| Week at the wheel | Hyundai i20 |

Inside & Out:

"It looks alright, that" is the most common phrase uttered on first glance at the Hyundai i20. The patronising tone is most likely because, well, it's a Hyundai; despite the highly regarded visuals of its Coupe, Hyundai still isn't famed for its design finesse. The i20 doesn't break any design moulds, but it does indeed look alright, with its bubbly yet raked rear headlamps and that interesting slash that runs from the front wing down each side of the body then dips over the rear wheel arch.

Inside it's a little less dynamic, if not worthy of complaint. The shrunken i30/cee'd type styling is probably best described as 'functional'. Our mid-range Comfort spec test car was sadly not furnished with the silver trim flashes that more expensive cars get for the stereo and air vent surrounds - which lift a cabin that still smacks of Korean plainness - but it's not entirely without character. The driving position has plenty of adjustment, and while you wouldn't expect much tactility, there's a certain solidity about the switchgear and the way everything is put together.

Our one major complaint with the interior, however, is the baffling lack of access for the driver's side of the cabin. The front passenger seat gets a handle to tilt and slide the seat forward for rear access, as normal, but the driver's seat doesn't. That's a real shame, because while we were impressed at just managing to squeeze a family of four into the cabin along with a double buggy in the boot (sans parcel shelf), that lack of access soured the pleasant surprise.

Engine & Transmission:

There are plenty of more powerful, cleaner, more enjoyable and generally more impressive engine and transmission combos that we've awarded the same three-star score as this. However, the i20's 1.2-litre engine is a genuine surprise because it feels far pokier than its meagre displacement and 12.9-second 0-62mph sprint suggest it will. It's coarse near the red line, unsurprisingly, but the aural head bashing is kept to a pleasant minimum. The five-speed gearbox, although a little lightweight and 'springy' of feel, doesn't change cogs with the lumpy cheapness you fear it might, either.

Ride & Handling:

Much like the engine and transmission, the i20's handling characteristics are almost like those of a last-generation car, but that gives it an interesting character and makes it all the more engaging. The springs feel soft and the damping slack, which is as you'd expect because it's designed for tootling about town, but that makes it a comfortable day-to-day urban runabout. It also, however, makes it slightly wavy on the motorway: owing to its bouncy ride, noisy engine and inability to shut out wind and tyre roar very effectively, this is not a car very suited to long journeys.

But the Korean's handling characteristics are in line with the drivetrain: appealingly raw. The layer of engineering polish that can make even some superminis seem slightly detached and anodyne just isn't there. A composed cornering machine it definitely isn't - there's way too much body roll for that - but at the same time you're always in tune with what the wheels are doing, so wringing out the little 1.2 and carrying momentum from turn-to-turn is genuinely satisfying.

Equipment, Economy & Value for Money:

Considering the space, specification, price and five-year warranty, the i20 offers deeply compelling value for money. Our Comfort test car will set you back £9,650, but comes with alloy wheels, air conditioning, electric windows, full iPod connectivity (including a USB socket) and the all-important curtain airbags. That's a really decent spec, and as we've already said, it managed its brief stint as a family car very admirably indeed.

Combine that with fuel economy of 54.3mpg from the 1.2-litre four-pot engine and the sub-£10k supermini looks very good value indeed - especially alongside alternatives that usually cost more and/or are less well equipped - and certainly won't have the warranty. Its five-star Euro NCAP rating bolsters its case too, and Hyundai is boasting residuals five percent higher than the Corsa and Renault Clio after three years (based on CAP figures).

Overall:

Thankfully Hyundai hasn't tried to stray from its core brand values, so the i20 will by default attract certain buyers looking for maximum space for minimal outlay. However, it appeals deeper than that. It's stylish (from the outside at least), comfortable, seems built to last, and will offer a uniquely and bizarrely satisfying driving experience for those with a bit of enthusiasm behind the wheel.