Hyundai I20 Reviews

The affordable hot hatch war has another combatant in the shape of Hyundai's new rally-inspired i20 N. Look out Ford Fiesta ST and VW Polo GTI.

The i30 N finally has a sibling, with Hyundai confirming the i20 N hot hatch will launch in Australia in the first half of 2021. We put an early prototype to the test on the track to see if it will be worth the wait.

Competent rather than thrilling, the i20 is a popular town commuter car. New With our cities becoming more and more clogged with traffic it's not surprising that smaller cars, such as the Hyundai i20, are gaining favour with buyers Hyundai launched the i20 in 2010, following in the small car tracks of the Excel and

Light cars used to be the second car, the one that'd begrudgingly be taken to the supermarket when the real car was out. Not anymore. Light cars now make sense as the sole vehicle for city dwellers without kids - they're easy to park, will carry four adults in varying degrees of comfort and don't cost a fortune to fuel up.The rush to downsize means more than one in 10 cars sold today is from the light category. Carmakers have responded to that growing market with more standard gear at lower prices. They also understand a positive first experience could get you back to the dealership for your next vehicle, so you won't be ignored for looking at the “cheap” cars.They will try to upsell you into a higher model, though, so beware of alloy wheels and dual-zone aircon if steel rims and a power window is all you need. The average cost of the light cars in this field - entry level autos - is just north of $17,000. The Volkswagen is the dearest at $19,490 and is the only car here to demand premium unleaded petrol. It also feels to be the best built, but all of these cars are sturdy, reliable transport. Budget buyers should consider the Mitsubishi Mirage if outright performance isn't an issue. It costs $15,290, is the cheapest to refuel and annual servicing costs are just $250. The Mazda2 proves this segment isn't entirely price-driven. The little hatch leads the sales field this year, followed by the Toyota Yaris and Hyundai i20.They're not the cheapest cars to buy or run but they have a reputation for reliability and value that - at least in the case of the Mazda2 - has it campaigning strongly despite its age. Honda's Jazz has the best resale of this bunch, reflecting the brand's (slowly waning) reputation for producing better-built vehicles. The Barina is the thirstiest, needing 7.3 litres to travel 100km. That's half a litre more than the Mazda2.Carsguide has used the national average of $1.49.4 for unleaded petrol and added 8 for the 95RON fuel needed to keep the VW on the street. We have each car travelling 15,000km a year for three years. Price: from $17,290Residual value: 48 per cent $8299.20Servicing: $780 ($260 first year)Thirst: 6.3L/100km $4235.49   Price: from $17,490Residual value: 46 per cent $8045.40Servicing: $840 ($280 first year)Thirst: 6.1L/100km $4090.05   Price: from $17,990Residual value: 46 per cent $8275.40Servicing: $740 ($246.67 first year)Thirst: 7.3L/100km $4907.79      Price: from $15,240Residual value: 45 per cent $6858Servicing: $750 ($250 first year)Thirst: 4.6L/100km $3092.58   Price: from 17,690Residual value: 48 per cent $8491.20Servicing: $1284 ($398 first year)Thirst: 6.2L/100km $4168.26   Price: from $17,440 (Neo)Residual value: 48 per cent $8371.20Servicing: $1949 ($599 first year)Thirst: 6.8L/100km $4571.64   Price: from $17,990Residual value: 55 per cent $9894.50Servicing: $1711.58 ($537.42 first year)Thirst: 6.6L/100km $4437.18   Price: from $19,490Residual value: 50 per cent $9745Servicing: $1085 ($347 first year)Thirst: 6.0L/100km $4249.80   Price: from $18,590Residual value: 50 per cent $9475Servicing: $567 ($189 first year)Thirst: 5.9L/100km $3966.57   Price: from $18,290Residual value: 42 per cent $7681.80Servicing: $841 ($239 first year)Thirst: 6.3L/100km $4235.49  

