Hyundai i20 Hatchback (2009 - 2014) practicality

You shouldn't lose sleep over the Hyundai i20 safety record. It was crash-tested in 2009 under Euro NCAP's more stringent criteria. This is one overall rating (from one to five stars) that covers adult occupant protection, child occupant protection, pedestrian protection and a new area of assessment - safety assist. It scored the maximum five stars which is very impressive for this size of car.

It comes with six airbags along with Active Head Restraints while ESP stability control is standard on all models. There are Isofix child seat mounting points in the rear and seatbelt reminders for all five occupants.

All models come with a 60:40 split rear bench that folds down flat and boot space is good - there's 295-litres which is on par with the Ford Fiesta. Access is good thanks to a wide tailgate, although the boot lip is quite high which makes unloading heavier items tricky. There's plenty of stowage in the front with twin cupholders between the front seats, a cooled glovebox and a cubbyhole with a flip down front below the air conditioning controls.

However there are no door pockets for rear passengers.