Hyundai i20

The new Hyundai i20 range starts at just £8,195 for the three-door 1.2-litre Classic. Its 78PS 1.2-litre petrol engine with its CO2 rating of just 124g/km is around 15g less than similarly-sized petrol engines from some rivals and it returns 54.3 mpg on the combined cycle. There’s also a 1.4-litre, 100PS 1.4-litre petrol borrowed from the Hyundai i30 . In the i20 it returns 50.4mpg on the combined cycle and produces 133g/km – Hyundai claim that this is better that some rivals’ 1.0-litre engines.

For even better fuel economy, the all-new CRDi engines, with 1.4-litre capacity, offer 75PS or 90PS. The 75PS version emits just 116g/km, and can return 64.2 mpg, and the 90PS model still falls under the 120g/km threshold, emitting just 118g/km, and managing 62.8 mpg. This places both i20 diesels in band ‘B’ for VED, making a tax disc cost just £35/year, and company car drivers are taxed for benefit-in-kind at just 13%.

When it goes on sale in the new year, the three-door 1.2-litre Classic will start at just £8,195, with the five door costing an extra £450. All i20s are equipped with air-conditioning, six airbags, active head restraints, remote locking, electric front windows and an aux-in socket. In addition there is the reassurance of Hyundai’s Five Year Unlimited Mileage Warranty – unique in this class.

The mid-range Comfort model – expected to be the best seller and starting at £8,995 – adds 15-inch alloy wheels, body colour door mirrors and handles, electric rear windows, full iPod integration, steering wheel mounted audio controls, a trip computer and a six-speaker system.

Flagship of the i20 range is the Style, equipped with 16-inch alloys, climate control, part-leather upholstery, metal-look facia and front fog lights.

Hyundai’s aim is to make the i20 the safest car in the supermini class, with Active Head Restraints and a total of six airbags being standard on all i20s.

Five door models will go on sale January 15, with the first three-door i20s arriving in April.