Hyundai Getz

This was a decent car five years ago when it was still relatively new. Now it's ancient and outclassed by nearly all its competitors, including Hyundai's own i20. This is just hanging around for the rental companies.

• Comfort

  The Getz is one of this new breed of simple Asian fair that doesn't try to dress up its economy shopper ethic in some pseudo-luxury package. Clean, intuitive, sensible stuff. You get what you pay for now. No more, no less.

  

• Performance

  Two engines to choose from, both of them far more concerned with economy than poke, which is how it should be.

  

• Cool

  The Getz is better than people give it credit for. It's also cheap and different. Oddly, this really is quite cool. Just don't tell anyone we said so.

  

• Quality

  A classic case of well-built, functional motoring, the Getz doesn't feel high quality, but it's not going to fall apart in side or go wrong mechanically in a hurry.

  

• Handling

  The Getz is so light that it feels remarkably responsive on the road. The steering isn't perfect, but for a car designed primarily for zipping about town it's hard to fault in this department.

  

• Practicality

  Hyundai has pulled an unexpected blinder on this one. It's a tiny car, but with lots of headroom thanks to that high roof line and a huge boot made all the more capacious by folding rear seats.

  

• Running costs

  Cheap to start with and with excellent economy from the smallest of its engines, this is a genuinely sound place to put your money. Depreciation is a worry though, especially with the amount of these flooding into the market as ex-rentals.