Hyundai i20 : THE I OF THE BEHOLDER

June Neary gets to grips with Hyundai's best ever supermini.

Hyundai coming up with a genuinely competitive supermini is probably that last thing that most small car buyers need. Nobody wants to pay good money for the wrong car but there is such a thing as too much choice. The i20 is yet another supermini that warrants serious consideration. I'd already sampled the marque's i30 family hatchback and i10 city car so I had a rough idea of what was coming when the i20 supermini slotted in between them. It was likely to be well built, practical and competitively priced but most of all, it was likely to be another viable entrant in the supermini market's mainstream. Buyers doing their research would not only need to consider the Fiesta, Corsa, Clio, Punto, 207, Ibiza, Polo and others but also the i20 too. The real question though, is whether or not the Hyundai is equipped to come out on top?

The design of the i20 is probably going to be too sober for some tastes but it's clean, neat and generally very well executed. A kerb weight of 1,222kg means it's no featherweight but it makes good use of its bulk by delivering a respectably spacious cabin. Space in the back will be generous enough for adults to undertake short journeys and fine for kids, while the boot is impressively proportioned. Fold down the 60:40 split rear seats and a flat load floor is created with room for some seriously big cargos. There's also a massive glovebox and a number of other useful receptacles dotted around the interior. Hyundai has played it pretty safe with the looks of the i20. From the front and rear three-quarter views, it looks very similar to a five-door Vauxhall Corsa - which is no bad thing I suppose. Otherwise, the shape is pretty forgettable. The interior though isn't what you'd expect of a car in this price bracket - it's far better. There are quality materials and soft-touch surfaces that wouldn't be out of place in a model costing twice this much.

With a height-adjustable driver's seat and a steering column that adjusts for both rake and reach, the i20 should prove accommodating for drivers of most shapes and sizes. The wheel itself is highly reminiscent of a Honda item, even down to the big `H' at its centre, and is as comfortable a thing to grasp as it is attractive on the eye. None of the engines on offer are especially fast but all will probably be adequate for their intended market. The 1.2-litre petrol unit offers 76bhp and the ability to launch the car to 60mph in 12.9s before proceeding to a 106mph top speed, just over half a second quicker than the fastest of the two rather noisy 1.4-litre diesels. The 1.2 is the best selling i20 in the UK and justifiably so seeing as the larger 88bhp 1.4 isn't much faster to sixty. It's worth pointing out though, that both petrol engines have above-average in-gear acceleration, the 50-70mph increment being dispatched a full 4 seconds quicker than a comparable Fiesta - good to know when you're about to put out from behind that swaying artic. Nor do the engines let the side down when it comes to economy and emissions. On CO2, you'll get between 116 and 118g/km from 1.4-litre diesels which return around 64mpg on the combined cycle. The Co2 figures are either 124 or 133g/km if you go for either the 1.2 or 1.4-litre petrols, with the 1.2 able to return around 54mpg on the combined cycle. Insurance groups range between 3 and 4.

Hyundai is offering the i20 with three trim levels, Classic, Comfort and Style. Even the entry level Classic model comes with air-conditioning, an iPod connector for the stereo, electric front windows, electric door mirrors and a trip computer. There are three and five-door bodystyles available too so buyers can take the practical option or a slightly sportier one with the three-door. Hyundai's exemplary five year unlimited mileage warranty package will be a major draw for buyers with their eyes on the bottom line - and is one reason why this car should hold its value so well - in the short term at least.

I've got to say I like the i20. It's another in a long line of creditable efforts from the marque and while it might lack the sparkle of some of its contemporaries, it's refreshingly straightforward and difficult to fault. It does mean that supermini buyers have yet another name to consider but if you priorities are value, build quality and a peace of mind ownership experience, you might find yourself doing more than just considering the i20.