Fiat 500 vs Hyundai i10
Figures updated
The Fiat 500 and Hyundai i10 are two of the UK's most popular city cars. We compare the 500e (2020–) and the Mk3 (2019–) i10 on price, size, boot space, performance, safety and running costs, plus how reliable each has been across 578,466 real MOT tests.
The short answer
The Hyundai i10 comes out ahead, with the lower price and the better MOT record; the Fiat 500 is close on everything else.
- The Hyundai i10 is the cheapest to buy new: from £18,365, £630 less than the Fiat 500.
- Euro NCAP safety: Fiat 500 4 stars (2021), Hyundai i10 3 stars (2020). Ratings from different years aren't directly comparable, as the tests get tougher.
- The Hyundai i10 has the better MOT record. Like for like on age and mileage, the Fiat 500 fails its MOT about 9% more often.
- Running costs are close: the petrol versions cost within £39 a year of each other to fuel at 7,500 miles a year.
- Watch the suspension on a Fiat 500: it fails on them 1.9 times as often as the average car.
- Watch the brakes on a Hyundai i10: it fails on them 1.7 times as often as the average car.
| Figure | Fiat 500500e (2020–), 3-door hatchback | Hyundai i10Mk3 (2019–), 5-door hatchback |
|---|---|---|
| Price and practicality | ||
| Price newUK list prices, across the range | from £18,995October 2026 price list | £18,365 to £21,115April 2026 price list (best) |
| Body | 3-door hatchback | 5-door hatchback |
| Seats | – | 5 |
| BootSeats up / folded | – | 252 litres / 1,050 |
| Length | 3,632mm | 3,670mm |
| WidthWithout mirrors | 1,683mm | 1,680mm |
| Height | 1,527mm | 1,480mm |
| Performance | ||
| Power | – | 63–90 PS |
| 0–62mph | – | 11.4–18.4 sec |
| Safety | ||
| Euro NCAP ratingTests get tougher each year | ★★★★★ (2021) | ★★★★★ (2020) |
| Economy and emissions | ||
| Fuel types | Electric, Petrol | Petrol |
| Official economyVersions of this generation | 53.3–61.2 mpg | 49.6–56.5 mpg |
| CO2 | 105–129 g/km | 114–130 g/km |
| Electric range | 118–209 miles | – |
| Running costs at 7,500 miles a year | ||
| Petrol or hybrid171.5p a litre, today's UK average | £1,079 (54.2 mpg) (best) | £1,118 (52.3 mpg) |
| Electric, charged at home26.3p per kWh standard tariff | £438 (5 mi/kWh) | – |
| Cheapest version to fuelWhichever fuel costs least | £438 (electric) | £1,118 (petrol) |
| Car tax a yearCars registered from April 2017 | £200 | £200 |
| Reliability from real MOT tests | ||
| Reliability score | 79Well below average | 86Below average (best) |
| Failed MOT first time (ages 3–20) | 32.1% | 27.5% (best) |
| Failed at 3 years old | 12.1% (best) | 15.5% |
| Failed at 5 years old | 17.3% | 17.6% |
| Failed at 10 years old | 35.9% | 31.5% (best) |
| Most common MOT fault | Pins and bushes (5.5% of tests) | Wipers (3.6% of tests) |
| Fails more than average on | Suspension (1.9×), Body and structure (1.4×) | Brakes (1.7×), Visibility (1.6×) |
| MOT tests analysed | 334,216 | 244,250 |
| About the cars | ||
| Type | City car | City car |
| Owners' average miles a year | 5,800 | 5,200 |
| On sale | 2020 on | 2019 on |
Green marks the better figure where the difference is more than 3%. Reliability figures cover every version of each model tested in the year. Running costs use the typical official economy of recent versions (WLTP where available); real-world economy is usually a little worse for every car.
More comparisons
Frequently asked questions
›Is the Fiat 500 or the Hyundai i10 more reliable?
The Hyundai i10. Like for like on age and mileage, the Fiat 500 fails its MOT about 9% more often (reliability scores 86 and 79, where 100 is average). 27.5% of Hyundai i10s and 32.1% of Fiat 500s failed first time in 2024.
›Which is bigger, the Fiat 500 or the Hyundai i10?
The Hyundai i10 is 38mm longer (3,670mm against 3,632mm).
›Which is cheaper to buy, the Fiat 500 or the Hyundai i10?
The Hyundai i10: new prices start at £18,365, £630 less than the Fiat 500 (from £18,995). These are manufacturer list prices; dealers and brokers often sell for less.
›Which is cheaper to run, the Fiat 500 or the Hyundai i10?
Comparing petrol versions, fuel costs are within £39 a year of each other at 7,500 miles, using typical official economy and current UK average fuel prices.
›Which is safer, the Fiat 500 or the Hyundai i10?
Euro NCAP gave the Fiat 500 4 stars (2021) and the Hyundai i10 3 stars (2020). Euro NCAP makes its tests tougher every few years, so ratings from different years aren't directly comparable.
›Should I buy the Fiat 500 or the Hyundai i10?
The Hyundai i10 comes out ahead, with the lower price and the better MOT record; the Fiat 500 is close on everything else. The comparison above sets out price, space, performance, safety, running costs and reliability side by side.
Sources: manufacturers' UK specifications and price lists and Euro NCAP (listed on each model's page); DVSA anonymised MOT tests 2024 (Open Government Licence v3.0); Vehicle Certification Agency car fuel data, © Crown copyright, VCA cannot accept liability for its accuracy; fuel prices from the GOV.UK Fuel Finder scheme. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited under each picture.