Hyundai i20 1.2 Comfort 5dr Car Review - February 2012

The car has a 1.2-litre, 4-cylinder 1248cc petrol engine. The engine is lively and quite flexible and despite its small size, delivers enough punch to keep up with traffic. It produces 77bhp and has torque figures of 87 lb-ft. 62mph comes in 12.9 seconds, a rate that is acceptable for this class. It has a top speed of 106mph, which is enough to keep up with the motorway pace.

The grip level is great and the car remains stable in all road conditions. Handling is good but you will experience body roll in bends, which means you will not enjoy driving the car on winding roads. Good suspension will insulate you from the impact of bumps. On the flip side, steering is stiff and takes the fun out of driving.

The i20 is a quiet car; the kind that you want to ride in on a long cruise. The cabin remains well-insulated against wind noise, except at high speed where non-intrusive, hushed wind noise can be heard down the cabin sides.

The Hyundai Comfort is a small family car with 5 seats and 5 doors. It is a good looking car with a strong build. A curved nose gives it a sporty, modern look. An extended tailgate adds definition to its hatchback styling and successfully saves it from appearing box-like. It comes in both toned-down and bright colours.

The interior is not as exciting to look at as the exterior. Granted, there are give-aways of cheap materials in some areas but most of it is decent enough. The cabin layout is practical at best and does not match up to some of the standards set by its main rivals.

The equipment level is pretty generous. You get power steering, central locking, stability control, electric door mirrors, electric front windows, immobilizer, air conditioning, driver airbag, passenger airbags, front side airbags, alloy wheels, MP3 ports, Bluetooth and a CD player.

Cost options are limited to metallic paint only, which costs £425. Other desirables such as an alarm, leather seats and cruise control are not available even as cost options.

The Hyundai i20 Comfort comes with enough safety features to relax even the most anxious of drivers. In addition to stability control, deadbolt and six airbags, Hyundai has installed head restraints to ensure extra protection for you. The car’s strong build is meant to withstand high impact and the resulting force. A 5-star rating in the Euro NCAP test is proof of how far the car maker went to ensure safety in this car.

Hyundai is a reliable brand, best known for its strong bodywork, reliable engines and good mechanicals. The Comfort is built on these same strengths and should provide excellent service. Plus the car maker gives you a 5-year, unlimited mileage warranty, with the first service due after 10,000 miles and subsequent ones every 12,500 miles after that.

The driving position is set high and may be a little uncomfortable for the tallest of drivers, but most drivers should find it comfortable. Unfortunately, there are no adjustments for the seat or the steering wheel. The seat is quite supportive and will take you through a long drive in comfort.

There is plenty of room in the cabin, enough to squeeze in five adults. Four will sit comfortably. Boot space is decent too, at 295, and matches the class average. You can fold the rear seats completely to increase the space to 1060 litres if need be.

The Hyundai i20 Comfort is competitively priced compared to rivals. You will incur low running costs and the good dealership offers will take care of mechanical problems should they arise.

Fuel consumption is excellent. You get 55.4mpg on average in combined cycle, which is considerable for a family car. Insurance costs will be low - the car is placed under Group 8 - and low emissions (119g/km) mean you get to drive tax free for the first year and pay only £30 thereafter.

Resale values are average.