It's a measure of the transformation of small cars in the last couple of decades that the new Hyundai i20 boasted features reserved for high-end luxury cars a tick over 20 years earlier. With a large number of buyers downsizing from the traditional larger models small cars have had to offer the sorts of things only their bigger cousins once did.NEWIn the case of the i20 it was things like auto on-off headlamps and auto door locking, unthinkable in a 1990s model.The i20 was an attractive little hatch with pleasant styling and neat proportions with good all-round visibility. It was available as a three-door model that opened the range as well as a number of five-door models.Inside it boasted comfortable accommodation for four with a boot of decent proportions to carry their gear. The range was made up of three models beginning with the Active, which was available as a three-door and a five-door hatch that had standard air-conditioning, remote central locking and fold-flat mirrors.In the middle of the range was the Elite, which was only available as a five-door hatch, but added a trip computer, leather-wrapped steering wheel and alloy wheels to the list of features.If you took another step up the range you arrived at the Premium five-door, which got you such previously undreamt of luxuries as automatic air, bigger alloy wheels and a smattering of leather trim.Two engines were offered. The entry level Active was powered by a 1.4-litre engine that produced 73 kW and 136 Nm and delivered performance that was modest, but adequate for the class. Had you chosen the Elite mid-ranger you were given the choice of the 1.4-litre or a larger 1.6-litre engine that gave you the extra punch of 91 kW and 156 Nm.All models offered the choice of five-speed manual and four-speed auto transmissions, and drive went through the front wheels.NOWAfter a rocky start in Australia when a serious chassis flaw in early Excels threatened to ground the brand for good Hyundai has had a largely trouble free run and has built an enviable reputation. Quality has improved markedly, reliability is on the up and the model offerings are more attractive.It's mostly good news for the brand in general, which should give buyers confidence when out shopping for a used car. The i20 is one of the latest generation of models and is showing no signs of having any major flaws that should be of concern to potential used buyers.There was one recall to replace a label on the jack, but that's a relatively minor issue that has no bearing on the car's reliability.Something buyers need to be aware of is that the first Active cars to arrive here were only equipped with front airbags, which meant it was rated at four stars by ANCAP, but later models had a full complement of front and side airbags and was rated at five stars.Importantly all had electronic stability control, as well as ABS brakes, traction control and electronic brakeforce distribution, all of which contributed to an impressive safety level. As with any used car purchase make sure your potential choice has been serviced as per Hyundai's recommendation.SMITHY SAYSGood value-for-money, solid performance, top safety and it's reliable, check it out.Hyundai i20 - 2010-2012Price new: $14,990 to $23,490Engine: 1.4-litre 4-cylinder, 73 kW/136 Nm; 1.6-litre 4-cylinder, 91 kW/156 NmTransmission: 4-speed auto, 5-speed man, FWDEconomy: 6.0 L/100 km (1.4), 6.1 L/100 km (1.6)Body: 3-door hatch, 5-door hatchVariants: Active, Elite, PremiumSafety: 4/5-star ANCAP 

The base model Hyundai i20 Active is part of a formerly rare but now growing breed of car on Australian roads - a cheap, three-door hatchback.We don't really like our cars without rear doors in Australia, but with the availability of the India-sourced i20 to whet our bargain-hunter appetites, the question must be asked: what am I getting for my lowly dollar?The range kicks off at $15,590 for the three-door six-speed manual but it's highly unlikely you'd ever pay that much given Hyundai's fondness for driveaway deals. For your closer to $14,000 spend, you get a 1.4-litre 16-valve engine good for 73.5kW and 136Nm of torque. Neither of these figures are world --or class-- beating, but it moves its slightly chubby 1121kg kerb weight with ease.Inside is a passable stereo, mildly comfortable seats front and rear, bluetooth, dodgy USB connectivity (which doesn't work) and old-school Hyundai design and quality. The carpets don't quite fit, there's exposed metal when you flip the rear seats up to fold the backrests and not everything works the way it should.Outside you get steel wheels and Hankook tyres but an otherwise classy look from the update of a couple of years ago.The light hatchback segment is fiercely competitive.A recent entry into the fray is the five-door only Thai-built Mitsubishi Mirage ES. The launch pricing of $12,990 for the base model ES is shortly to be revoked, sending the price northward to around $16,000 on the road. In every way it is a poorer car than the i20, with the exception of