The following two pieces of news are possibly the most important to anyone considering the purchase of a Hyundai Getz. First, it's very competitively priced. And second, it has an unlimited mileage warranty stretching over five years, which is probably longer than most owners will keep the car.Now, I don't want to give the wrong impression here. The price and the warranty are, I'm sure, major issues to most potential buyers, but by mentioning them first I might seem to be suggesting that those are the best bits, and that the Getz has nothing else to recommend it.This is far from being the case, even though the test car represented almost the lowest point in the range. It had the smallest engine (1.1 litres - a long-stroke version of the one-litre unit previously found in the Amica and Atoz) and the lowest spec level (strangely called GSi). It did have five doors, though, unlike the very cheapest Getz of all, which has just three.This is, of course, a small car, but quite a spacious one. The shape - one of Hyundai's neatest, I think - allows enough room not only for tall front-seat occupants but also for two full-size adults in the rear. At six foot three, I wouldn't want to go from one end of the country to the other sitting in the back, but at least I can fit in without any real trouble. The Getz is as good in this respect as several cars one size up, and remarkable by comparison with many other superminis.Luggage space isn't so good. You couldn't fit enough shopping to feed, wash, wipe the bottoms of, and generally maintain a family for more than a couple of days, though even in this basic model there's a split-folding rear seat facility if you overwhelm the capacity of the small boot.The Getz is light and easy to drive, and can nip round town very smartly. Obviously it's no ball of fire on the open road, but you can keep up a decent cruising speed as long as you don't have to climb up hills (for which you need to drop down a gear or two) or do any rapid overtaking (best to sit back for a while and wait for the next really long straight).I didn't particularly enjoy the way the car bounced and lurched over crests on some particularly challenging local roads, but there again I probably tackle those a bit more smartly than most Getz owners would consider necessary.There's a good range of standard equipment, including ABS, EBD, power steering, radio/CD, electric front windows, driver and passenger airbags. And although the interior is hardly the last word in automotive design, I do like the way Hyundai has provided a lot of horizontal space on top of the dashboard, putting things on for the use of. It seems a very simple idea, but you'd be amazed how many manufacturers ignore this, thereby seriously limiting the options during a stationary picnic, coffee break or whatever.The Getz is by no means a dramatic car, nor one that forces a reappraisal of how superminis should be designed and built. But at the same time, I can't think of any other manufacturer that does this particular job significantly better - certainly not at this modest price, and most definitely not with this level of long-term manufacturer support. A very appealing little machine, well worth considering. Engine 1085cc, 4 cylinders Power 62bhp Fuel/CO2 48.7mpg / 138g/km Acceleration 0-62mph: 16.1 seconds Top speed 93mph Price £7495 Details correct at publication date
Our Rating
