FOR ALL the doom and gloom of 2010, one car brand shone extra bright: Hyundai.

Although it’s happy to acknowledge that the Government’s scrappage scheme played its part, it does help if you have the right product in the first place.

Post-scrappage the company is still doing great business, and nowhere is this more obvious than with the little i10. It feels like an age away since buyers were prepared to wait months for the diminutive hatchback, but they all knew what they were doing.

And, just to prove that you can’t afford to stand still in this business, Hyundai has given the already successful i10 hatchback a mild refresh in a bid to keep it ahead of the pack.

Cosmetically the i10 benefits from Hyundai’s new family nose. This design theme is already present on the larger ix35, and is set to be the norm on future models. On the mechanical front the car’s 1.2-litre petrol motor is now cleaner, more efficient and more powerful. Also, replacing the 1.1-litre unit is a new three-cylinder, 68bhp 1.0-litre engine. This forms the basis of Hyundai’s eco-centric i10 Blue variant.

This hi-tech three-cylinder engine achieves an impressive 67.3mpg on the combined cycle and boasts a congestion charge and VED-friendly 99g/km CO2 rating. Even if you don’t live in or plan on making regular trips to London to offset the Blue variant’s slightly higher price, the 85bhp 1.2 unit delivers 61.4mpg and an equally impressive 108g/km CO2 rating. Engine stop-start technology is thrown in for good measure.

The i10 is something of a refreshing surprise in what is an incredibly competitive market. Small cars are everywhere, and small, cheap cars aren’t exactly a scarce commodity. What makes the i10 special is Hyundai’s decision to treat its mini model as something bigger. You only have to look around the car’s cabin to realise that you can leave your hair shirt at home.

You want air conditioning? No problem. Electric front windows? Absolutely. Somewhere to plug in your MP3 player? You bet. Seriously, this is what the i10 is really like - anything but a budget runabout – and it’s one of the reasons why buyers flocked to the outgoing model in their droves.

It might appear no larger than most other cars on the market but appearances are deceptive. Five doors are the norm here, yet the i10 is easily able to accommodate four adults.

Substitute two of the grown-ups for children and you could even be looking at your first family car. It’s no people carrier but there’s more space in the cabin and the boot than you think.

There’s no question that the i10 is a good car - it drives well, feels solid and is exceptionally practical for its size.

That it comes equipped more like an entry-level family hatch is a bonus, and one that potential customers are now starting to appreciate. Factor in high levels of reliability plus Hyundai’s famed five-year warranty and it’s clear that this i10 is no lightweight.