Hyundai i10 a massive hit in UK

By Anthony Crawford | August 07th, 2009

For many in the automotive industry, the news that Hyundai has cracked the top 10 in the sales charts in Britain won’t really come as a big surprise.

This Korean car company continues to gain favour from motorists around the world due to one very big positive – it builds very good cars at very good prices.

To break into the top 10 sellers in the British car market is no easy feat, given you are competing with the likes of Ford’s Fiesta and Focus, Vauxhall’s Corsa and Astra, not to mention Volkswagen’s Golf and Peugeot’s 207.

Hyundai claimed ninth place, with its cute little i10 on sales of 3084 cars in July, which was a few hundred cars ahead of the popular Renault Clio.

Given the success of the i30 hatch in Australia, we are sure that Hyundai Motor Company Australia would love to be selling the i10 here sooner than planned.

Stephen Howard from the Australian subsidiary today agreed that Hyundai would certainly like the car for this market and have put the business case forward to the Korean head office, and as we’ve previously reported the i10 and i20 will be coming to Australia – eventually.

Top Gear UK called the 1.2-litre petrol version “…a proper little cracker with plenty of high tech in the engine engine and a fun drive”.

As CarAdvice reported recently the plans to launch the i10 and i20 are currently under review because of currency and transport issues but we understand the car will go on sale here early in 2010.

ElecEng

Well done for Hyundai. They’re just getting better and better. 1.2L petrol, why not make it 2-stroke engine =P
iLIKE

Wonder how the i10 compares with the new Suzuki Alto?
davie

Hyaundai certainly have improved perceptions with the most recent generation of “i” cars (i30, i10)

It amazing to think how quickly this has happened, especially when you think of some of the less than great effort of 10+ years ago

Steve

I think the “I” range of cars is possibly the blandest, least interesting, generic looking copies of western cars I have ever seen!! There is NOTHING interesting, innovative, comfortable, or good value about theser awful little blobs, nothing whatsoever…

nothanks

1.2 litre engine? No thanks…
davie

Hi Nothanks,

Maybe consider what this car is designed for before you criticise the engine size.

A city car doesn’t have to break world land speed records or drag a v8 down a 1/4 mile. You want something that is small, light on fuel and parks anywhere.

Thats exactly what the i10 is designed for. Its why manufacturers have different models for different segments of the market…
ptwhite2003

I second Davie.
http://skyline The Salesman

Increase population = higher living costs = strong demand for value
Just about all of our home wares and electronics are from our industrious friends in Korea and China.
Soon all our driveways will occupied by them too. IMO in the next five years Hyundai – Kia will fill the top two spots.
Skybreak

“IMO in the next five years Hyundai – Kia will fill the top two spots”.

Good news for you then Salesman?
Andrew M

T/S,
you may very well be right.

I must ask though, is it a prerequisite for the top selling company to be bland???
Its obviously the formula that Toyota used to get there, and personally I must say Hyundais and Kias arent any more exciting.
I was heavily disappointed by the i30 to be honest. I still found it to be a bland unexciting car.

One thing though is that they give you value for money, so if they arent gonna give you style and comfort, at least your dollar gets you a bit of bang.

Hopefully the Genesis and other similar projects can show us they arent just interested in moving numbers

http://www.databaseapplications.com.au Chris

I’ve thought about this, too. Look at the Holden Monaro. It looks like a squashed cowpat on wheels. It makes bland look interesting. Why are so many cars generic?

There have been a few cars that didn’t follow the herd and failed. In the 90′s there was a Nissan Bluebird which looked different. Sales wise it didn’t make it. If a car has strong, individual styling one person may like it, another may actively dislike it. At least, nobody actively dislikes bland. Maybe that’s their reasoning.

Anthony

Andrew,

You obviously have not driven the i30 diesel, as this is a car which is rather a fun car to drive and gets along very nicely.

It’s also very well equipped with standard kit, so I’m totally confused by your statement. Perhaps you drove the petrol version which doesn’t have the same torquey characteristics of the Diesel.
http://skyline The Salesman

Skybreak,

Yes, it is good news

Andrew M,

Volume cars for the masses is were the market is at. I have said more than once on this site that the Koreas have modeled their business plan on the Japanese model. Keep an eye out over the next few years as once you become a dominant player in one market the only way to expand your business to become a major player in every other market as well. Genesis is an example of this already happening.
Luca

I do not understand this infatuation for Korean cars (built in India). In Europe we have good cars at the same price level (i.e. FIAT PANDA – biult in Poland). Think about it!!!

Londonlad

I agree Luca and am sorry to see that my country is joining the US and Australia in buying bland Asian cars from countries with very closed markets to foreign car marques themselves. If it\’s any consolation, Fiat outsold Hyundai last year in the UK and by the end of the year it was the Fiat 500 featuring in the monthly top ten not the Hyundai i10.

http://Caradvice.com.au Baddass

How cute!
i10 Proud User

i10 s really cute and provides best drive…. FIAT suxs….. doesnt matter the location but shud b best in standards
Lpi

I agree with @Luca above.

Anyway, the Getz is getting the chop and replaced by the i20.

If the i20 sells for mid teens, say $15k, leaves the i10 to slot in under it, could and will be low teens, once again Australia’s “real” cheapest car?

No mention of the 800cc turbo engine coming out in this?
Andrew M

Anthony,
No I didnt trial the Diesel version, but you have obviously never driven the more exciting examples such as the Mazda3 and Lancer to name a couple.
Dont also forget the Lancer is fairly well kitted for its price too, and you will atleast get some resale on it.

For mine the Mazda3 is the easy class leader, but the Lancer is the best value

T/S,
Hey im with you that they are out there to move some volume, Im just expressing my disappointment as their new range of vehicles dont seem to be as exciting as I thought they may be.
I mean good on them for selling very affordable cars, but for example the Getz isnt worth anymore than they are asking, not one cent more.
The i30 just seems to carry some nicer curves which to me seem to be startiung to age anyway
Lee

Mazda 3 diesel, Focus Diesel would be easily 6grand more than i30diesel. In terms of A–>B car, I would put my $$ on i30.
If I wanted a A–>B car with a little style, Audi A4 or a Honda Accord Euro would be nice, then again it would cost more than 25quids.

the Koreans are catching up fast. I think the Jap need to do something quick and offer more. I don’t think it would be easy for the Japs to fill the luxury car market, unlike their european counterparts. they have been sitting on their bum for too long.