HYUNDAI likes to be considered big on facts and there are stacks of them for potential buyers to absorb as the Korean car giant seeks to woo buyers with an eye for a bargain with its latest venture, the i10 city car.
The i10 is insurance group 2E, will qualify for £35 a year road tax and be exempt from the London congestion charge. Not least of the attractions is the Hyundai five year-warranty.
The i10 continues the process - to change the face of Hyundai in Europe - started last autumn by the i30 supermini, deemed to be the Korean car maker's most important car to date. It also ushered in the alpha numeric naming system for the new model range to come.
In fact, Hyundai is so confident in the i10's abilities and potential popularity that it has already forecast a UK sales figure of 10,000 for the year, double the current Hyundai small car annual return.
This has already been given a major boost with sales of almost 2,700 since it's launch on April 2 to the beginning of June and reaching this goal could be further helped with the UK introduction in September of an all-new 1.2-litre petrol engine to be made available in the Comfort and Style models.
Currently powered by the 1.1-litre petrol engine paired with a five-speed manual gear change, the current five-door i10 comes in three trims, Classic, Comfort and range-topping Style.
Determined to overtake some like-sized stars in the sector such as the Toyota Aygo, Citroen C1 and the Peugeot 107, Hyundai has added to the i10 range some high build quality, grown-up good looks and very generous kit levels.
Surprisingly for a city runabout, all models across the i10 range include air con, plus, standard safety features also include four airbags and ABS braking with Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBFD).
In the frame here is the entry level Classic model which also comes with front electric windows, four airbags, excellent six-speaker stereo with radio, CD and MP3 compatibility. However, be prepared to spend a further £600 and notch up to the Comfort model should you wish add remote central locking and avoid wind-up rear windows along with manually adjustable door mirrors.
I was particularly impressed with an interior which is actually surprisingly roomy for the car's size, a good amount of legroom helping to seat a couple of adults quite comfortably in the rear and, while the back seat does split and fold to extend the boot, there is a generous 258-litres of luggage space available with all seats taken.
The i10 gets a quite attractive overall look via a neat-looking snub-nose and a tidy rear end while helping it to stand out from the crowd is a distinctive almost vertical rear window and back panel with a centrally placed Hyundai badge acting as a luggage bay lever.
Inside there is some highly impressive fit and finish with a neatly laid out and modern dashboard design which includes a speedo with white background. The centre console housing sound system and air con controls is easily navigable and there is much to commend in the quality and feel of plastics and fabrics.
The driving environment is good with fine overall vision provided for the driver. Paired with a smooth-slotting five-speed manual gear change the 1.1-litre petrol engine delivers a surprisingly sharp response to the demands of the throttle, the 65bhp power source proving perfectly satisfactory for urban use.
An easy driver, the i10 has an accommodating turning circle. However, while the engine does respond to being worked very hard it is quite happy at motorway speeds and while the ride may be a bit on the firm side, the stiff suspension set-up ensures stability over the long haul.
Having earned a reputation for reliably good, cheap cars, Hyundai has now taken that extra mile in the right direction with the i10 to further this appeal with competitive pricing, some very cute, neat styling.
You also have to factor in a generous standard kit level which includes air con for all models, a five-year warranty, low CO2 emission levels, good mpg and insurance grouping, all of which add up to some very user-friendly ownership costs.
FAST FACTS
Hyundai i10 1.1 Classic 5dr
Price: £6,745
Mechanical: 65bhp, 1,086cc, 4cyl petrol engine driving front wheels via 5spd manual gearbox
Max speed: 94mph
0-62mph: 15.6
Combined mpg: 56.5
Insurance group: 2
CO2 emissions: 119g/km
BiK rating: 15%
Warranty: 5yrs/ unlimited mileage, 6yrs paint, 6yrs anti-rust