Not all people love compact cars, but no one can deny that compact cars don’t make sense financially. They tend to be cheaper to buy, cheaper to run, cheaper to fuel up, and cheaper to repair if something goes wrong. They are really easy to drive, easy to see out of, and are made to be simple. They are mostly used for intercity driving, but can also do long-distance journeys fairly easily.
The Hyundai i10 first come to the scene back in 2007 and has since spawned three different generations. The latest i10 was introduced for the 2019/2020 model year and it follows Hyundai’s newer design language that does look a bit more memorable inside and out. As such, the current i10 is a fairly popular car in this segment for a variety of reasons.
On the other hand, the Opel Corsa has been around since 1982 and there are 6 different generations of it. The latest Corsa was also introduced for the 2019/2020 model year which means that these two are of the same age. So, Hyundai i10 vs Opel Corsa – Which is better?
We can already say that this will be a close one as both of these cars offer a fairly well-rounded experience. Both come with efficient, sophisticated, and long-lasting engines, a modern design language inside and out, and are reliable. However, if you want to find out why one is better than the other, be sure to read this article.
Hyundai i10
The Hyundai i10 is mostly being bought by people living in crowded European and Asian city streets. When it comes to engine choices, the i10 is available with either a 1.0L 3-cylinder engine with 67hp or 100hp or a larger 1.2L 4-cylinder engine with around 87hp respectively. All available i10 engines are strictly powered by gasoline which means that there are no diesel and hybrid variants yet.
All i10 models come with a permanent FWD system. A manual comes as standard while an automatic is available as an option. The exterior design is much better with the latest generation of the i10 thanks to better-looking lights and more exciting color choices. The interior is well-appointed, but nothing special.
Where the i10 takes the cake is reliability as it is one of the most reliable subcompact hatchbacks on the market. Second-hand i10 values are strong while the driving experience is not going to wow or offend anyone.
Practicality is on par with most cars from this segment which means that the i10 is not designed to carry people all that often.
Opel Corsa
The Opel/Vauxhall Corsa starts at a few thousand dollars more than the i10 which means that it should also offer more. Engine-wise, the Corsa does offer more because it comes with a 1.2L 3-cylinder engine that offers either 75hp, 100hp, or even 130hp with the Turbo model. It also comes with a 1.5L 4-cylinder diesel engine that offers 102hp, and a Corse-e electric model that offers a 50kW battery and 136hp.
FWD is the only drivetrain option for the Corsa, a manual gearbox is standard while an automatic is also available. Design-wise, the latest Opel Corsa does look really cool, especially in blacked-out trim packages and a nice contrasting color. The interior is relatively barebone, but adequately modern and well equipped with everything you need.
Reliability is not the best, especially when compared to the i10 which manages to be one of, it not the most reliable cars in this segment. 2nd hand values are strong because many people are interested in buying the latest generation of the Corsa. The driving experience is much more exciting than with the i10 as the Corsa does feel more dynamic.
Practicality is also on par with the rest of the segment, but it does fall short of the i10 in many areas such as rear seating space.
Verdict – It’s a drawn
We didn’t choose a winner for this test because both of these have lots to offer. For starters, the i10 is cheaper, it is cheaper to run, it is much more reliable and more practical. On the other hand, the Corsa is more exciting to drive, gets better engines, arguably looks better, and is slightly more efficient.
You can also get the Corsa with an electric motor and with a diesel motor, both of which can’t be found under the i10s hood. Corsa feels more exciting to drive thanks to more exciting engines and better handling, but the i10 feels a bit more comfortable and easier to drive.
The i10 also offers better all-around visibility and it comes with better safety features from the factory. All in all, both of these cars are good which means that you can’t really make a wrong choice with either of them.
FAQ Section
Is Opel the same as Vauxhall and Buick?
Opel is a decades-old German affordable car brand with a longstanding legacy of making all sorts of cars, from mini hatchbacks, large sedans, SUVs, and even pickup trucks, Opel is a fairly well-known European brand. Vauxhall is a British brand, but all Vauxhall cars are essentially rebadged Opel cars as that has been the case for decades as well.
Buick, on the other hand, was pretty much the same as Vauxhall, but in 2017, Buick was freed and they started making their own cars with their own design language which means that Buick isn’t the same as Opel, not anymore at least.
Is the Hyundai i10 safer than the Opel Corsa?
Both of these cars are safe which means that safety isn’t an issue. However, the i10 does get a better safety systems palette straight from the factory as opposed to the Corsa which only gets the bare minimum. However, if you want these two to be as safe as they can be, you will have to pay lots of money for optional safety features.
Why aren’t the Hyundai i10 and Opel Corsa available in the US?
Compact hatchbacks and compact cars in general aren’t all that popular in the US which is why you can’t buy a Hyundai i10 or an Opel Corsa in the US. These were never offered in the US and are likely never going to be offered as US customers simply don’t care enough to buy cars as small as these.