Hyundai i20 1.2 Comfort review

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Hyundai i20 1.2 Comfort Road Test

Test date 07 January 2009 Price as tested £11,245

For Price, generous safety equipment, frugal 1.2-litre petrol engine

Against Over-assisted steering, poor cruising refinement,

Until recently, it’s fair to say that the arrival of a new model from Hyundai was unlikely to cause sleepless nights for rival manufacturers.

But a succession of increasingly competent offerings from the Korean brand has moved it away from the bargain basement position in the market that it used to occupy, and the coming of age was marked by the introduction of the deeply impressive i30 hatchback last year, which proved itself worthy as a genuine rival to the Ford Focus and Volkswagen Golf.

Now Hyundai is hoping to build on its successes with the new i20 supermini, which combines modern design, frugal engines and safety with the brand’s tried-and-tested virtues of generous standard kit and one of the best warranties in the business. The i20 replaces the insipid Getz, and will be constructed in India alongside the i10 city car, but it was designed and engineered in Europe.

At £9445, this mid-range 1.2-litre Comfort 5dr is nearly £700 more expensive than the priciest Getz. At the top of the range, an 89bhp 1.4 CRDI diesel in Style trim will cost £11,845.