its 5 star ANCAP rating and operational USB port. It is noisy, uncouth and wobbles around in an alarming fashion on its skinny 14-inch wheels. It's also missing a gear and a cylinder, but is much lighter. It is absolutely no fun to drive or look at.The Nissan Micra ST is reaching the end of its life, but still looks and feels good. Like the Mirage, it's a missing a cylinder and a gear but is otherwise a reasonable little car and has added benefit of rear doors. It's rather more expensive than either the Hyundai or the Mirage, which is curious given it is made in low-cost India, as is the i20.The Volkswagen Up might be down on power and doesn't have an automatic option, but it's a Volkswagen. The i20's interior may be slightly more spacious, but he VW's is smarter and for $500 you can add satnav and Bluetooth. It also comes standard with city emergency braking, unique in this class. Yes, it is a fair bit more expensive to run and own, but sometimes the brand power is too much to overlook.The i20's nose got a good going over in 2011 and this yielded quite a change in character. Whereas the original 2007 model looked like it was trying to look like a Mazda and a Getz at the same time, this one has a distinctly European feel, almost Volkswagen-esque. Once you're past the B-pillar, it certainly looks like a Hyundai. The chintzy wheel covers don't help maintain the classiness, but it is quite sharp.The three door also looks better than the five door, which has that heavy-handed crease down its flanks.Inside there are echoes of the Getz in the dashboard architecture and the cheap stereo sticks out a bit, looking a little aftermarket. Everything fits, though, and there's a spot for your phone, wallet and a cup of coffee.There are some jarring moments - as with the steering wheel, the gear shifter is horrible urethane. There are also obvious seams in the dashboard and the little screen up on the top of the dash is hard to read.The i20 has a five star ANCAP safety rating by virtue of six airbags, ABS, traction and stability control. Such is the lack of power, the traction control light didn't wink once.The 1.4 litre engine nestling in the engine bay looks pretty agricultural and is, in a sense, quite simple. It's a 16-valve twin cam (what isn't these days?). Its 73.5kW is more than competitive from its displacement although a bit more torque would always be welcome.Power comes high in the rev range at 5500rpm but it doesn't feel peaky.The suspension is very traditional MacPherson struts up front and torsion beam axle at the rear, which may explain the relative liveliness of the handling.The technology in the car is quite straightforward, too. Apart from a half-decent stereo, the bluetooth works fine but the proprietary 30-pin iPhone/iPod connector was unable to coax the stereo into playing any music. Switching to bluetooth didn't help either, so we've no idea if it's any good.The i20 is a surprising amount of fun on the road. It definitely rolls in cornering, but not too much. The tyres on the base car are pretty ordinary but the tuned-for-Australia steering is, bizarrely, the best of any Hyundai I've tried, and that's most of them.The noisy engine comes to the party but is let down by the gearing - it's too tall and on slower ninety-degree corners, first is preferable to second. The clutch is also completely lifeless and you've no idea where the bite point is. On the upside if you just step off the clutch pedal on a downshift, you can coax the back end into a little waggle.It's quite lively when you push it, but the tyres quickly give up - with decent rubber, the i20 would be a lot more fun than it already is.Around town the i20 is quite relaxed as long as you're aware of the vagaries of the long ratio gearbox. It's quiet enough, too, although the tyre roar overcomes the engine noise once you're doing about 60km/h, and it can be tiring.The most annoying thing about the car is the driver's seat - there's a sturdy bar that neatly digs into your kidneys and the supportiveness of the seat leaves much to be desired.The Hyundai i20 is entering its twilight years with us and serves as a constant reminder of how rapidly the Korean giant is improving.It's cheap and cheerful, has enough power and handling to be almost fun and feels like it will hang together for some time to come. There's plenty of other cars vying for your sub-$15,000 spend, but the i20 is slightly bigger, gruntier and will be cheaper to own and run than almost any of them.

