Fiat 500 vs Hyundai i10

[User33678888]

The initial message was deleted from this topic on 05 September 2014 at 14:19

[Stu78]

Mrs has just got the i10, the Premium model with the 1.2. It is a massive improvement over the previous models. It feels well built, it's refined, good ride and feels bigger than it is. It's only done 500 miles so it's still tight but she's getting 42ish MPG. Downsides are that it's not remotely entertaining to drive and the engine has no character whatsoever, in fact you can't even hear it under 2k revs once warm which some will like some wont.

Don't like 500's so haven't looked but for a rental blast might be more fun? Suppose it depends what you want..

Edited by Stu78 on Wednesday 20th August 22:07

[Mr Gear]

I'd take the 500. If you get a twinair, you can have fun seeing if you can get it to record both 11mpg and 70mpg all in one journey.

It's also amusing to look at.

I had an i10 as a rental car before, and although it's actually quite capable, it is built to be boring.

[rcspeirs]

The 500 looks cute but is one of the most uncomfortable modern cars I've driven. Wooden blocks instead of shock absorbers.
Remember that all the main rental companies don't guarantee a particular model on their "non specialist" inventory, so there's every chance you'll actually get something totally different.

[Coker]

rcspeirs said:

The 500 looks cute but is one of the most uncomfortable modern cars I've driven. Wooden blocks instead of shock absorbers.

And if you're in the 6ft+ region, you'll be driving with your knees in your chin just so you can reach the steering wheel properly. My missus had one - genuinely uncomfortable.

[Poopipe]

500s are alright. We had a poverty spec one on hire for a few days which I made the most of. Wouldnt want to do 300 miles in one but it had plenty of character.

I wanted another one next time ibneeded to hire a car but theyd run out so I got a pug 3008 instead ( surprisingly that was quite good)

[Challo]

Coker said:

rcspeirs said:

The 500 looks cute but is one of the most uncomfortable modern cars I've driven. Wooden blocks instead of shock absorbers.

And if you're in the 6ft+ region, you'll be driving with your knees in your chin just so you can reach the steering wheel properly. My missus had one - genuinely uncomfortable.

My friend is 6ft 4 and drives his missus 500 with no problems. Often used it for his hours commute in the morning and said it was quite comfortable.

[Highway Star]

I drove around Italy in a 500 in complete comfort - I'm 6'2''.

[JamesD1]

i'd go for the i10, after OH owning a 500 for 2 years and me borrowing it a few times i wasn't its biggest fan. ride quite hard, seat very uncomfortable on longer journeys, steering doesn't feel attached and from an image point of view i felt very suspect driving it.

[kambites]

My parents have just got a Picanto (which I think is largely the same car as the i10) and it seems a surprisingly decent little thing. Compared to their old (2002) Fiat Punto it's in a completely different league in every respect (other than interior space obviously, being a smaller car).

Edited by kambites on Thursday 21st August 09:56

[Chaffs]

Worth noting with the 500, I've the 1.2 version and on the motorway I'm lucky to get anywhere north of 40mpg if I want to get anywhere in the same calendar month.

Edited by Chaffs on Thursday 21st August 09:59

[Erudite geezer]

Had a 2011 Hyundai i10 1.2 petrol (previous generation car) and couldn't fault it.

I can only imagine the current car is better too.

[white_goodman]

Definitely the 500. Much more fun!

[rehab71]

i10 without question! Better built, longer warranty, smoother engine, better ride, larger boot and 5 doors, cheaper too!

[AgentZ]

I test drove the i10 earlier this year and didn't like it at all. The steering was way too light and disconnected and the brakes were too sharp and I couldn't modulate them throughout the test drive. Put me off so much I honestly can't say how good/bad anything else was.

I ended up buying a Seat Mii Toca FWIW.

[white_goodman]

rehab71 said:

i10 without question! Better built, longer warranty, smoother engine, better ride, larger boot and 5 doors, cheaper too!

He's only hiring it for the weekend, not buying it!

[Davo456gt]

500 every time

[thinkofaname]

white_goodman said:

He's only hiring it for the weekend, not buying it!

True, but he's still started a thread about this crucial decision. Imagine what choosing a car to buy must be like.

Me, if I were buying it it would be the Hyundai all the way. Apparently the new one is pretty good. If it were just for the weekend, well it would be the Hyundai too. I don't see the appeal of fake retro cars.

Edited by thinkofaname on Friday 22 August 17:38

[sday12]

Hyundai is actually Korean for dog.

[MadmanO/T People]

The Fiat 500 sacrifices a great deal of practicality for style.

A better comparison would be the Hyundai i10 vs. the Fiat Panda.