Hyundai i20 hatchback (2009-2015) - MPG, running costs & CO2

The Hyundai i20 gets off to a great start here, as its showroom price tag is very appealing. The line-up starts at just over £10,000, while the top-of-the-range model comes in at less than £14,000. That means it undercuts the asking prices of just about all of its rivals, plus it comes with plenty of equipment.

The i20's range is smaller than most of its rivals' and some engine and trim-level combinations aren't possible – the three-door body is only available with two of the three trim levels, while an automatic gearbox is only available in one trim level, so choosing the right model can be a little tricky.

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However, given that the i20 is right at the top of the list when it comes to value for money, we'd recommend sticking with the entry-level Classic trim. It comes with all the equipment you need, yet costs very little to buy and insure and won't cost much to run, despite being a strong performer. You can also have it as a three or five-door hatchback.

The one downside is that the resale price for any i20 isn't going to be great compared to something like a VW Polo or Ford Fiesta.

MPG and CO2

If the lowest possible running costs are your number-one priority, then the 1.4-litre CRDi Blue Drive diesel model is worth considering. It costs a little over £13,500 – making it the most expensive model in the range – but is the only i20 to be free from road tax. Hyundai claims 76.3mpg fuel economy is possible.

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As for the petrol engines, most buyers choose the 1.2-litre, with very good reason. Apart from being the cheapest to buy, official figures suggest it'll return an average of 57.6mpg, while CO2 emissions of 114g/km mean road tax costs just £30 a year.

The final engine in the line-up is also the most expensive to run. That's mainly because the 1.4-litre petrol is only available with a fairly dated four-speed automatic gearbox. The £13,000 model, which is only available in mid-spec Active trim, will struggle to return more than 45mpg and CO2 emissions of 140g/km means a £130 annual road tax bill.

Insurance group

Insurance groups range from four to nine, giving the i20 an extremely low premium price for most owners. Predictably, models with the 1.2-litre engine score well here – none are higher than group five.

Warranty

All Hyundais come with the company's five-year Triple Care package, which includes a five-year unlimited-mileage warranty, five years’ free roadside assistance and five years of vehicle health checks. The warranty is also fully transferrable to the car's next owner should you decide to sell it.

Servicing

There's a range of fixed-price servicing deals, too. If you opt for a three-year plan, this costs £349 for a petrol model or £449 for a diesel, while a five-year plan costs £649 for a petrol and £749 for a diesel. The servicing deal includes an annual service, which must take place every 12 months or 10,000 miles, whichever comes sooner. If you purchase the car on finance, Hyundai is able to roll the cost of a fixed-price servicing deal into your monthly payment.