Hyundai Amica Review (2006 to date)

Quick Summary

The Hyundai Amica didn't seem a notably modern car back in 2000 and seven years have done nothing to broaden its appeal. The bottom line is that there are many better cars around for much the same money. If you are looking for hassle-free, reliable motoring, the Amica has a place, but its high emissions and so-so fuel economy act as demerits to its practicality and ease of use benefits.

Overall:

Models Covered:(5 dr hatch 1.1 petrol [CDX, GSi] )

AN AMICABLE SETTLEMENT

At first glance, there's not a whole lot that's rock and roll about the Hyundai Amica but in one respect, it's the Elvis Presley of city cars. Just as 'The King' was resurrected from the dead to hit the road once again (albeit with the judicious use of period footage, huge diamond screens, digital remastering and most of his old band), so the Amica was returned from what most thought its funeral plot to play a few last gigs. As a used car it offers a cheap and dependable but rather dated proposition that offers virtually the peace of mind of a new car.
Used Hyundai Amica for sale

History of the Amica

There's a paradox at the heart of the British city car market. If you're trying to squeeze the most internal space into a necessarily short wheelbase, you need something fairly tall and roughly cuboid in shape. The Asian markets realised this some time ago and vehicles like the Daihatsu Move, Suzuki Wagon R and the Hyundai Atoz made hay in their domestic markets. In Britain, however, we have an aversion to driving around in boxes. These cars never made much of an inroad, buyers of city tots preferring things that were a little more rounded such as the Ford Ka and even the Chevrolet (née Daewoo) Matiz. Hyundai answered back with the Amica, a car that looked much like its existing Atoz albeit with some chamfered-off edges. On sale between 2000 and 2003, sales were disappointing. When it was finally withdrawn from sale, most thought Hyundai would be back with a city car that would rival the class best.What appeared in February 2006 was… the Amica again. This time with a revised front and rear but there was no mistaking the overall shape. A new 1.1-litre engine provided the power and equipment levels were more generous, presumably to compensate for the rather dated feel of the interior. An 'Atlantic' price-leading version was introduced in Summer 2007.
Used Hyundai Amica for sale

Hyundai Amica Road Test

The Amica is powered by a 1.1-litre four cylinder petrol engine with 12-valves. Maximum power is produced at 5,500rpm but it's only 62bhp so heart-stopping performance is never going to be on the menu. If you must know, the 0-60mph sprint will detain you for a full 15.2s and if you go for the 4-speed automatic gearbox option, that time extends to a laborious 18.9s. Top speeds are 91mph for the manual and 86mph for the automatic but all of this is rather missing the point. The Amica is designed for use in busy towns and cities where the chance to exceed 30mph rarely presents itself and speeds of over 60mph are the stuff of legend. The car's modest kerb weight of 1,007kg helps it feel quite sprightly off the line and means it can easily keep up with traffic, unless you've really weighed it down with shopping. The ride quality on the flat is decent but the little 13" wheels do let you know about it if they run over a pothole. The turning circle of just 5.1m, combined with the aforementioned compact dimensions, will have you claiming the most inaccessible parking spaces for your own and squeezing through the slightest gaps. Yes, the Amica is well-equipped for urban life but it's not a car that can happily turn its hand to longer journeys as extended stints at the wheel can quickly become tiring. The Amica, as you'd expect, isn't a car that's going to put a big dent in the ozone layer every time you fire it up in the morning. Its 1.1-litre engine produces 128g/km of CO2, which won't win it any prizes - the auto model churns out 145g/km. This means that the Amica will miss out on low emissions reductions for congestion charging – something worth bearing in mind when choosing a city scoot. Fuel economy of 42mpg is not stellar for this size car with this size engine and some of the sector's leading lights do significantly better. You'll get 50mpg from a 1.1-litre Fiat Panda, 46mpg from a 1.2-litre Volkswagen Fox and 61mpg from a 1.0-litre Citroen C1.
Used Hyundai Amica for sale

Buying a Hyundai Amica

Despite covering low overall mileages, most Amicas see some pretty tough usage in the heart of the UK's metropolitan areas. It has one of the better 1.1-litre engines and dealers report that reliability to date has been excellent. As with any small city car, check for parking bumps and scrapes, especially as the Amica may well have been purchased as a first car after passing the driving test. Also check the fitments at the rear for signs of damage by little hands. Most manufacturers could save a lot of money by taking a couple of four-year olds for a test drive in the back of their cars to see what gets ripped out. Otherwise, ensure that the Amica's tyres and bumpers tyres are in good shape, that the chrome work hasn't gone a bit flaky and that there's a full service history on display. Try to get one with the ABS option fitted.
Used Hyundai Amica for sale

Hyundai Amica Typical Pricing

Prices for the Amica start at around £4,500 for an 06 plated 1.1-litre GSi model. Opt for the ritzier CDX and you'll need around £5,000. The only other permutation is the CDX with auto box which tacks a hefty £800 onto that price. Insurance groupings start at 3 for the GSI and top out at a hardly nosebleed 4 for the CDX.
Used Hyundai Amica for sale

Hyundai Amica Parts

(approx prices based on Amica 1.1) Nothing too terrifying here. Most Amica parts are relatively cheap. A replacement exhaust is £210, but if you need a catalyst you'll need to fork out another £400. Headlamps are around £90 each, whilst a new clutch assembly is £130. Expect to pat around £170 for an alternator and £150 for a starter motor. Front brake pads are £60 a pair with rears retailing at £72. All about par for the course…
Used Hyundai Amica for sale