ANYONE looking for a small estate these days may well find themselves gravitating towards the Hyundai stable because the neat i30 range offers a versatile option with two powerful features - excellent value and a five-year unlimited mileage warranty.
One of the most popular i30 Estate models is the 1.6 diesel which in Comfort trim level tips the price scale at £15,600.
This is one of those cars that has no sensational world beating technical features to boast about but combines all the ingredients you need for some very pleasant and easy-on-the-pocket family motoring.
Hyundai has come a long way since the early days of the Pony and the Stellar which were really just bargain basement cars in their sectors. These days the company is light years ahead of its early models in terms of build quality and driver appeal. It is now giving European makes a real run for their money.
The i30 1.6 CRDi Comfort Estate has all the key features the family driver will need such as a 62.8 combined fuel economy figure with stop-start ISG technology, a smooth six-speed gearbox surprisingly neat handling and a compliant ride that makes for easy cruising.
The i30 flies the flag for the small estate, a type once numerous in Britain but recently depleted by the rise of the hatchback. But there is a definite market for the compact estate and the i30 drives in with a wide tailgate and easy folding 60-40 rear seats. Cargo capacity with the seats up is 400 litres rising to 1400 litres with the seats down.
If I have a grumble it is that the rear doors could be larger for larger passengers, but this is a small price to pay on what is otherwise a well-equipped and capable vehicle.
The Comfort spec includes sixteen inch alloy wheels, air conditioning, ESP, airbags (driver, front and side) roof rails, leather steering wheel, front fog lights, leather gear knob, heated door mirrors iPOD/USB connection and much more giving the i30 the ambience of a much more expensive car.
The easy-revving 1.6 diesel is reasonably punchy with 113bhp offering a 117mph top speed with a 0-62mph sprint factor of 11.7 seconds.
There are some cars on the road with sensational road holding, top speeds and acceleration which often grab the headlines. The i30 is just as important as all of these because it also is a champion - of traditional easygoing everyday driving.
Now that cheap and cheerful image of Hyundai is way back in the slow lane of yesterday because the i30 has emerged as an award winner in terms of reliability.
Hyundai isn't just turning sales charts on their heads - the company has now caused shockwaves by winning satisfaction and reliability survey.
The i30 shot straight to the number one slot in the to be named the most satisfying car to own by the people who should really know - the drivers who run them.