2019 Hyundai I10 1.2L Petrol · FR19 NYC

The 1.25-litre petrol engine typically returns 45-50 mpg in mixed driving, rising to over 55 mpg on motorway runs, making this one of the most economical non-hybrid small cars on sale. Annual road tax is £170 (standard rate) thanks to its Euro 6 compliance, and the i10 falls into insurance group 4-6 depending on specification, keeping premiums low at roughly £300-£450 per year for experienced drivers. Routine maintenance is affordable, with minor services around £120-£180 and major services including cambelt inspection around £250-£350; the cambelt itself is typically due every 5 years or 60,000 miles.

Estimated annual running costs including fuel, tax, insurance, and routine maintenance should fall in the £800-£1,000 range for an average driver covering 5,000 miles. Replacement tyres, brake pads, and clutches are all reasonably priced due to the car's mechanical accessibility and parts commonality.

The February 2026 MOT flagged tyre cracking/perishing on both fronts and edge wear on both rears — physically inspect the sidewalls for visible cracking and measure tread depth across the full width, not just the centre. Uneven rear tyre wear can sometimes indicate alignment issues or worn rear shock absorbers, so check for tyre wear patterns and bounce the rear corners to test damping. Given that suspension components are among the top three MOT failure reasons for the i10 model, pay particular attention to the front MacPherson struts for any knocking, oil seepage, or uneven tyre wear that might suggest worn top mounts or wishbone bushes.

Other model-specific weak points worth examining include the headlamp units (the third most common i10 MOT failure), which can suffer from condensation or lens crazing, and the brake discs, which are prone to corrosion on the outer edges if the car has been used for short urban journeys — check for sharp lipping and any scoring. Inspect the exhaust mountings and tailpipe for corrosion, particularly given this is a 2019 example now seven years old, and verify the clutch take-up point is smooth with no slipping under acceleration.