The entry-level 77bhp 1.2-litre petrol feels very peppy and flexible for a small engine; the 98bhp 1.4 is gutsier but has no great advantage. Diesel buyers can choose between a 74bhp 1.4 or a livelier 89bhp version; the 74bhp diesel is slow from 0-62mph, but is perfectly sufficient both in town and on the motorway.

The i20's light controls and punchy engines make it easy to drive in town, and it isn't half bad when the pace picks up, either. There's lots of grip, and the handling remains stable and predictable. The ride is soft and comfortable, but this does mean there is some body lean in bends. Combine that with the inert steering and it's certainly not as much fun to drive as the class best.

Even the entry-level petrol engine stays hushed when you're cruising, so there's little from under the bonnet to disturb you. You hear a bit of wind noise rushing down the car's sides, but road noise is the i20's main source of sound. It's still pretty quiet all round, though.

The i20's pricing is very aggressive, especially when you factor in the stack of kit each model comes with. Fuel economy and emissions are also very good, so it'll cost you peanuts to run. Residual values aren't great, but they're no worse than you get from some of the more popular cars in the class.

The cabin materials are sturdy and functional, so they shouldn't be ruined by the prying fingers of fidgety kids. They aren't particularly appealing, though, because they're a bit hard and scratchy, and that makes the cabin a rather drab place to sit. The i20's reliability is a bit of an unknown quantity, but Hyundai's record is pretty good, and you get a five-year warranty.

The i20 is one of the few superminis that gets stability control as standard across the range (or, at least, it will do after February 2010). That should really be applauded. Other safety measures found in all models are six airbags and active head restraints.

The i20's windows are big and the driving position is quite high, so it's very easy to see out of. However, taller drivers might feel that they're perched up a touch too high. The dashboard's plain design makes it pretty easy to use, but the bland design means there's little to get excited about.

The i20 has as much room as many of its mainstream rivals. There's enough cabin space for four adults to sit comfortably, but five's a squeeze and there's not a lot of rear legroom. The boot is wide and a decent size, and the three-door's rear seats split, fold near-flat and tumble forwards.

Entry-level Classic cars come with air-conditioning, remote central locking and electric front windows, but we'd recommend stepping up to Comfort spec – you'll get masses of kit, including alloys, electric rear windows, steering wheel-mounted controls and a cable to hook up your MP3 player. Style models get luxuries such as half-leather seats, a leather steering wheel, front foglights and climate control.