LOOKING back a decade or so to the first Hyundais I drove I'm reminded of school reports that say something to the effect of ‘tries hard but could do better'.

Back then the Korean car-maker seemed desperate to appeal to European sensibilities but somehow fell short.

Their cars offered good value for money but lacked the style, sophistication and quality of established European and Japanese brands.

But the march of the Koreans has proved an unstoppable force of nature and just like Japanese manufacturers did a few decades before them there's been a steely determination to get things right and become more than a match for European rivals.

Over the last ten years Korean brands like Hyundai and sister firm Kia have upped their game big time and when you compare were they are now to a decade ago they really have taken a giant leap forward.

While the i30 may not quite be up there with family hatchbacks like the Volkswagen Golf and Ford Focus it really isn't very far off the pace at all and is certainly on a par, if not better than many other rivals be they European or Japanese.

The first thing you notice about the i30 is its good looks. It's characterised by sculpted lines, an imposing and distinctive front end and a sleek rounded rear end. The three-door version might have the edge when it comes to looks, but that generally tends to be the case with hatches, but I certainly found this five-door model easy on the eye.

The interior is well done out and the build quality and fit and finish are excellent. 

Those impressive design lines haven't impacted on practicality either and it offers a roomy and family-friendly cabin, as well as a decent sized boot (378 litres).

The instrumentation is well designed and intuitively laid out while the switchgear for the most part has a high quality feel to it.

Buyers can choose from an extensive range of trim levels - there are five in total - and all are competitively priced.

The entry-level option is Classic, which includes Bluetooth, steering wheel controls and LED running lights. Buyers need to move up to Active to get alloy wheels but will also benefit from cruise control, rear parking sensors and an adaptive steering system.

Style and Style Nav models offer even more, while the range-topping Premium trim includes leather upholstery, an electric driver's seat and plenty more besides.

Engine-wise there are 1.4 and 1.6-litre options in both petrol and diesel form. The 1.6-litre diesel is the clear front-runner and comes in both 108bhp and 126bhp power variants.

This was the lower-powered of the two but it felt potent and sprightly as well as being smooth and refined. The power hike would probably be welcome with a full load but overall I felt it performed pretty well.

This car - the 1.6 CRDI Blue Drive - also boasts the accolade of being the most efficient model in the range. It offers a combined economy figure of 76.3mpg and has a sub-100g/km CO2 emissions figure meaning it is free to tax.

In terms of handling the i30 impresses, offering a thoroughly decent and engaging drive overall. Other than a little bit of roll through corners when travelling at speed I found little to fault with it.

The ride too was comfortable, taking most of the lumps and bumps it encountered in its stride.

A real Hyundai plus point is a five-year unlimited mileage warranty.