2016 Hyundai I10 1.0L Petrol · YY16 GAA

This 2016 Hyundai i10 presents a fundamentally sound mechanical story, with five consecutive MOT passes from 2022 through 2026 demonstrating ongoing roadworthiness over its ten-year life. The pattern is overwhelmingly positive, with the 2023, 2024, and 2025 tests recording zero advisories and reflecting a car that has been ticking along without any flagged concerns. The most recent test on 25 March 2026 also resulted in a pass, though it is worth noting this was accompanied by one advisory concerning the offside rear service brake binding slightly, alongside a minor notice for an offside rear registration plate lamp issue. The binding brake advisory is the only mechanical flag in the entire record, and on a small city car of this age and mileage it is the sort of issue typically associated with a caliper slide pin or guide mechanism beginning to seize rather than anything more fundamental. Given this is the first instance of any brake-related advisory across five years of testing, it does not yet represent a developing trend but does warrant direct attention before purchase. Recorded mileage of 64,200 miles over approximately ten years equates to an average annual accumulation of around 6,420 miles, which sits comfortably within the typical range for a car of this type and age. There are no significant gaps in the annual testing record, with tests consistently falling in March of each year from 2022 onwards, which suggests the vehicle has remained in regular use rather than being laid up for extended periods. This kind of steady, moderate usage is generally favourable mechanically for a Hyundai i10, as it tends to keep consumables such as brake components, tyres, and suspension elements working through their intended service life rather than suffering the corrosion and seal degradation that can affect very low-mileage or stationary vehicles. The annual mileage progression between tests appears broadly consistent without any unusual spikes that might indicate long-distance motorway use or, conversely, heavy urban taxi-style operation. For a prospective buyer, the primary mechanical focus should be on the rear brake system flagged at the most recent test. On a test drive, listen for any scraping, grinding, or squealing from the offside rear corner during low-speed manoeuvres, and pay attention to whether the car pulls to one side under braking or feels reluctant to release the brake cleanly. The handbrake should hold the vehicle firmly on a modest incline without creeping, as a binding caliper can compromise both foot brake and parking brake performance. A useful check is to drive forward slowly in first gear, stop, then reverse, and feel whether the offside rear drags noticeably compared to the nearside. The i10 uses a relatively simple rear drum brake arrangement on most variants, so a binding issue can often be resolved by cleaning and re-greasing the rear brake mechanism rather than requiring a full caliper replacement, but the cost and nature of any rectification should be confirmed with a borescope check of the rear brakes during inspection. Beyond the brake advisory, the i10's solid test history means there is no specific corrosion, suspension, or exhaust pattern to investigate further, though a general inspection of the rear underbody, subframe mounting points, and exhaust mounting rubbers is still sensible given the car's age and exposure to winter road salt. On the test drive, listen for any clonks or knocks from the suspension over speed humps and uneven surfaces, particularly from the front MacPherson strut top mounts and rear torsion beam bushes, as these are common wear items on higher-mileage city cars. Steering should feel light and precise without excess play, and the manual transmission should select cleanly without crunching. Tyre wear across an axle should be even, and the condition of the rear registration plate lamp housing should be checked for cracked or missing lenses which can let moisture in and cause the kind of intermittent failure noted on the recent test. Overall, the mechanical record points to a well-maintained small car requiring only modest, targeted attention rather than any major rectification work.