an issue as the Koreans generally make very reliable cars. Hyundai also provide a five year warranty with unlimited mileage.

At £9,495, this is the most expensive i10 on the market but still represents good value thanks to its decent selection of standard kit.

The running costs will be very low - you'll get 61.4mpg on the combined cycle and CO2 emissions of 108g/km put the i10 into VED band B. However, motorists really looking to save money are best off going for the 1.0-litre model which offers road-tax busting emissions of 99g/km. Londoners will benefit most from this as the 1.0-litre model is congestion charge exempt.