Hyundai got up and running comparatively late in the day compared to the rest of the world's major automotive manufacturers but it's certainly made up any lost ground over the last few years. The Korean marque is now a force to be reckoned with in the lucrative Western European markets transcending its budget brand image with new products that compete strongly on quality, engineering and desirability.

Although the Hyundai Engineering and Construction Company was founded by Chung Ju-Yung in 1947, Hyundai Motor Company opened for business as recently as 1967. The firm's first model was the Cortina which was developed in partnership with Ford but UK motorists are more likely to remember the Pony which was credited with being the first Korean car. The Sonata arrived in the 1980s and from then through the 90s Hyundai developed a reputation in Britain for good specifications, decent reliability and low prices but little beyond that.

Although the Getz supermini, the Coupe sportscar and the Santa Fe 4x4 were all successful in their own way, it's the i30 family hatchback that will be remembered as a breakthrough car for the brand. Designed and manufactured in Europe to European tastes, for the first time, here was a Hyundai that could be purchase on merit, rather than because of its low pricing.

Crucially, Hyundai also capitalised on its excellent reliability record by pioneering an industry-leading seven-year warranty package. With a host of new products on the horizon and this kind of peace of mind in the bank, Hyundai is most definitely a marque to watch.