The Hyundai i10 and the Ford Fiesta are two subcompact hatchbacks designed primarily for intercity use. This does not mean that these can’t do highway and other types of long-distance journeys, but most people tend to not use them in that fashion. With such a small footprint, a subcompact hatchback is affordable, efficient, easy to use, and tends to be really popular.
The Hyundai i10 was first introduced back in 2007 and has since spawned three different generations. The latest i10 was introduced in 2019/2020 which means that it isn’t the most modern Hyundai model out there. The Ford Fiesta was first introduced in 1976 and has since spawned seven different generations.
In this article, we will tell you how these two small cars compare against each other and why you should go for one over the other. We will compare their engines, design, reliability, driving experience, value, practicality, safety, efficiency, and how comfortable and “luxurious” they are.
Either way, we can already say that both of these cars are good at what they do and you can’t really make a wrong decision here. So, Hyundai i10 vs Ford Fiesta – Which is better?
Hyundai i10
The Hyundai i10 resides in Hyundai’s most affordable hatchback segment which means that the i10 is an entry-level Hyundai in general. Engine-wise, you can choose between two different powertrains, all of which are gasoline-powered. The entry-level model gets a 1.0L 3-cylinder engine with either 67hp or 100hp or the larger 1.2L 4-cylinder that offers 84hp.
Design-wise, the i10 isn’t anything special, but that is to be expected for most cars in this segment. The latest i10 does look nicer than earlier i10 generations, but you really can’t expect a car as small as this to be anything special when it comes to design. The interior is well-appointed, but nothing to brag about either.
The driving experience is easy, relaxing, and fairly straightforward as the i10 does not try to be dynamic at all. Reliability is excellent as is the case with most Hyundai models on the current market. Values of these tend to be strong for a long time as the i10 does not depreciate as rapidly as some larger Hyundai hatchbacks.
Practicality is on par with other cars from this segment which means that these are not designed to carry passengers all that often. We also need to mention that the i10 is strictly a FWD car and that most of them come with a manual while an automatic is available as an option.
Ford Fiesta
The Ford Fiesta costs a few thousand dollars more than the Hyundai i10 at pretty much every stage and comparable trim level, but the Fiesta does offer more than the i10 when it comes to engine choices. You can choose between a smaller 1.0L 3-cylinder or a 1.1L 3-cylinder with both offering between 75hp and 125hp for the more powerful EcoBoost engine.
However, the Fiesta also comes in the performance-oriented “ST” form with its 1.5L EcoBoost 4-cylinder engine that offers an impressive 200hp. All Fiesta models also come with a FWD system and a manual while automatic is an option. Design-wise, the new Fiesta looks really nice thanks to a good-looking face, but is also nothing special as a whole.
The interior of the new Fiesta is nicely appointed, maybe even a bit better than the i10, but still nothing special. Where the Fiesta does make a difference is the driving experience as even the regular Fiesta feels fairly dynamic, let alone the performance-oriented ST model.
Reliability is also really good while depreciation is not bad at all. Practicality is as poor as with the i10 which means that these cars aren’t designed for transporting people anyway.
Verdict – The Ford Fiesta is better
The reason why picked the Fiesta to win this match is that it offers a more coherent experience as a whole. For starters, the Fiesta comes with more exciting and powerful engines. We also need to mention that the Ford Fiesta is capable of returning up to 51MPG while the i10 manages to return up to 48MPG as per a few credible online sources.
Design-wise, the Fiesta just feels a bit more continuous, especially on the inside where space is much more of a commodity than in the i10. The driving experience is also better with the Fiesta, let alone the ST model. The i10 is also an excellent car and there really isn’t much between the two.
The i10 is the more reliable car, it is cheaper, it comes with more safety kit as standard, and it feels better appointed at certain comparable trim levels.
FAQ Section
Is the Hyundai i10 more luxurious than the Ford Fiesta?
This question is a bit difficult to answer because we can’t say that either of these two is luxurious. The i10 does sometimes feel like a higher-end product, but well-equipped models are pretty much the same. I’d say that the best thing you can do is to not consider any of these to be luxurious in any way, shape, or form.
These are designed to be affordable and there really aren’t any truly luxurious cars in this segment, except maybe the Audi A1.
Is the Hyundai i10 safer than the Ford Fiesta?
It seems like the Hyundai i10 does manage to be a safer car when compared to the Ford Fiesta, especially as some outlets name the Ford Fiesta to be a fairly unsafe car in general. All in all, the Ford Fiesta is also a 5-star rated car which means that it is safe overall, even though some aspects of the Ford Fiesta aren’t the best.
The i10, on the other hand, is one of the safest cars in this segment and it also comes with decent safety kit from the factory.
Is the Hyundai 10 more desirable than the Ford Fiesta?
In places like the UK where both of these are really popular, the Ford Fiesta manages to sell a lot better which makes it more desirable as a whole. The i10 is also one of the best-sold cars in this segment, but not nearly as much as the Fiesta.
