The Northern Echo:

On the road: ARGUABLY better looking and more distinctive than its rivals, the i30 is off to a good start before you even step inside. Ditching the two rear doors may cause practicality issues, but it certainly allows for flowing lines along its flanks. And while you wouldn’t buy the i30 to light up the streets, it certainly gives the impression that it might engender a little fun. We tested the 1.6 litre, 108bhp, diesel-powered model and found it needed to be worked to get the best out of it. That’s not to say it’s a bad unit, it‘s just that at times it felt like it needed to gird its loins before embarking on any significant overtaking manoeuvre. The most criticism, though, is reserved for the numb steering and the rather archaic feeling gearbox. It’s a trait that has let down the side for a number of years now and is something that surely needs some addressing. Otherwise, the i30 handles well. It does suffer from a little wind and road intrusion, but not enough to cause you a headache on long journeys.

On the inside: THE smart exterior is complimented by a fresh and modern interior. The materials, while perhaps not grade A, are more than up to the job and there’s good use of soft plastics where possible. The layout is relatively straightforward, while still being imaginative it in its design and is easy on the eye. The seats are comfortable and there’s no problem when it comes to adjusting. However, no matter what I did, every time I got out they slid forward to their original position, meaning my knees were rammed under the steering wheel until I could move it back.

What do you get: HYUNDAI is still acutely aware that while it has come on in leaps and bounds in recent years, there are still those out there that refuse to migrate from the more established brands. As a consequence they try to entice you in with a level of kit that generally exceeds what you might expect. Even entry level cars come well stocked, but our Active model came with 16ins alloys, air conditioning, LED daytime running lights, electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors, Bluetooth, rear parking sensors, USB and Aux connections and a plethory of safety equipment. In fact, the only option included was metallic paint. In addition, there’s also the peace of mind you get from Hyundai’s five-year Triple Care package - consisting of warranty, roadside assistance and annual vehicle health checks.

How practical is it: THE i30 matches its rivals in the cabin space race, and plants them in the weeds when it comes to boot room. Those in the front have plenty of leg and headroom and three can be seated in relative comfort in the back. Obviously, getting in and out of the rear seats isn’t as easy as would be with the five-door version. I found putting my baby into his child seat required me to be a bit more bendy than I am these days, but generally speaking it’s not too much of a hassle. The boot has 378 litres of space and that increases to 1,316 litres with the 60:40 split rear seats folded.

Running costs: HYUNDAI claim that with our particular test car you should get close to 75mpg on the combined cycle, with the urban projected at 67.3mpg and extra urban 78.5mpg. CO2 emissions are 100g/km, meaning, as it falls into the Band A category, there’s no car tax to pay in this instance. Build quality appears impressive overall and the company is much more highly regarded in terms of reliability than it was in the days of yore.

Verdict: IF only the issues with the steering and gearchange could be ironed out then I would have no hesitation in recommending the i30. Those bugbears aside, it is an attractive alternative to mainstream offerings.

Alternatives: Ford Focus, VW Golf