NEXT week Hyundai begins a new chapter in its history with the launch in the UK of the first of its i' generation of cars designed especially for Europe - a designation that will eventually range from the i10 to the i50.

Given the privilege of being the first to carry the new name (the letter i' for its association with technology products) is the car that will immediately become the most important in the Hyundai line-up - the new C segment five-door i30.

Effectively a replacement for the Accent, although Hyundai is trying to distance itself from any comparison between the cars, it is expected to quickly outshine the brand's current best seller, the Getz, First impressions are impressive. Although it doesn't look anything special, the i30 has a contemporary, sharp edge feel and is certainly the best put-together mainstream model Hyundai has assembled.

Visually the i30 is a clean-cut and well-proportioned hatchback although it hardly breaks any new ground.

There is a move to give the body some styling with the upsweep of the side windows plus an additional lower character line rising from the front wheel arch and the tall thin rear light clusters. However the shallow rear screen can limit rear visibility.

Inside, the i30 is well appointed and well made, the spacious cabin finished in two-tone plastics and chrome trimming giving it a higher quality feel than previous Hyundais.

Luggage space is a generous 340 litres.

Trim levels, of which there will be three in the UK (Comfort, Style and Premium), will not be depicted anywhere on the car, while diesel models will be identifiable only by a CRDi' (the name of Hyundai diesel engines in 1.6 and 2 litre capacities) badge on the sides beneath the indicator repeater lights.

Entry level Comfort models come with features such as; air conditioning, alloy wheels, electric windows, front fog lights, tinted glass and CD radio.

Style designates the car's sporting aspirations with features such as; 16inch alloy wheels, sports suspension, automatic headlights and cloth and leather seating.

From a line-up of four engine choices, Hyundai expects the best-sellers to be the 1.6 litre diesel for the fuel conscious and the 1.4 petrol for the budget conscious.

The new starter 1.4 petrol offers 109bhp and does well to return over 46 miles to the gallon with emissions a little high at 145 g/km.

The more frugal 60 miles to the gallon 115bhp 1.6 diesel has the best emissions level at 125 g/km and has a brisk, for diesel, sprint time of 11.6 seconds.

The newly developed 1.6 litre petrol only offers modest performance (62mph taking 11 seconds) but the 435 mpg figure is admirable in this class.

Top for power (62mph in 10.3 seconds) is the six speed 140bhp 2-litre diesel and at 51.4mpg iy should be appealing to those who want the combination of power with effective running costs.

Aimed at families the i30 offers up a surprisingly good ride quality if perhaps a touch firm for some.

This produces a nice compromise between the softness needed to overcome the efforts of long-distance journeys and the firmer requirements of agile cross-country work.

The electric-assisted power steering is perhaps going also heavier than might be anticipated, but I actually like it that way although it doesn't quite have the immediacy of a sporting model.

Anti-lock brakes feature electronic brake force distribution for confidence inspiring stopping and in a first for Hyundai on its passenger cars, it works in tandem with standard ESP, a safety system which, uses electronic traction control to balance power and braking to help the driver maintain control.

Other key safety features across the range include; active front head restraints to reduce the risk of whiplash injury, passenger, driver and full length curtain airbags, passenger airbag and childseat fixing points in the rear.

Prices will start from £10,995 for the 1.4 litre petrol Comfort model and rise to £16,595 for the 2.0 CRDi Premium 6-speed manual. Like every new Hyundai sold in the UK, the i30 comes with a five-year unlimited mileage warranty and 10-year anti perforation warranty.

Once seen as bargain basement material, the new i30 is competitively priced but no longer the cheap alternative.

The i30 is aimed at established European marques, like Ford's Focus, Renault's Megane, Citroen's C4, Mazda's 3 and Peugeot's 307 and while it won't have the cache of these names, it is an inoffensive and easy- to-live-with car that is pleasant to drive.