At the recent introduction of the new i20 runabout the big wigs from Hyundai reminded everyone how a decade ago the Korean manufacturer was seen as a joke in the local motor industry. Most of the attendees (yours truly included) agreed how they never saw the Hyundai success story coming.

Elantra, Sonata, Atos, Getz, and Tucson are names that people wanted to ignore but that delivered years of affordability, value for money, and reliability. That not only left a nasty dent in the competitors' market share but also made the South African consumer think twice.

Let's be honest, a Hyundai doesn't have the street cred or exclusivity of older (and more expensive) marques, but all Hyundais now represent perfectly acceptable choices in their various segments. Their standard equipment and fantastic warranties are also properties that other manufacturers can't match in the various price classes.

The competition can choose to get even more upset if they discover that Hyundai is keeping its financial head above water, even in today's bleak financial times. The competitive pricing and peace of mind offered by all Hyundais make sure that the Korean cars are still selling well.

The i20 will surely follow in these footsteps and stay loyal to the Hyundai recipe. This B-segment car looks modern and well balanced with a friendly smile on its dial and a cheeky rear end. The drag efficiency of 0.33 will also make it more economical.

Its body is designed to quickly (and affordably) recover from fender benders, and more serious accidents will insure that its occupants will be safe as proven by the recent 5-star (maximum) Euro-NCAP crash test results. Other safety equipment includes ABS brakes with EBD, two airbags, a full-size spare wheel, central locking and alarm. Driver and passenger comfort is of utmost importance and the i20 also offers the following:

Air-conditioning, electric power steering, four electric windows, electrically adjustable and folding exterior mirrors, radio with CD/mp3 player, Aux and USB input, a small trip computer, adjustable steering wheel, and 60/40 split rear seats. Hyundai is aiming straight for young families and trendy youngsters in their late twenties or early thirties, as is evident from the impressive list of toys and safety equipment.

The sound system with its 6 speakers will quickly befriend your ipod (and charge its battery) which can also be controlled via the i20's steering wheel satellite buttons. There is enough room for a small family and the front seats offer good support in everyday conditions.

The planned route for motoring journalists wasn't exactly everyday, and thus I had to note that the passenger seat could offer more help if you zip down Ou Kaapse Weg with screaming rubber. A positive aspect of the test was the i20's utterly predictable handling though, and equally commendable brakes. The i20 needs only 39 meters to come to a complete stop from 100km/h.

Back in Cape Town's traffic the new Hyundai quickly proved that it's easy to drive, and although its interior can't really be labeled exciting, everything sits in the right place and does what it's supposed to. You can even air-condition the glovebox!

Performance with two adult occupants was quite acceptable, and we were happy to discover the 1600 engine under our test vehicle's bonnet. This advanced power plant delivers 91kW at 6300rpm or 156Nm at 4200, and my impression of the little motor was very favourable. It eagerly and smoothly runs through its available revs and can get the i20 to 100km/h in 9.5 seconds, with a top end of 190km/h.

The Hyundai i20 is also available in a 1.4L, and the little one develops 74kW at 5500rpm with 136Nm ready at 4200rpm. It needs 2 seconds more to reach 100km/h and runs out of breath at 180km/h. Both engines have 16 valves and very low CO2 emissions; just 133g/km for the 1.4, and 140g/km for the 1.6. These figures, much like the performance, should provoke plenty of head-scratching at other car dealerships.

Fuel economy should also be a chief salesperson for the new Hyundai i20, because the 1.4 model will be happy with just 5.6 liters unleaded per 100km. The 1.6 affords itself just 0.3 L/100km more, and that means an i20 should manage to cover an average of 750km on its small 45L tank.

Are you still not convinced of the Hyundai i20? Don't be concerned, it just gets better. The i20 comes with Hyundai's impressive 5 year or 150 000km warranty, a 3 year 60 000km service plan, and only requires a service every 15 000km.

Prices start at R149 900 for the 1.4 and end with the 1.6 for R159 900. I would personally recommend the 1.6, and have a sneaking suspicion that the i20 will play a major role in continuing Hyundai's success story.