We turn the spotlight on the car world's newest and brightest stars as we ask the questions to which you want the answers. But there's only one question that really needs answering -- would you buy one?Our test car has the honour of being the cheapest car that Hyundai's currently makes and sells in this country. That's not necessarily a bad thing if you don't have much money to spend. I always get i20 and Accent confused but Accent is actually larger and more expensive.Prices start at $15,590 or you can have the five-door for another grand. That buys you a basic car with five-star safety, hubcaps/steel wheels, manual airconditioning, power windows and a Bluetooth equipped audio system.Kia Rio, Ford Fiesta, Holden Barina, Honda Jazz, Mitsubishi Mirage, Nissan Micra, Suzuki Swift, Toyota Yaris  to name a few (it's suddenly getting crowded down there in tiddlerville).Before the Accent arrived on the scene it scored the 1.6. Now it just gets the old school, multipoint injected 1.4-litre four with 73.5kW/136Nm paired with either a 6-speed manual or optional 4-speed auto.Surprisingly zippy, at least with one person aboard. None of the nasty throttle overrun that you usuallyt get with small engines either.Manual 5.3/auto 5.9 litres/100km. The tendency is to thrash it however and this impacts on economy (we were getting 6.5 litres/100km).Gets 5 stars from the Govt's Green Vehicle Guide, just like the Prius with emissions of 126g/km CO2.Gets a full complement of safety systems including six airbags and electronic stability and traction control.Hmmm? Unless you get the seat in just the right position, a ridge at the base of the seat tends to stick into your butt (it did for me anyway).Acceptable within limits. If you start to push it you'll find the tyres/wheels are the limiting factor, with plenty of early tyre squeal.We miss cruise and steering wheel audio controls but that's about it. The audio/communications package includes Bluetooth telephone and media streaming, CD player, MP3, WMA and AM/FM tuner. The auxiliary audio and USB inputs allow full iPod connectivity and connection to other external audio sources.You could do a lot worse than this car. It looks good, has a five-star safety rating, Bluetooth connectivity and a trip computer  all of which make it an attractive proposition.

The reliability of the Getz is translating into repeat sales for Hyundai's i20 light car. Sales figures say the i20 hatch is the third-best vehicle in the class. It trails the Toyota Yaris and Mazda2 by a long way but is ahead of the Holden Barina, Suzuki Swift and Kia Rio. And the five-year warranty can't be the

Canny motorists are facing a shopping bonanza as car makers start slashing prices to make way for new models. But it's not only outgoing models going cheap - look out for end-of-year sales as well.Any time a carmaker trumpets a new model, these shoppers are there ready to make a financial killing by buying up the old model. Look for sales at particular times of the year. June is traditionally a strong month for squeezing extra savings out of a dealer though, with a buoyant car market and fierce competition, anytime towards the end of any month can deliver a bonus.End of year sales are popular. Dealers always want to sell but the months of November and December provide a chance to discount cars built in the current year. Fighting this are car buyers who want a car built in the new year to preserve resale value. Here's some deals but be prepared for more as the calendar year draws to a close.HOLDENDeep Purple is no longer a rock band - it's Holden's new colour that is available on a range of cut-price “Z-Series” Commodore sedans, utes and wagons. The new colour is the same as Holden's iconic show car, the Efijy. Different models in the Z-Series line-up get different equipment levels but, as an example, the base Omega automatic is $41,990 but the Z-Series edition costs $39,990.The bonus is that the Z includes a heap of extras within that price, including leather upholstery, 18-inch wheels, rear camera and sensors, leather steering wheel and chrome door frames. The SV6 ute adds 19-inch alloys, carpet mats and leather seats for $38,490, down $1000 on the plane-Jane SV6.The discounts on the VE Holden Commodore range precede the launch early next year of the VF Commodore models. Holden is also running out the Barina five-door manual hatch at $16,490, a saving of $500.TOYOTAYou'll have to do some legwork here. The new Corolla is on sale and some dealers still have stocks of the old model. Officially, there's no discount on the outgoing model though some dealers - predominantly NSW and Victoria - have extra stock and have advertised a $18,990 price, $1000 off the list price. Note that the cheapest 2013 Corolla is also $19,990. Toyota WA says customers should discuss pricing direct with their dealer.It's not only the Corolla that may offer savings. The RAV4 gets updated early next year and though there's no official price, dealers will consider offers. On top of that, Toyota has zero per cent finance on Camry, Camry Hybrid and Aurion until the end of the year.HYUNDAIThere's a lot of previous-model stock available from Hyundai and buyers can make big savings if they're not chasing the latest car. These include old-stock i30 hatchbacks with $2000 off the normal price and previous Santa Fe SUVs for up to $3000 off.But there are also current models. The big one is the $13,990 drive-away price on the i20 three door which saves $2500. A similar discount is on the five-door i20. The i40 wagon is now from $29,990 driveaway, a saving of about $3000, and the sedan model with automatic transmission is also from $29,990, saving about $2500.Hyundai's popular baby SUV, the ix35, is now from $27,990 driveaway for the Active version, a saving of $1120, while other ix35 variants have been reduced by $500.MITSUBISHIThe new Outlander SUV arrives November 18 so Mitsubishi is sweeping out current stock. The "Enhancement Pack" model is an LS version with leather seats, heated front seats and an electric-adjust driver's seat. It has Bluetooth, 18-inch alloys with a full-size alloy spare, six airbags for the front-wheel drive version (up from two) and a cabin styling pack with bright trim to the door handles, console panel and rear door trim.Prices start at $28,990 drive away for the LS front-wheel drive model with five-speed manual transmission. The normal price is $29,340 plus on-road costs so the saving is about $4500. But for buyers who want the new model, register on Mitsubishi's website and there's the chance to win a $1000 Westfield shopping voucher and 15 per cent off accessories for the new Outlander. If that's not tempting, Mitsubishi also has 0.9 per cent finance until the end of this month.SUBARUThe 2012 run out has just started for Subaru which has chopped up to $5000 off three models. It replaces its Liberty and Outback in early 2013 as a mid-life makeover that includes upgrades to trim specifications. There is an all-new Forester also due about February. So the deals are now on the table.The Outback 2.5i manual is usually $37,490 plus on-road costs (say, $5000) but is being rolled out the showroom door for $35,990 including all on-road costs. The same axe has lobbed on the Forester X which is now $32,990 drive-away including leather-faced seats, alloy wheels and fog lights.The normal retail price is $30,990 without the extras and without on-road costs. Subaru is selling the Liberty 2.5i sedan manual for $31,990 drive away with leather seats, electric driver's seat and reverse camera. The car normally sells for $32,990 plus on-road costs.FORDKuga Trend $35,490 drive away (normally $38,990 plus on-road costs) and the upmarket Titanium is now $41,490 drive away, previously $44,990 plus all on the road charges. The Kuga is to be replaced with a new model in early 2013.Focus Ambiente hatch now $19,990 drive away (normally $20,290 plus costs). The Mondeo Zetec hatch is $33,990 with all costs (usually $37,740 plus on-road fees) and Falcon's XR6 Turbo is down from $46,235 plus costs, to $43,490 drive away.KIAThere's a new Sorento SUV so the outgoing model has a $2000 gift voucher attached to its normal retail price.VOLKSWAGENIs running out stocks of the current Golf VI to make way for the Golf VII due early next year. Volkswagen Australia has set the price of the current Golf 77TSI manual at $20,990 including metallic paint and all drive-away costs. This is a saving of about $5000.The Golf Wagon 90TSI with DSG auto, metallic paint and all drive-away costs is now $29,990, saving about $3500. Note that for small-car wagon buyers, Volkswagen has not confirmed a wagon version of the new Golf. If you want this shape, this could be your last chance.VOLVOThe Swede is clearing out its 2012 stock by adding value rather than chopping the price tag. The S60 and V60 entry-level models now come with the upmarket Teknik pack valued at about $4500. But if you specify the Teknik model, Volvo will automatically give you the R-Design pack (valued at $3000) for free.The same deal applies to the XC60 SUV. There's also a deal on S60 or V60 from the dealer's existing stock. Volvo will include free scheduled servicing for three years or 100,000km.

