First Drive: Hyundai i20 Active

We certainly love our crossovers here in the UK – but while we are attracted to their chunky, go-anywhere styling, not too many of us actually go off-road – unless you count the occasional foray into an Ikea car park, that is. That would certainly appear to be the thinking behind the new Hyundai i20 Active, which the manufacturer can fairly state combines a new, rugged design with the space, style and quality of the i20 five-door. So, it's a small, smart SUV and it's got a new downsized and turbocharged engine. It arrives in UK showrooms next week. But is it any good?

What is it?

For anyone needing a quick refresh, the i20 is the capable and attractive B-segment hatchback from Hyundai, which has been a staple of the range for eight years now. Hyundai has long been a busy performer in the B-segment, having sold more than a million cars in that part of the market since the introduction of the Getz in 2002. (Remember that?) Since the replacement of Getz in 2008, the company has sold more than 500,000 i20s across Europe, with 94,000 shifted here in the UK. What the manufacturer has been lacking, though, is anything with a crossover feel – this is a car that plugs that gap, although there isn't a four-wheel-drive option.