Britain’s cheapest sub-100g/km car should soon be driving Hyundai into a new area for fleet business.

With revised engines providing better performance, cleaner exhausts and greater economy, latest examples of the Korean firm’s I10 city model range promise to make inroads with operators looking to trim surging costs.

Sub-120g/km emissions and high-value pricing will make the 1.2-litre five-door cars an attractive proposition with businesses and drivers alike.

But the 99g/km Blue version – the only five-seat hatchback to offer VED and congestion charge exemption for less than £10,000 – offers a particularly persuasive bottom line, believes Hyundai Motor UK managing director Tony Whitehorn.

“At first sight, the city car segment doesn’t appear to have much fleet appeal, but rising costs are prompting many fleets to consider downsizing. I have particularly high hopes for this range and I’ll be surprised if demand doesn’t outstrip supply,” he told Fleet News.

More than 23,000 registrations put the I10 at the top of the A-segment ahead of the Ford Ka and Fiat 500 last year, and 16,000 examples are being made available this year.

Facelift treatment provides a fresh grille, colour-coded side mouldings, new lamp clusters and an upgraded interior boasts air conditioning and iPod connectivity as standard.

Electric windows, four airbags, six-speaker stereo and central locking are also included across three trim levels.

Powered by a refined three-cylinder 1.0-litre motor linked with five-speed transmission and stop-start technology, the Blue provides nippy urban transport and is small enough to make light work of every city street manoeuvre.

But a relatively long wheelbase provides sufficient space for passengers to allow this car to tackle longer trips – and its lusty little engine copes well with major route driving and buzzes quietly along motorways.

Verdict

For fleets that need a sub-100g/km small car option, the I10 is cheap to run and offers much better practicality than traditional city cars.