Did you get a shock a couple of weeks ago when the price of petrol jumped almost 30 cents litre at the pump? Fear not, help is here.There’s little you can do about the rising cost of oil – but there is a choice of fuel-efficient cars with most mod-cons for less than $14,000 drive-away, no more to pay. Previously, it hasn’t always made economic sense to trade-in your old banger and buy a new car purely to save money on petrol. More often than not, the fuel savings are evaporated by the high cost of a new model.But that’s changing. The strong Australian dollar – and the most competitive new-car market in the free world – means you now get much more for your money. Standard fare typically includes six airbags, air-conditioning and, in most cases, wireless Bluetooth phone connectivity. That’s in addition to the miserly consumption and peace of mind new cars provide.As ever, the headline prices are for cars with manual transmission. Figure on another $2000 for auto (where available). One other word of caution: always ask how much metallic paint costs. Holden charges as much as $550 extra (Hyundai and Nissan $495 and Suzuki $475) which takes some of the shine off the bargain price.With all that in mind, we’ve assembled the four cheapest – and most worthy – fuel misers money can buy.Holden Barina SparkSales of the smallest new Holden money can buy have fallen off a cliff this year because of newer competition and the lack of an automatic transmission. But the baby Barina Spark will be worth another look in January when it finally becomes available with an automatic transmission – two years after it went on sale.The Barina Spark is among the smallest of this bunch but it comes with five doors and five seating positions, although there is really only room for two in comfort in the back. The interior has a futuristic design. It’s a user-friendly layout, with plenty of storage cubbies, although the plastics are hard to the touch.The 1.2-litre four-cylinder engine is willing but, as with most cars in this class, you need to keep the revs up to maintain momentum up hills. Or keep with the traffic. Road holding is sound but not best-in-class. Happily, there’s a full-size spare in the boot.The sound system is below average and Bluetooth is not standard (it’s a $410 accessory). In North America the Barina Spark is available with internet radio; Holden is rolling this feature across the range starting with the regular Barina in the new year.As with many brands, Holden offers fixed price servicing. But check the fine print: Holden requires you to service the car every nine months, not 12, which makes it dearer to maintain over the three-year warranty period. And another thing: Holden has the dearest metallic paint option in this group. At $550 extra, be sure to haggle.VERDICTSharply priced but lacks some features standard on rivals. Wait until January for the updated model.Holden Barina SparkFrom: $13,990 drive-awayEngine: 1.2-litre four-cylinderEconomy: 5.5L/100kmTransmission: 5-speed manual, 4-speed auto from JanuaryHyundai i20In the past few months the Hyundai i20 has had a facelift and a price cut, and it’s now back to being a bargain buy. When the i20 was released two years ago, Hyundai initially set the price at $16,990 – and buyers stayed away in droves.The Hyundai i20 has the longest warranty of this lot – five years and unlimited kilometres – but at this price only comes with three doors. Standard fare includes six airbags, Bluetooth connectivity (including music streaming) a new six-speed manual or optional four-speed automatic transmissions.The i20 is among the roomiest of this quartet, with the biggest boot (Hyundai i20: 295L, Nissan Micra: 227L, Barina Spark: 170L, Suzuki Alto 110L). As with the others, it comes with a full size spare. The Hyundai i20 is also the only car in this price range to score a five-star crash safety rating (the Volkswagen Up is five-star but it is $13,990 plus on-road costs, giving it a drive-away price closer to $17,000).The Hyundai’s interior is neither striking nor dull, it’s been designed to make life easy with 12V and USB power sockets, decent sized door pockets and a roomy glovebox. Given that the i20 has the biggest engine of this bunch, it’s no surprise it has more go and copes with the daily grind with less stress than the others.Road holding is near the top of these four cars but not class-leading. We’re not a fan of the Kumho Solus tyres in the wet. In the dry they’re fine. Hyundai’s fixed-price servicing deal is among the cheapest available – but the offer runs out after three