Hyundai is pulling the plug on its best-selling ICE-powered hatchback. Production of the i10 ended after an 18-year run, but a new entry-level EV is coming soon to take its place.
Hyundai has a new entry-level EV to step in for the i10
After launching in Europe and the UK in 2008, the i10 became a hit for Hyundai thanks to its affordable price, modern tech, and comfortable interior.
In its 18 years on the market, Hyundai has sold over 3.3 million i10 models globally. Over 370,000 were sold in the UK alone. The ICE-powered city car was particularly popular in the UK and Europe, but sales have fallen in recent years as cheaper, more efficient options have arrived.
Hyundai officially ended i10 production for the UK and Europe markets. According to Auto Express, UK dealers still have models available, but the company is no longer taking factory orders.
Although the i10 doesn’t have a “direct successor,” the move is to make room at Hyundai’s manufacturing plant in Turkey for a new EV.
The “new EV” being referred to is the IONIQ 3, which will arrive later this year. We got a sneak peek of it with the Concept Three at the Munich Motor Show in September. According to Hyundai’s German website, the IONIQ 3 will make its official debut in April 2026, with sales expected to start shortly after.
Unlike Hyundai’s other IONIQ models, the IONIQ 3 features a radical new “Aero Hatch” design. Hyundai says the design is “a new typology that reimagines the compact EV silhouette.”
With a length of 4,287 mm, a width of 1,940 mm, and a height of 1,428 mm, with a wheelbase of 2,722 mm, the IONIQ 3 is bigger than the i10. It’s about the size of the Kia EV3 or Volkswagen ID.3.
As its debut approaches, a few camouflaged prototypes have been caught testing with a design nearly identical to the concept, including the hot hatch profile and ducktail spoiler.
Hyundai will announce prices closer to launch, but given the Kona Electric starts at £35,000 ($47,000), it will likely be closer to £25,000 ($33,700).
While it’s not quite as cheap as the i10, priced from £18,350 ($24,600), Hyundai is pointing buyers to the Inster EV. The Hyundai Inster starts at £23,495 ($31,500) in the UK as the brand’s current entry-level EV.
Electrek’s Take
The i10 is the latest ICE-powered city car to be discontinued as Europe and the UK shift to more efficient, electric, and hybrid vehicles.
The Kia Picanto is now the only ICE-powered city car available in the UK, and with the EV2 set to go on sale soon, that could be on the way out too.
Several new entry-level electric cars are set to go on sale over the next few years, such as the Volkswagen ID.Polo, giving buyers more options at a lower cost.
Unfortunately, Hyundai is not expected to bring the IONIQ 3 or the Inster EV to the US. The IONIQ 5 was the fifth-best-selling EV in the US last year, partly because it is one of the most affordable electric vehicles on the market. With the recent policy changes and America’s love of bigger trucks and SUVs, it would likely cost more to sell the IONIQ 3 in the US than it’s worth.
If you’re looking for an affordable EV in the US, Hyundai’s lineup is a great place to start, with IONIQ 5 leases starting from just $189 a month right now. Check out the links below to find deals near you.
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