With car makers focusing ever more carefully on costs, the viability of offering city cars comes into question. While some have exited the market altogether, others have rationalised their ranges. In the past, buyers often had a choice of performance-led pint-sized pocket rockets, but that sub-segment has all but dried up, except Volkswagen’s up! GTI. Now, Hyundai is challenging the German firm with its own take on the formula, with the i10 N-Line. While it costs virtually the same, the Korean alternative has a 99bhp 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine under its short and stubby bonnet, with 127lb ft of torque. That compares to 114bhp and 148lb ft for the Volkswagen. The i10 is capable of accelerating to 62mph in 10.5 seconds, with a top speed of 115mph, whereas the VW can do it in just 8.8 seconds, with a 122mph top speed. So it appears to be round one to the little up!, let’s move onto the interior.

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