On the road: The new i20 was designed purely with the European market in mind. Hyundai believes that what we want is “class leading space, high technology and refined design”.

It’s not rocket science. One thing saying it, another delivering, however.

Space, check, technology, check, refined design? Well it’s a marked improvement on the outgoing model which was drab by comparison. There’s certainly a hint of character and were our test car adorned with a brighter hue I might have taken even more of a shine.

Available as a petrol or diesel, our test car came with a 1.4 litre engine, which, while capable when it got up to speed, felt it was straining itself to get there.

The i20 handles itself well, but can crash over bigger bumps.

On the inside: I MUST say I rather liked the interior of the i20. Neat and tidy, it has a modern feel and a logical layout. Vision is generally good and it’s easy to get comfortable.

There’s plenty of soft-touch materials and nice contrasts of colour to catch your eye.

What do you get: AS usual midrange gets you the best bang for your buck.

Our SE version came with 16ins alloys, heated front seats and steering wheel, front and rear parking sensors, panoramic glass electric tilt and slide sunroof, heated and powered wing mirrors, privacy glass, smartphone docking station and front foglights. Other equipment includes CD radio with MP3 capability, Bluetooth, steering wheel controls, electric windows and variable height boot floor.

How practical is it: THE i20 majors on space. Extending the wheelbase has created more interior room – in fact its class-leading.

Four can be seated in comfort, while if you wanted to carry five the extra person should not complain of being cramped.

The boot has 326 litres of space and is well-shaped making loading easy – certainly enough for the proverbial ‘big shop’.

Running costs: THE i20 is well priced and comes with a five-year unlimited mileage warranty, including five years of roadside assistance and five years of annual vehicle health checks. Hyundai say it’s possible to get 51.4mpg, we managed around 43mpg. CO2 emissions on our car were 127g/km. The i20 is in the D tax band.

Verdict: STYLISH looks and spacious interior slightly let down by weak engine.

Alternatives: FORD Fiesta, Vauxhall Corsa