Hyundai's new i30 is going to give you years of good service and you'd be very happy to live with it, says Matt Kimberley, PA, motoring writer.

Significant milestones are coming thick and fast for Hyundai in the shape of sales, new models, quality and style. The new i30 is one of them – the first i-series car to replace another.

The first i30 replaced the Accent budget hatchback and was a huge step forwards for Hyundai. The latest one makes another quantum leap in terms of desirability, equipment and engineering with the aim of competing for sales with the Ford Focus and Vauxhall Astra.

And it does, make no mistake. Gone are the days when you could laugh at a small Korean hatch. It looks great from any angle. Young or old you'd be very happy to see this on your drive in the morning – although the 15in wheels on lower models look a bit too petite.

The i30 comes in four trim levels from the entry-level Classic to range-topping Style Nav, via Active and Style in between. The most popular is likely to be Active, but you won't feel short-changed with any of them.

Even Classic models, starting at �14,500, get Bluetooth, LED daytime running lights, steering wheel-mounted audio and telephone controls, air-conditioning, electric front windows and heated mirrors, a height-adjustable driver's seat and input sockets for MP3 players.

Active models add 15in alloys, cruise control with a speed-limiter, electric rear windows, leather-covered steering wheel and gear stick, and rear parking sensors. The premium over Classic is �1,100.

For another �1,000 you can upgrade to Style, which for kit knocks the socks off just about anything else for the price. On top of all the above it has dual-zone climate control, automatic headlights and windscreen wipers, electrically-folding door mirrors with integrated LED indicators, two more speakers and front parking sensors.

Style Nav, for a further �1,000, adds a very effective navigation system and a 7in screen, a rear-view parking camera and speech recognition.

All models undercut their rivals by a significant margin and offer more kit. The price difference when other cars are specced up to the same level is quite large. For that reason and to keep operating costs down, the i30 doesn't have a general options list.

Metallic paint is there for the choosing at a cost and it's likely you will, since white is the only flat paint choice. Other than that, only Style and Style Nav cars have access to one of the three option packs.

The convenience pack has a few useful and stylish additions; the individual pack adds real leather seats, fake leather on other contact points and a brilliant 'supervision' LCD display on the instrument cluster, and finally a panoramic sunroof, which isn't really a pack.

In all models the overwhelming sense is of solidity, of genuine build quality. The plastics are decent, the interior designed with sensible and practical flair and nothing rattles or squeaks. The seats are instantly comfortable with a shapely backrest.

In terms of engines the diesels are likely to be popular. In 109bhp and 126bhp 1.6-litre guises they're both available with Blue Drive eco-friendly technology that allows the i30 to dodge road tax, but even without eco technology tax is cheap. The 1.4 diesel needs to be worked harder and comes in at 109g/km of CO2. There are also 1.4 and 1.6 petrol models, but the petrol technology lags behind some of the newest small-capacity turbos of i30 rivals.

With fuel economy claimed at way above 70mpg for the Blue Drive diesels they respond well to light throttle input. Combined with remarkably low insurance ratings the new model looks like a bargain.

It even feels stable through corners, and while the Flex Steer adjustable steering weight, standard on Active and above, has only a moderate impact on the way the car drives, the body stays flat in turns.

It's a very satisfying car for the average person. You're getting great value, lots of gadgets, high build-quality, assured driving dynamics and low running costs. If you bought it, chances are that you'd be happy with it for years and then be sorry to see it go.