The Hyundai i30 has taken top spot in the 2010 Driver Power survey. It's the first time in the survey's nine-year history that a Korean car has taken the prize.

The i30 hatch tops a podium with the Jaguar XF - last year's champion - below it and the Skoda Octavia in third. The result could prove the start of a real renaissance for the brand as it looks to emulate the reputation for quality enjoyed by European makers.

Hyundai UK MD Tony Whitehorn said: Thousands of new buyers have defected to Hyundai recently and they are genuinely surprised at the quality of the cars.

"Owners are recommending Hyundai to their friends and neighbours and it is through this word-of-mouth recommendation that the brand is becoming so popular so quickly."

The annual Driver Power survey, run by weekly magazine Auto Express, this year questioned 23,000 respondents on issues of reliability and customer satisfaction.

And the most recent results will prove an embarrassment to the makers of some of the UK's best-selling cars. The current Ford Focus and previous-generation Vauxhall Astra and Corsa finished 51st, 99th and 100th respectively. All three regularly feature (or featured) in the monthly top five sellers list.

Peugeot was shamed as the worst manufacturer overall for reliability too, with poor ratings for the 307 and 207. The latter is also a regular in the UK's top five sales list.

Mark Nichol - 15 Apr 2010