Review of the new Hyundai i20 Edition

More equipment for less money is a Hyundai mantra we know well but the i20 supermini can also compete with the best on grounds of comfort, quality, safety and economy. The special 'Edition' version just sharpens the value for money side of things further with half leather trim, alloy wheel and fog lights amongst other things.

Hyundai is a car manufacturer that's rapidly assembling the technology and knowhow to challenge at the top table of the global car market. It's the sort of progression that can't be achieved overnight but the current crop of vehicles already demand to be taken seriously and they're getting better.

One thing Hyundai hasn't had to work on is the art of selling cars on a value for money ticket. Cheap, well-equipped vehicles were the Korean company's mainstay in Europe before its current bout of burning ambition took hold, with a succession of value-added special edition models. Their popularity has, in more recent times, encouraged Hyundai to carry the formula over to its new, more competitive cars like the i20 supermini. In special 'Edition' guise, the i20 combines something of Hyundai old and Hyundai new.

Only the 1.2-litre petrol engine is available to power the i20 Edition. It's not the i20's least powerful engine (that honour goes to the 74bhp version of the 1.4-litre CRDi diesel) but it is available at the lowest price. The 1.2-litre petrol unit offers 76bhp and the ability to launch the car to 60mph in 12.9s before proceeding to a 106mph top speed. In comparison, the diesel is significantly slower, posting a laborious 16.2s as its 0-60mph time. The advantage of the diesel engine is superior torque that will make it feel quicker in most situations away from the local drag strip. 1.2-litre i20 owners are unlikely to feel short-changed though, especially with the Edition package supplementing the bottom line.

"The i20 Edition piles on extra equipment including half leather trim and still undercuts rivals on price. ."

With a height-adjustable driver's seat and a steering column that adjusts for both rake and reach, the i20 should prove accommodating for drivers of most shapes and sizes. The wheel itself is highly reminiscent of a Honda item, even down to the big 'H' at its centre, and is as comfortable a thing to grasp as it is attractive on the eye.

What we like most about this car's driving dynamics however, is the standard fitment across its range of something that many owners may never actually experience - the ESP stability control system. This uses brake and throttle inputs to automatically steady the car if you're about to lose control, ensuring that you should never get to see the six airbags or use the anti-whiplash head restraints that are also standard on every model.

The i20 might have arrived at an opportune moment when small cars are all the rage but it isn't actually all that small compared to its supermini contemporaries. A kerb weight of 1,222kg means it's no featherweight but it makes good use of its bulk by delivering a respectably spacious cabin. Space in the back will be generous enough for adults to undertake short journeys and fine for kids, while the boot is impressively proportioned. Fold down the 60:40 split rear seats and a flat load floor is created with room for some seriously big cargos. There's also a massive glovebox and a number of other useful receptacles dotted around the interior.

Attractive isn't a word you're likely to see trotted out to describe the i20 exterior but neither are appalling, ugly or horrendous. Hyundai has played it quite safe with the looks of the car and this may be an astute move as buyers get used to the idea of a Hyundai that can stand toe to toe with the top supermini products with regards interior quality, as this one can. The thick swage line that runs down the sides of the car just above the door handles does provide some interest but the general effect is of an identikit supermini that lacks the personality of the leading lights. The interior however, will cause many to revaluate Hyundai because the materials and build are far superior to those of the old Getz. Again, the design flair that rivals have worked so hard to instil is absent but the layout is neat and the controls couldn't really be any easier to operate.

Even in the standard i20 with its most basic specification, equipment is not in short supply. All of these cars come with air-conditioning, an iPod connector for the stereo, electric front windows, electric door mirrors and a trip computer. To this little lot, the i20 Edition adds half leather trim for the seats, a leather steering wheel and gear knob, front fog lights and 15" alloy wheels. Customers can also choose from a pair of exterior paint options, Crystal White and Ice Blue.

The i20 Edition is available in three and five door guises at prices that are still below what you'd expect to pay for basic versions of other mainstream superminis, cars that would have considerably less equipment thrown in. The i20 might lack the design flare of a Ford Fiesta and the build quality of a Volkswagen Polo but it's not a million miles behind and Hyundai is looking for the specification and pricing of the Edition models to help close the gap in the minds of buyers.

Hyundai's exemplary warranty package will be another major draw for customers with their eyes on the bottom line and the engine doesn't let the side down when it comes to economy and emissions. The 1.2-litre unit in the Edition cars can average over 54mpg on the combined cycle with CO2 emissions of 124g/km. Higher mileage drivers will find the premium needed to get a diesel engine more worthwhile thanks to the remarkable 64mpg and 116g/km CO2 output achieved in both power versions.

Hyundai has never been averse to boosting the profile of its products with a special edition version or two. In the past, low prices and high equipment levels were the main reasons people bought Hyundai cars but the modern range is better than that and the brand's affinity with the special edition continues. A value-added version of the i20 supermini, the i20 Edition piles on extra equipment including half leather trim and still undercuts rivals on price.

The i20 isn't the best supermini on the market but it is a very sensible choice. The styling may be less adventurous than some and the handling is better described as competent than exhilarating but it is well-built, comfortable, roomy and economical. With the formidable Hyundai warranty package and the Edition model's extra injection of value, the i20 and Hyundai still look to be going places.