The Hyundai i10 looks set for a major shift in 2027, marking a turning point for the brand’s entry level segment. According to reports, the current petrol powered model will be phased out entirely, making way for a new generation of electric and electrified city cars from Hyundai. Rather than a direct combustion engine successor, the i10 name is expected to carry over into a fully electric compact.
The end of the petrol i10
Current production lines are reportedly being updated to make room for Hyundai’s next generation electric models. In its place, Hyundai is said to be developing a fully electric city car in the A/B segment, with a starting price estimated under 20,000 to 22,000 euros, positioning it to compete with cars like the Renault Twingo E-Tech and the brand new Dacia Spring (our preview here).
Design wise, the new model is expected to follow the futuristic language already established by Hyundai’s Ioniq and Inster ranges, with pixel LED headlights and a taller, more squared off urban crossover style. Production is expected to take place at Hyundai’s plant in İzmit, Turkey, a key production hub for the brand’s compact models sold in Europe.
Filling the gap under 20,000 euros
Retiring the petrol i10 leaves a clear gap at the entry level of Hyundai’s European range. The brand is expected to fill that space with a new, ultra compact electric city car around 3.60 metres long, aimed at a price point below 20,000 euros.
That would position it clearly below the current Hyundai Inster, which despite being compact at 3.82 metres, sits higher both in price and in positioning, leaning more toward a small urban crossover. The spiritual successor to the i10 would instead take over as Hyundai’s true entry point.
Platform and mechanicals
The new model is reported to use a BorgWarner/K3 based architecture, built around next generation integrated electric drive modules (iDM) developed to maximise efficiency within a compact footprint. To keep costs down, it is expected to use LFP batteries, with an estimated capacity between 35 and 40 kWh, enough for a real world urban range in the region of 250 to 300 km.
Cabin and technology
On entry level versions, the dashboard is reported to lean on smartphone integration for navigation and infotainment, reducing reliance on complex dedicated screens.
Sustainability also features prominently, with extensive use of recycled plastics and PET based trim aimed at reducing the car’s production carbon footprint.
What this could mean for the Nordics
If the reports hold up, Hyundai’s Nordic lineup would end up with two distinct small electric models sitting close together: a genuinely budget focused i10 successor below 20,000 euros, and the pricier, more crossover styled Inster above 24,000 euros. For Nordic buyers, where small electric cars have struggled to match the price of city cars like the Dacia Spring, a sub-20,000 euro Hyundai could be a meaningful new option, provided Hyundai confirms both the car and its availability outside Hyundai’s core European markets.
None of this has been officially confirmed by Hyundai, and figures such as pricing, range and dimensions remain estimates at this stage.
