Citycars have evolved. These used to be models people went for because they had to. Now, so often, they’re little runabouts customers own out of choice. For all the industry plaudits the first generation i10 received, it wasn’t a car you’d ever feel especially joyful about owning. But specified correctly, this second generation version might be.

Here, we’ve an A-segment contender that’s everything it needs to be – and pretty much everything a model of this kind can be: as cheap, frugal, clean and practical as it was in first generation form, but in MK2 model guise featuring greater quality and character thrown in alongside a more precise, European feel. Other direct citycar competitors from the 2014 to 2016 era can offer this too, but do your sums on the spec and you’ll find that nearly all of them are more expensive.

Which wouldn’t be an issue if they were delivering lower running costs, stronger build quality or more interior space than this i10 can offer. But they’re not. This Hyundai can either match or beat its rivals in all of these areas. Which means that if you’re shopping in this segment, you have to consider it.