Design
The designers at Hyundai have surely blessed the i10 with what you call 'a classical European design.' It is only fair to say that it won’t in the least bit seem incongruous in the streets of Milan, Paris or London. The sleek design with its curved roof, futuristic large-eyed headlamps, slender grille with the prominent Hyundai logo and massive air dam is not only a sight to drool over but also makes the i10 hugely aerodynamic. There are some cars that just make you want to hug them and the i10 fits into that category like a glove.

The Hyundai i10's cockpit resembles that of the refined Honda CRV, complete with dynamic two-tone beige dashboard with the gear lever integrated into the front console. It is actually a bit hard to believe that the car in question is actually a hatchback and not a luxury sedan. There are for sure no hatchbacks plying on Indian roads that can boast of dual tone beige interiors, full-size front and rear door arm rests, tilt steering, sunroof and in-dash music system. The centre console mounted gear lever is the first for a car in its class. Although light to operate, the new cable operated i-shift gear does not give you enough confidence as that of the Santro's gearbox. If looks could kill then the Hyundai i10 would by now have had the blood of thousands on its hands.
Comfort
There have been numerous cars produced that were actually very good cars but lost out when the time for reckoning approached and the aspect which let most of these cars down was that all very important factor of comfortability. The Hyundai i10 though doesn't seem to be having any intentions of being inducted into this not so glamorous list, infact the i10 is incredibly comfortable and just being inside the car is an utterly pleasant experience. The one piece front seats of the i10 which have been ergonomically designed is just the kind of thing which makes one smile upon entering the car and is highly soothing to the back especially on long journeys.

The i10 is not a big car by means but it has decent leg space and can hold four adults with relative ease. The car has all the necessary goodies which enhance the comfortability of a car like front and rear power windows, door mounted pockets to hold newspapers and maps and a 12v outlet which allows charging of phones and laptops. The well-behaved Macpherson strut suspension system has negated the irritating aspect of bumps and driving the car over country roads doesn't at all feel like sitting on a pogo stick. The i10 is a car for people of all shapes and size thanks to the tilt steering which is easy to adjust while the motor driver power steering is very smooth and also reduces emission and leads to fuel economy.
Engine and Transmission
Someone once very rightly said that 'one can't judge a book by its cover but by what lies inside'. Inside the i10 lies a 4 cylinder, 1.1 litre, 1086cc petrol engine which produces 65bhp or 66.7ps at 5500rpm and churns out a torque of 99Nm at 2800rpm. The iRDE motor under the hood is nothing new but in reality an updatedversion of the engine that first powered the Santro. The i10 packs more grunt than the Santro but its lower in terms of performance. Thanks to its bulk, the i10's power to weight ratio is not as good as the Santro's. It is relatively good around corners and allows for high speed to be maintained on highways with none of the usual wobbling that is so very common in cars of its size. The 5-speed manual transmission is smooth and maintains a healthy equilibrium between gear change and handling. The i10 scores high on the fuel-economy sheet. With a city mileage of 13.2kmpl and 16.1kmpl on the highway, the i10 has very few shortcomings.

See Specs of Hyundai i10 variants

The i10 is also available in the 1.2 litre format in the form of the high-end Kappa. The Kappa with 80bhp and a torque of 11.4kgm@4000rpm is by far one of the most commendable hatchbacks in its segment and a constant reminder of Hyundai Motor's engineering excellence. The in-line 4cylinder DOHC petrol Kappa is brisk and stable and handles like a darling. Like the 1.1 litre version the Kappa too goes easy on the fuel, showcasing a very decent mileage of 12.6kmpl in the city and 17.5kmpl on the highway.
Safety
For a modern day car to be successful it has to rank high in safety. The Hyundai i10 comes loaded with some of the latest safety features such as dual air bags, anti lock braking system, which prevents wheel lock ups during emergency braking. It comes equipped with multi-reflector clear glass headlamps, which give the driver a clearer view of the road during harsh weather conditions. Besides, it also has a host of warning lamps for seat belts, ABS and air bags. The i10 also features seat belt pre-tensioners, which in the event of collision will tighten the belt thus cocooning the passenger in a protective hug.

The Hyundai i10 belongs to the league of premium hatchbacks and therefore is not exactly inexpensive. At prices ranging from Rs. 3,37,174 (ex showroom Delhi) to Rs. 5,43,644, the i10 is highly priced for a hatchback. But there isn't a single i10 owner who will say that he has been overcharged and given a raw deal.