Flushed with the success of its i10 city car and i30 supermini, Hyundai launched another small car in 2009 – the i20. From the outset it was clear the titchy Hyundai was aimed at those who saw their car as little more than transport, but that doesn’t make the i20 a poor buy – just one that’s unlikely to excite you. With its Vauxhall Corsa-esque styling and keen pricing, the i20 was a success for Hyundai in the UK, and thanks to it being a pensioners’ favourite, low-mileage, cherished i20s aren’t rare, which only makes it an even more appealing second-hand buy.

Key dates

1/09: The five-door i20 reaches UK showrooms with 1.2 or 1.4-litre petrol engines (the latter with a 4-speed auto option) and a 1.4 CRDi diesel, in 74bhp or 89bhp forms.

4/09: There’s now a three-door i20. 

7/10: A 99g/km 1.4 CRDi Blue eco edition arrives; its introduction coincides with CO2 emissions reductions for all engines, and the fitment of standard bluetooth for all models except the Classic. 

5/12: A facelift brings an overhauled interior, refreshed exterior styling and a new 1.1-litre diesel engine, rated at 84g/km.

Checklist

• The radio can regularly lose all of the presets for some reason.
• If the central locking fails, the transponder unit has probably failed.
• The clutch pedal pivot can dry out and squeak, but a drop of oil is all that’s needed to restore silence.
• Clutches can wear out in under 10,000 miles, with dealers invariably claiming it’s because of the owner’s driving style.
• Some owners have had problems with corrosion around the door handles and rear wiper arm; look for signs of bubbling.
• All of the seats offer little support, so they can be uncomfortable on long journeys.

We like

• Spacious interior
• Easy to drive
• Excellent reliability
• Well equipped
• Cheap to run

We don’t like

• Not cheap to buy
• Mediocre to drive
• Anonymous looks