The Hyundai i10 is the Best Small Car for the City on Sale today, according to the experts at one of the UK's most respected consumer automotive publications, What Car?. During the 2021 Awards ceremony, hosted virtually this week, it was also revealed that the IONIQ 5 was runner-up in the Reader Award, handed out to the cars that are most hotly anticipated by the publication's readers.
On their reasons for the i10's victory, the What Car? Team said: "The Hyundai i10's compact dimensions and great visibility make it ideally suited to the city, yet it doesn't feel out of its depth on faster roads, thanks to a 1.2-litre petrol engine that has enough oomph for stress-free journeys. Ride comfort is impressive at all speeds, too, even compared with many larger cars."
The i10 is an entirely ne car from the ground up compared with its predecessor, repositioning the model as a much more premium offering, complete with many USPs when compared with its competitors. The i10 is designed with a focus on technology, segment leading connectivity and safety features and a full five-seat configuration when many in the segment only offer four-seat models.
On IONIQ 5, the What Car? Team continued: "It can be very difficult to establish a new brand, but the fact that the IONIQ 5 is one of the upcoming models that What Car? readers are most excited about suggests that in this instance the awareness is already there, The striking design of the Hyundai 45 concept that previewed the IONIQ 5 no doubt helped it attract such a large proportion of the public vote, as did the wider interest that we're seeing in both electric cars and SUVs."
The IONIQ 5 is just one part of Hyundai's electrifies future. The IONIQ brand has now been born and signifies the forthcoming launch of a range of dedicated fully electric models built upon the new e-GMP platform. IONIQ 5, a midsize CUV, will be unveiled early this year; IONIQ 6 based on the acclaimed 'Prophecy' concept will follow; and then IONIQ 7, a large SUV in 2024.
Ashley Andrew, Hyundai Motor UK Managing Director, said: "These two awards are a perfect snapshot of the modern Hyundai business as it completes its transition from the value small-car specialist that first brought Hyundai to the UK, into a global powerhouse of electrified innovation and mobility. The Hyundai i10, now in its third generation, has been on sale in the UK since 2007, while the IONIQ 5 is set to be fully unveiled soon, becoming the first addition to Hyundai's dedicated all-electric IONIQ brand. We're delighted that UK consumers are already excited about its launch. The IONIQ 5 will join a number of other award-winning hybrid, plug-in hybrid and hydrogen-powered models already available to customers today."