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The phrase “good things come in small packages’’ is often overused yet is so apt for this class of car.

Light cars, as they are known in the industry, are enjoying a new popularity and now account for 13% of all new car sales.

Pint-sized proportions for city parking, miserly fuel consumption and massive improvements in safety and build and finish quality make these tiny tots even better value for money than ever. They come packed with equipment you’d expect from a large car yet still retain their tiny price tags.

The latest addition to this class is Hyundai’s all-new i20, which effectively replaces the popular Getz.

A winner in 2003 and 2005, the Getz underpinned Hyundai’s commitment to producing value-for-money cars with cheap price tags and loads of features. It was discontinued last month so sales will eventually fade out as the i20 steps in to fill the gap.

The i20 continues the Korean maker’s value-for-money philosophy but also offers a new level of refinement, quality and dynamic capability.

The i20 Active is the entry-level model. It comes in three- and five-door bodystyles. The three-door is priced from $15,490; the five-door we tested is $16,490.

Don’t be fooled into thinking it’s a bare-bones package though. The i20’s equipment list reads like one from a much higher-priced offering.

Standard equipment includes a CD player with auxiliary audio input jack, USB audio input with iPod connectivity, Bluetooth phone connectivity and audio streaming, air-conditioning, multi-information centre (displays distance to empty, instant and average L/100km, elapsed time and trip odometer information), height and reach-adjustable steering, chilled glove box, power windows, steering and mirrors and 60/40 split-folding rear seats.

Hyundai recently upgraded the i20 as part of refresh across the i20, i30, ix35 and i45 model line-ups. The newest model in the Hyundai range received a new hue in the interior with the application of the signature Hyundai blue illumination (replacing orange) in the instrument cluster. Active model s gained six airbags as standard. All i20s now come with a five-star ANCAP safety rating.

For our market, the i20 is built in India, and while there have been question marks raised over how that will affect quality, there were no foibles to speak of in our ABC test car.

Space is not considered critical in this class but the i20 is not short on it. Rear seat passengers won’t be complaining with good space for all limbs and relatively supportive seats.

The i20’s on-road performance was rated above average, scoring 7s in every category but it was outclassed by both the Polo and the Fiesta, both of which scored 8s and 9s. While considered a solid all-round performer, the i20‘s driving dynamics are not class-leading.

If you’re looking for a car that offers excellent value for money, good safety credentials and solid on-road performance, then the i20 ticks all the boxes.

Finalists
Ford Fiesta CL
Hyundai i20 Active
Volkswagen Polo 77 Tsi Comfortline

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