Category: Small Family 
Price Range: £13,120 to £16,345
Neat-looking, good 1.6 diesel engine, cheap to run.
Hyundai badge, feels dated, not that cheap once you add a few options.
Competent, practical and a good all-round package, if a little dull.
The Hyundai i30 has been designed and developed especially for Europe - it's even built in the Czech Republic. So it's no coincidence that the i30 is the Korean manufacturer's most convincing small family car yet, even giving the Ford Focus a run for its money.
It's also available in hatchback form, but this practical compact estate is more versatile and distinctive-looking.
The estate is offered in the UK with 1.6-litre petrol (125bhp) and 1.6-litre diesel (113bhp) engines. Prices start from just over £13,000 for the 1.6 Comfort petrol, though approach £16,500 for the 1.6 CRDi Premium.
While the prices don't initially look much cheaper than for the comparable Focus and Vauxhall Astra estates, for example, the i30 is well-equipped for the money. Indeed, the biggest argument against its value comes from its sister model, the Kia Cee'd SW: this is offered with a seven-year warranty, whereas Hyundai offers just five.
