HYUNDAI'S cheeky little i10 has been a favourite with British motorists since it was first introduced back in 2008.

It burst on to the scene during the now defunct scrappage scheme which boosted its popularity and made it a sensible city car choice.

Longer, wider and lower than before, the all-new i10 arrived back in January with fresh styling to lift its popularity even further.

Hyundai sensibly kept the i10's blend of reliability, practicality and economy while adding a dash of flair.

Like its predecessor it is only available as a five-door and is comes with a choice of 1.0-litre three-cylinder or 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrol engines.

This car came with the 87ps 1.2-litre engine which proved to be ideal for town and country motoring.

Built in Turkey, the i10 now comes in a choice of S, SE or Premium trim and even the base model offers  a decent level of standard equipment.

Prices start from £8,495 for the S and you get steel wheels, central locking, electric front windows, CD tuner with USB, daytime running lights, ISOfix and a tilt adjustable steering wheel as standard.

You can add air-conditioning to the S for another £650.

The SE model with the larger 1.2 power plant costs £9,795 and you get bags more kit while the range-topping Premium at £10,640 sets new standards for this class and boasts equipment normally only found on much larger cars.

Customers can also personalise their choice with other packages if they want to stand out from the crowd.

The new smart look has certainly improved the i10's appeal by introducing some features from the rest of the brand's range. It looks more grown-up and expensive than most other cars in the class.

Inside the improvements continue with a nicely designed dash, good materials and sound build quality.

The driving position is comfortable and the cabin feels surprisingly spacious and offers good visibility.

On the road the i10 is a smart performer thanks to its willing engine and slick gearbox. In town it is a delight to drive and easy to park and on the motorway it is so refined that you think you are in a much larger car.

The handling is agile and the steering direct and accurate with enough feel to please most drivers. Noise levels are surprisingly low and this car is a huge improvement over the model it replaces.

Hyundai claim economy of just over 57mpg for this version with emissions of 114g/km.

The sprint to 62mph takes 12.3 seconds but feels quicker and the top speed is 109mph.

Boot space is a handy 252 litres and this increases to 1,046 litres with the 60:40 split rear seats folded. There are also plenty storage spaces inside the cabin.

The i10 features all the latest safety equipment and every model has stability controls and tyre pressure monitors.

It is fun and easy to drive and for those who want even better economy a BlueDrive model is available.

Factor in a five-year warranty on all models and the i10 represents great value for money.