Car Statistics: Hyundai - i30 Series 07 (4 stars)

Styling (3 stars)

Its looks are contemporary, tidy and to European tastes, both inside and out, but there's a blandness about it though that could soon make the i30 look ordinary.

Handling (4 stars)

It's surprisingly adept at tackling a B road, and urban drivers will particularly like the light steering, though this works less well on faster roads, depriving you of some reassuring weightiness at speed. The complex multi-link suspension - a very expensive component to develop - affords the i30 a surprising athleticism and helps it mop up bumps and potholes with aplomb. It also comes with electronic stability control as standard.

Comfort (4 stars)

An i30 plus point this, because it offers above average space in the rear, and decent room up front. The boot is not as big as some in the class, but the rear seats do fold flat.

Quality (5 stars)

A huge step forward from Hyundais of old - the cabin is of such a high quality finish that it could be a Volkswagen. It's all covered by a five year warranty, too.

Performance (3 stars)

The weakest model here is the 1.6 petrol, which is a bit noisy and does not go as well as it ought to. But the 1.6 diesel is a decent performer, and quiet at speed too. The 2.0 diesel should be brisk, though it will cost more to run.

Roominess (4 stars)

Enough space to fit four full-sized adults with adequate room in the leg, shoulder and head departments for all. The boot's a bit small, but that's because Hyundai left room underneath for a bulky multi-link rear suspension set up that benefits the handling.

Costs (4 stars)

Strong residual values, aided by a five year warranty, have helped keep this score high. Hyundai's dealers tend to be small, effective and fairly priced, and the 1.6 diesel's 60mpg-plus potential makes it particularly attractive on this front.

Value (4 stars)

A generous equipment count as standard, the five-year warranty and relatively keen prices make the i30 a good value buy.

Stereo (3 stars)

The i30's stereo is fairly decent and easy to use too, but satellite navigation is not an option on this model, though Hyundai dealers can supply an aftermarket system.