Is a Hyundai i10 a good first car?
Yes, the i10 stays cheap to insure across almost every trim, and its typical purchase price is one of the lowest in its class, an unusually low-risk combination for a first car.
The numbers*
| Insurance group | Group 1 to 10, depending on engine, trim and generation. Real quotes across the range come in under £100 a month standard cover. |
|---|---|
| Typical used price | £7,600 to £15,200 on the used market (most trims and years) |
| Road tax | Around £200 a year on i10 models registered since 2017; check the exact car for older models. |
| Fuel economy | 50 to 60 mpg combined (official, combined cycle) |
| Euro NCAP rating | 3 stars on the current trims, 69% adult / 75% child / 52% pedestrian protection; an earlier 2015-2019 trim scored 4 stars under an older, less strict Euro NCAP test protocol |
Ins grp 3 Hyundai i10 SE 1.0
- Standard
- £873/yr
- Telematics
- £730/yr
Standard monthly £73/mo
Ins grp 4 Hyundai i10 N Line T-GDI 1.0
- Standard
- £988/yr
- Telematics
- £745/yr
Standard monthly £82/mo
Ins grp 1 Hyundai i10 1.0 Advance 5dr Auto
- Standard
- £1,142/yr
- Telematics
- £808/yr
Standard monthly £95/mo
Labels go by monthly insurance: Manageable up to £150, Getting pricey £151 to £200, Danger zone over £200.
Why parents like it
Hyundai's long warranty is one of the strongest in the industry, and the i10 range stays consistently cheap to insure regardless of trim, which matters more than the badge for a first car.
Why new drivers like it
It's an easy, forgiving car to learn in, with light steering and small dimensions, and the current generation's N Line trim adds some visual sportiness without the insurance penalty a genuinely quick car would carry.
The catch
The i10 doesn't punish you for choosing a newer or better-equipped trim the way some first cars do. A 2018 base SE costs £73 a month standard cover (group 3), while the sportier-looking current N Line costs only £82 a month (group 4). The one exception: a brand new, top-spec automatic can cost more to insure than an older base model: £95 a month for a 2024 Advance Auto (group 1) versus £73 for the 2018 SE, reflecting the newer car's higher value more than the insurance group itself.
Which version to look for
Any i10 trim insures reasonably, so choose on condition, mileage and remaining warranty rather than insurance group. If budget is tight, an older SE or Premium from the 2014-2019 generation is the cheapest way in.
* Sources: First Car Scout vehicle listing and insurance-group data (July 2026).