By Otsile Kadiege

Hyundai Motor has revealed the updated i10 which arrives with a refreshed design with the option to purchase the sporty i10 N Line variant. The automaker has also added advanced connectivity features, comfort elements, and technologies.

Updated i10 exterior

The updated Hyundai i10 has seen a design upgrade both in and out compared to the original, which launched in 2019. Hyundai made updates to the inner part of the multi-face reflector headlamps, as well as the front and rear LED signature. The front LED Day Running Lights (DRL) have been integrated into the sporty wide front grille, which features a new honeycomb mesh design. Additionally, the rear LED-combined lights now display an ‘H’ on the horizontal tailgate line. The model also features newly designed 15-inch alloy wheels.

It will come in nine exterior colours – two of which are new: Lumen Grey, a bright and light grey colour with a pearl finish, and Meta Blue with its bluish-violet colour reflections and pearl finish – and a black two-tone roof.

i10 N Line

The Hyundai i10 N Line has design features inspired by motorsport, including bespoke bumpers, inserts, and red touches. The backs of the seats feature triple red line fabric, and the model comes with new 16-inch alloy wheels.

Updated i10 interior

Inside, the model is outfitted with blue mood lamps in the front seats. A new colour package, the Purple Package, brings a sense of playfulness to the car’s sporty exterior design. It offers tartan fabric seats with vertical purple lines, as well as purple touches in the stitching and air vents. Grey touch-points with a purple sheen, as seen in the crash pad and lower central console, add extra style.

Smart technology

New technologies in the model include a standard 4.2-inch LCD cluster, USB type-C in the front and rear, second-generation eCall based on the 4G network, and Over The Air (OTA) map updates. However, the model remains consistent with the 8-inch display screen, Audio Video Navigation (AVN), wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless charger, and the latest update to Bluelink telematics.

The model also comes standard with more Hyundai Smart Sense safety features. Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) for ‘City’, ‘Interurban’, and ‘Pedestrian’ has also been expanded to include ‘Cyclist’. FCA helps detect and avoid potential accidents with obstacles ahead. Lane Following Assist (LFA) uses steering control to help the car stay in the current lane of travel. Rear Occupant Alert (ROA) reminds the driver with a message in the cluster if the rear door had been opened during the journey – to prevent anyone or anything in the rear seat from being left behind.

More convenience features

The updated model is outfitted with power folding mirrors. It offers a boot capacity of 252 litres with the seats up and 1,050 litres with the seats folded, a two-stage luggage board, one-handed rear seat folding, and a rear-view camera.

Powertrains

Hyundai is yet to confirm if there has been any changes made to the powertrain of the updated i10. That said, locally the current i10 range is powered by 1.0-litre 3-cylinder petrol engine making 94kW and 49Nm or a 1.2-litre 3-cylinder petrol engine developing 61kW and 114Nm. Both engines are either paired to a 5-speed manual transmission or a 4-speed auto gearbox.

Its top speed of the 1.0-litre is capped at 154km/h and has a claimed average fuel consumption of 5.4 and 5.9l/100km with the manual and automatic gearboxes respectively. On the other hand the 1.2-litre has a top speed of 160km/h and has a claimed average fuel consumption of 5.9 and 6.9l/100km with the manual and automatic gearboxes respectively.

Production of the new i10 is planned to begin in April 2023 at Hyundai’s production plant in Izmit, Türkiye. The first units are expected to arrive on European roads in the second half of the year.