years. Disappointingly, service costs return to free-market prices in the last two years of Hyundai’s warranty coverage.Given that it has just introduced this program, here’s hoping Hyundai extends the servicing deal to five years before the first customers hit this hump in their ownership experience. And another thing: Hyundai makes a point of the fact that the i20 was designed in Germany – but it’s built in India.VERDICTThe roomiest, zippiest and safest among this quartet (also has the longest warranty). But you only get three doors at this price.Hyundai i20From: $13,990 drive-awayEngine: 1.4-litre four-cylinderEconomy: 5.3L/100km manual, 5.9L/100km autoTransmission: 6-speed manual or 4-speed autoNissan Micra STWith its bubble-shaped cutesy looks, you could be forgiven for thinking the Nissan Micra is a bit of a toy car. But it’s surprisingly capable and, in the three-cylinder guise we’ve chosen, more fuel-efficient in the real world than the rating label suggests.The Micra very nearly won a host of Car of the Year awards when it was released two years ago, winning praise for its road holding and fun-to-drive dynamics. It tops the class in this price range (and has the tightest turning circle this side of a Smart car).Picking the right time to buy is key to the Micra's appeal. It has been priced as low as $12,990 drive-away for a manual model (an absolute steal), but the current cash offer is $13,990 drive-away – or 0 per cent finance for 60 months. However, if you take the finance offer you must pay full retail, which is closer to $15,990 drive-away.Our advice? Pay cash or arrange your own finance and shoot for a $12,990 drive-away price and see if you can get a Nissan dealer to take the bait. As with the Hyundai i20, the Nissan Micra has an inoffensive but functional interior, with plenty of hidden cubbies, big door pockets and glovebox and (for an economy car) surprisingly good seats.Although there are seats for five, it’s better off carrying a maximum of four. An unusual omission, the centre back-seat position lacks a head rest. The sound system may look bland but the audio quality is above average, and the Bluetooth set-up works a treat – but it doesn’t yet include music streaming and there’s no USB power source, just a 12V socket.Nissan offers fixed price servicing for the Micra (and the rest of its range) but it’s the dearest in the business. Nissan requires a visit to the dealer every six months – and the cost of each visit is higher than the competition. And another thing: Depending on overseas demand, Nissan sources the Micra from factories in Thailand and Indonesia.VERDICTOur pick based on its current discount price, the Nissan Micra is the best to drive in this group and (contrary to the label) among the most frugal.Nissan Micra STFrom: $13,990 drive-awayEngine: 1.2-litre three-cylinderEconomy: 5.9L/100km manual, 6.5L/100km autoTransmission: 5-speed manual, 4-speed autoSuzuki Alto GLIf you really want to drive your dollar further, the Suzuki Alto is the champion. Priced at $11,990 drive-away, it’s making life hard for the other mainstream brands – and even the cut-throat Chinese car makers struggle to undercut it.The Suzuki Alto is three years old now but is standing up well to the test of time. Its 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine is not the most refined in its class, but it operates with sewing machine-like reliability. It’s also the most frugal car in this group – in part because it demands premium unleaded petrol (95 octane), which is dearer to buy but goes further than regular petrol.The Suzuki Alto doesn’t come standard with Bluetooth but the current $11,990 offer for the “Indie” pack includes a portable navigation unit which comes with Bluetooth. The Alto has a hard-wearing functional interior that probably won’t win any beauty contests, but it’ll likely outlast owners. At least Suzuki is honest about how many people can fit comfortably; it only has seatbelts for four occupants.The boot is small (at least there is a ful size spare underneath) but as with all the hatchbacks here, the back seats fold so you can fit more gear. And another thing: Suzuki is the third-biggest car maker in Japan and outsells Mitsubishi, Subaru, Honda and Mazda in Europe. The Alto comes from India, where Suzuki is the market leader.VERDICTAt this price, nothing gets close. The limited edition ‘Indie’ pack is a bargain as it includes navigation and Bluetooth.Suzuki Alto GLFrom: $11,990 drive-awayEngine: 1.0-litre three-cylinderEconomy: 4.7L/100km manual, 5.3L/100km autoTransmission: 5-speed manual, 4-speed auto