WHILE THE WORLD seems to be going SUV crazy, there is still a lot to be said for said for the humble supermini. For urban and city driving, few cars offer as much versatility and practicality as these superminis.
You might not be able to do too much Ikea shopping with them, but squeezing into a tight parking spot won’t be a problem. Here’s a look at some of the best nearly-new superminis you can buy on a budget of €10k.
The current Hyundai i10 model was introduced in 2014 and quickly set the standard for cars in the supermini class. Its five-door design allowed for a surprisingly good amount of space in the rear for passengers, while still providing 218 litres of boot space.
Its 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine is responsive and makes the car feel nippy at urban speeds. While other cars in the segment have more character, the Hyundai feels one of the most solidly built.
Sharing the majority of the same mechanical genes as both the SEAT Mii and Volkswagen up!, the Skoda Citigo is the one that is just right. It not only looks better than the Mii, it is also cheaper than the up! and comes with decent levels of standard equipment.
You can also choose between three- and five-door models, but the latter is far more practical as well as popular. It features one of the largest boots in its class, at 251 litres, and you can fold down the rear seats to increase capacity if needed.
The Fiat 500 has been a hugely popular car and for a good reason. Its looks are just right, and the car hasn’t dated at all. Sticking to the supermini formula but adding some expected Italian style, the Fiat 500 is still one of the best cars in this segment of the market.
Since its launch, there has been a number of engines to choose from, but the petrol units are best. Fiat offered loads of personalisation with the 500, meaning there’s a wide variety of different colours and specs, so if you’re looking for something in particular, you should be able to find it eventually.
Like the Skoda Citigo, the Toyota Aygo was part of a trio – one that in this case also included the Citroen C1 and Peugeot 107. It performs well when it comes to ride comfort, and the handling isn’t too bad either. The 1.0-litre petrol engine is generally reliable, and many of these cars tend not to have particularly high mileage.
Older models were known to have clutch issues, but a modified version was fitted from 2009 onwards. Also watch out for the exhaust, which has been known to rust prematurely and could cause problems when to comes to the NCT. Newer versions got daytime running lights, transparent rear lights and restyled bumpers.
If you’re looking for a simple, cheap supermini, then the Suzuki Alto is worth adding to your shopping list. Its 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine isn’t the most polished among its rivals but it has enough power to cruise along on the motorway with relative ease.
As with many Suzuki models, the interior plastics feel cheap in places, but you do get an underlying sense that it will remain reliable for years to come.
The Ka remains the smallest Ford that you can buy, and even though it’s small, it handles quite well. It shares much of its mechanical underpinnings with the stylish Fiat 500, but Ford has made some of its own changes to it.
Like the Fiat, the Ka also came with a choice of petrol and diesel engines; however, it’s worth steering clear of the diesel. The 1.2-litre petrol is cheap to run, and as the Ka is a light car, it can return good fuel economy.
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