Hyundai i10 vs Hyundai Inster
Figures updated
The Hyundai Inster is a new rival to the Hyundai i10, one of the UK's most popular city cars. We compare the Mk3 (2019–) i10 and the Mk1 (2024–) Inster on price, size, boot space, performance, safety, official economy and running costs.
The short answer
Pick the Hyundai i10 for the lower price, or the Hyundai Inster for the bigger boot.
- The Hyundai i10 is the cheapest to buy new: from £18,365, £4,630 less than the Hyundai Inster.
- The Hyundai Inster has the biggest boot: 280 litres, 28 more than the Hyundai i10.
- Euro NCAP safety: Hyundai i10 3 stars (2020), Hyundai Inster 4 stars (2025). Ratings from different years aren't directly comparable, as the tests get tougher.
- No MOT reliability comparison yet: the Hyundai Inster is too new for MOT records (cars first take an MOT at three years old).
- Watch the brakes on a Hyundai i10: it fails on them 1.7 times as often as the average car.
| Figure | Hyundai i10Mk3 (2019–), 5-door hatchback | Hyundai InsterMk1 (2024–), 5-door SUV |
|---|---|---|
| Price and practicality | ||
| Price newUK list prices, across the range | £18,365 to £21,115April 2026 price list (best) | £22,995 to £28,245August 2026 price list |
| Body | 5-door hatchback | 5-door SUV |
| Seats | 5 (best) | 4 |
| BootSeats up / folded | 252 litres / 1,050 | 280 litres / 1,059 (best) |
| Length | 3,670mm | 3,825mm |
| WidthWithout mirrors | 1,680mm | 1,610mm |
| Height | 1,480mm | 1,575mm |
| Performance | ||
| Power | 63–90 PS | 97–115 PS (best) |
| 0–62mph | 11.4–18.4 sec | 10.6–11.7 sec (best) |
| Safety | ||
| Euro NCAP ratingTests get tougher each year | ★★★★★ (2020) | ★★★★★ (2025) |
| Economy and emissions | ||
| Fuel types | Petrol | Electric |
| Official economyVersions of this generation | 49.6–56.5 mpg | – |
| CO2 | 114–130 g/km | – |
| Electric range | – | 203–230 miles |
| Running costs at 7,500 miles a year | ||
| Petrol or hybrid171.4p a litre, today's UK average | £1,117 (52.3 mpg) | – |
| Electric, charged at home26.3p per kWh standard tariff | – | £548 (4 mi/kWh) |
| Cheapest version to fuelWhichever fuel costs least | £1,117 (petrol) | £548 (electric) |
| Car tax a yearCars registered from April 2017 | £200 | £200 |
| Reliability from real MOT tests | ||
| Reliability score | 86Below average | Too new for MOT data |
| Failed MOT first time (ages 3–20) | 27.5% | – |
| Failed at 3 years old | 15.5% | – |
| Failed at 5 years old | 17.6% | – |
| Failed at 10 years old | 31.5% | – |
| Most common MOT fault | Wipers (3.6% of tests) | – |
| Fails more than average on | Brakes (1.7×), Visibility (1.6×) | – |
| MOT tests analysed | 244,250 | – |
| About the cars | ||
| Type | City car | City car |
| Owners' average miles a year | 5,200 | – |
| On sale | 2019 on | 2024 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 Hyundai i10 or the Hyundai Inster more reliable?
It's too early to say from MOT records: the Hyundai Inster is too new, as cars take their first MOT at three years old. The Hyundai i10 has a reliability score of 86 (100 is average) from 244,250 MOT tests in 2024.
›Which is bigger, the Hyundai i10 or the Hyundai Inster?
The Hyundai Inster is 155mm longer (3,825mm against 3,670mm). The Hyundai Inster has the bigger boot: 280 litres against 252.
›Which is cheaper to buy, the Hyundai i10 or the Hyundai Inster?
The Hyundai i10: new prices start at £18,365, £4,630 less than the Hyundai Inster (from £22,995). These are manufacturer list prices; dealers and brokers often sell for less.
›Which is safer, the Hyundai i10 or the Hyundai Inster?
Euro NCAP gave the Hyundai i10 3 stars (2020) and the Hyundai Inster 4 stars (2025). Euro NCAP makes its tests tougher every few years, so ratings from different years aren't directly comparable.
›Should I buy the Hyundai i10 or the Hyundai Inster?
Pick the Hyundai i10 for the lower price, or the Hyundai Inster for the bigger boot. 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.