If nothing else Hyundai's i10, just launched in South Africa, proves that sub-compact cars don't have to look silly.
Granted, its front treatment is a little blobby but that's forced on the designers by the requirements of Euro NCAP pedestrian-safety testing - for which this particular blob got three stars, as well as four stars each for adult and child occupant protection.
Not bad for a car that's only 3.565m from bumper to bumper - especially considering it takes four adults plus 225 litres' worth of retail therapy and sells for R89 900 with a five-speed manual transmission or R99 900 with a four-speed automatic.
Hyundai SA marketing director Stanley Anderson was at pains to point out in his launch presentation that it won't replace any existing Hyundai model; the i10 slots in between the bargain-basement Atos and the considerably more expensive Getz.
"Up to now, if a customer couldn't get financing for a 1.4-litre Getz, he or she would often end up buying another brand," he said.
"Now we'll sell that customer an i10."
Its distinctly Eurocentric styling bears a strong family resemblance to the i30 and i20 but the i10 is built in a billion-dollar facility in India (Yes, literally; it cost $1-billion to build).
The bonnet's character line moves smoothly into the A pillar and the waistline picks up from the top of the "cat's eye" headlight unit, kicking sharply upwards at the rear quarter window like a miniature MPV.
In contrast to the front, the rear styling is crisp and elegant; very few Europeans reverse into pedestrians, one assumes.
The i10 is taller and narrower than it appears at first glance, in the now familiar Hyundai Atos/Fiat Uno style, but the doors open to nearly 90 degrees, making it easy to enter and exit.
The seating position is upright - almost like a dining-room chair - but not uncomfortable and the controls fall readily to hand, particularly the stubby gear lever, mounted halfway up the centre stack with its knob only a hand's width away from the steering wheel.
The fascia and binnacle are elegant in design but a little low-rent in execution, the sweeping curves and neat layout moulded in hard plastic with slightly uneven gaps between sections.
The instruments are crisply styled with a white speedometer in the centre, rev-counter to the left and fuel and coolant temperature gauges to the right.
The seats are firmly upholstered in a dark grey, nylon-like fabric with light grey insets that doesn't feel very plush but seems very durable and will probably shrug off dirt.
Plastic mouldings
Other than the carpets, the cabin is entirely trimmed with plastic mouldings, crowded with storage trays, cup holders and pockets but somehow doesn't look busy - a triumph of texture over content.
The boot has more of the same, including a removable parcel shelf, 60:40 split, folding rear-seat backrests and a false floor under which there's a removable tray and under that there's a full-size spare wheel!
The i10 is available at launch in South Africa with only one engine option: a 1.1-litre, single-cam, long-stroke four for which Hyundai quotes 49kW at 5500rpm and 99Nm at only 2800rpm.
A 60kW, 1.2-litre engine is promised for early 2009.
The gutsy little 1.1-litre mill, however, proved perfectly adequate around town and coped manfully with the long hills and endless curves of the launch drive through the Cape's wine country, although it needed considerably stirring of the gear lever to maintain brisk progress.
Quality feel
Said stirring was no hardship; the shift action of the manual 'box was light, short and slick with a quality feel that matched the heavily weighted steering.
Rather to my surprise (I don't like electric power steering) it was firm, accurate, totally free of bump steer and held the car as steady as a rock right up to its top speed, an indicated 158km/h.
Add to that slightly choppy suspension (front Macpherson struts rather firmer than the rear torsion-bar set-up) and brakes (discs front, drums rear) sharp enough to catch clumsy-footed drivers unawares and the i10 reveals an unexpectedly competent chassis.
One (pretty comprehensive) trim package is offered, with only two options but also with two glaring omissions.
Air-con, power front windows, central locking, adjustable head restraints, tinted windows and Hyundai's five-year or 150 000km warranty are included; anti-lock brakes and crash bags are not - even as extra-cost options.
A radio/CD/MP3 player and remote-control for the central locking can be ordered, however.
Verdict
Fit and finish on the Indian-built i10 are way better than you'd expect in this segment, the dynamics are good and the spec impressive although I have reservations about the missing safety equipment.
It's a quirky little town car with more-than-adequate performance and a style all its own.