ONE model that has really got the opposition looking over its shoulder in alarm is the Hyundai i40 which is on a mission to capture the hearts and minds of the family motorist.

From being a manufacturer viewed once as no-hoper and then a cheap and cheerful, Hyundai has rocketed in terms of quality, style and driving pleasure into a brand that can take on the big names at their own game.

And the i40 is the contender in the family and business car stakes. It features head-turning looks, a lot of electronic wizardry, comfort and a price tag that is still regarded as competitive.

But the big ace up the sleeve of this model is the Blue Drive configuration which, by virtue of a 115ps 1.7-litre common rail diesel plus a number of items of economy-generating engineering can return a combined readout of 65.7mph.

The car I drove did better still, reaching towards the fabled 70mpg mark.

But being economical does not mean being boring because the Blue Drive is more colourful than you may imagine when it comes to performance and driving enjoyment.

Okay, it is not going to rival a Porsche Panamera but a top speed of 118mph and a 0-62mph sprint of 12.8 seconds is considered acceptable for cars with a much lower economy rating than the Blue Drive.

It is surprisingly comfortable and there is a lot of room, especially in the tourer version which has rocketed to become a desirable option in the family estate market.

Alloys, LED clusters and a comprehensive control suite are part of the parcel with such kit as air conditioning, automatic headlights, Bluetooth connectivity, electric parking brake and intelligent stop and go functionality signalling in no uncertain terms that this car is something a little bit special at under £20,000.

The car I drove cost £19,398 and proved a showcase of what Hyundai has achieved in the last few years.

After a short time at the wheel you do tend to forget that it is a diesel because it is so quiet - especially at tickover when you think the engine has stopped, courtesy of the stop and go system. Full marks also to the slick six-speed gearbox.

There is something of a mistaken belief out there that Hyundai's success is based purely on its comprehensive five-year warranty.

Yes, it may have a bearing but the i40 is a class act in its own right that can stand up to opposition from big-selling world names.