13/03/09

• Price9445
• We like...Price, kit, warranty
• We don't...Bony ride; cheap plastics

New baby car is cheap to own and boasts a five-year warranty. But can it cut it against the best of its rivals?No doubt: this i20’s good value. It’s cheaper than a similar-model Ford Fiesta but has more equipment as standard, while there’s a five-year Hyundai warranty against the Ford’s three years.

For some buyers, that will be enough to clinch the decision. But is there more to think about? We reckon that there might be.

While the i20 is vastly better than the Getz supermini that it replaces, it breaks no new ground. The 1.2 engine in ours is lively – if noisy and thrashy-sounding once you put it to work. The steering’s pleasingly darty and responsive but feels a touch too light.

The ride, meanwhile, feels bony and unsettled, particularly if you’ve stepped into the car from one of the best of its European-built rivals. The mix of engine noise and tyre and road roar will make a lengthy spell on the motorway more tiring than it need be. So it’s OK to drive and will great if your previous car was old. But a Fiesta, Clio or Corsa will feel nicer.

The i20’s cabin is spacious given the car’s modest overall size and there are seats for five, although three sat in the rear will be squashed and the centre seat’s padding is too thin. Boot size is decent, too, the big hatch opening easily via a handle under the maker’s badge.

Inside, the list of what comes as standard on our mid-spec Comfort model is a long ‘un. Six airbags, air conditioning, alloy wheels, heated mirrors that fold in and somewhere to plug in your iPod all come within the price.

Hyundai has done its best to cheer up the cabin too, draping red panels across the centre of the seats and along the armrests in the doors. It’s effective, and a height-adjustable seat and steering makes it a cinch for the driver to place her or his-self just so.

But the plastic used to form the dash looks bargain-store, while the mis-match of finishes between, say, the inside door handles and the steering wheel trim adds cheapness. It all looks sturdy enough, though and there’s enough places to keep your belongings, although the pot-shaped ash tray looks clumsy.

It’s cheap enough to run, though, and its fuel economy and emissions levels are good.

You won’t find second-hand i20s for a while because the model is just launched but if you want a basic, tough and very cheap car, then the Getz is worth a look. Here’s the crunch: should you put your money into an i20? Well, you could do worse. Tot up what you get, plus the warranty and the best cars in its class lag way behind. On paper. For similar cash, you’d get a nearly new basic-spec five-door Fiesta. It would be better to drive but you’d do without alloy wheels and air conditioning, and it would have fewer airbags aboard, too. If you want new, the i20 saves the day.

• Engines1.2 petrol
• Power77bhp
• 0-60 mph12.9secs
• Economy54.3mpg
• CO2g/km124
• Insurance groups3E
• EuroNCAP
• Airbags6
• Seats5

Motors.co.uk value verdict: