Hyundai Amica (2006 - To Date)

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

BY ANDY ENRIGHT

At first glance, theres not a whole lot thats rock and roll about the Hyundai Amica but in one respect, its 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.

Two trim levels are available in the standard line-up. The entry level GSI furnishes you with power steering, central-locking, electric front windows and a CD stereo. The range-topping CDX costs more but adds a good haul of extras. Air-conditioning features, as do remote central locking, 13" alloy wheels with an unusual three-spoke design, front fog lamps, a rear spoiler and power for the windows in the rear. You cant really argue with this level of specification given the Amicas bargain price point. The safety provision includes ABS with EBD, seatbelt pretensioners and 3-point belts in the rear but only the driver gets an airbag. Hyundai have done a creditable job of styling the Amica.

Build
Comfort
Depreciation
Economy
Equipment
Handling
Insurance
Performance
Styling
Value

Although the flanks do still bear a striking resemblance to those of the old UK model which was discontinued in 2003, the car has been thoroughly refreshed at each end. Large headlamps dominate the front, sitting above the chunky bumper and either side of the H-shaped grille. At the back, the predominantly red light clusters stand out while the thick black rubbing strip along the bumper mirrors that at the front and those down the sides. The roofline slopes rearward slightly giving a sportier stance and although it isnt the most eye-catching of city car designs, its certainly not going to offend anyone.

Inside, the Amica is some way off the pace in terms of the funky design that younger city car buyers look for. Effort has been put in with good-looking, comfortable seats featuring side bolsters picked out in grey, some nice storage solutions and central air-vents that bulge out of the dash but elsewhere the surroundings fairly anonymous. The old-school control levers for the ventilation system are emblematic of the tired feel inside. Accommodation is good in the Amica, especially for the driver and front passenger who get a surprising amount of space.

Travelling four-up, headroom is plentiful but, as is the case with almost all vehicles in this sector, leg and shoulder room in the rear are limited. Its best to reserve the rear seats for children and the vertically-challenged.

Prices for the Amica start at around £4,500 for an 06 plated 1.1-litre GSi model. Opt for the ritzier CDX and youll 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.

Despite covering low overall mileages, most Amicas see some pretty tough usage in the heart of the UKs 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 Amicas tyres and bumpers tyres are in good shape, that the chrome work hasnt gone a bit flaky and that theres a full service history on display. Try to get one with the ABS option fitted.

(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 youll 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

The Amica is powered by a 1.1-litre four cylinder petrol engine with 12-valves. Maximum power is produced at 5,500rpm but its 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 cars modest kerb weight of 1,007kg helps it feel quite sprightly off the line and means it can easily keep up with traffic, unless youve 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 its 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 youd expect, isnt a car thats 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 wont 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 sectors leading lights do significantly better. Youll 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.

The Hyundai Amica didnt 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.