HYUNDAI is getting sporty with a turbo tweaked development of its i30 hatchback.

Replacing the Veloster - a quasi-coupe with a peculiar single roor door arrangement - the i30 Turbo comes with a 1.6-litre engine boosted to 184bhp.

The result is more warm that hot hatch and it will accelerate from 0 to 60 in eight seconds with a reported top speed of 136mph.

Where it will score is on price and at £22,995 it's a sensibly proportion five-door model that has the potential for some fun.

It is not quite in the same league as the VW Golf GTI or Ford's Focus ST but Hyundai has dressed the car nicely with a red theme that runs from the gear lever cap to the starter button surround and into the two-tone sports seats.

At the back it comes with twin exhausts positioned either side of a rear diffuser while at the front it is set off with a red strip across a spoiler below the lower of two grilles.

On the road the i30 Turbo is nippy enough and comes fitted with a multi-mode programme that can alter the feel of the steering to make it feel heavier in a sport setting or softer when set to comfort.

It felt best in the normal setting where the car was nicely weighted and intuitive with a good amount of feedback coming through the wheel. In the other modes the sensation was rather on the artificial side.

Impressively, torque steer has almost been completely factored out by Hyundai's engineers and its driving characteristics are above standard for a car of this ilk that has a good amount of power squirting through the front wheels.

With sports suspension the ride is on the firm side but that suits the image and so does the sound under acceleration.

Fuel economy is officially 38.7mpg with emissions of 169g/km and in everyday use low to mid-30s are realistic - not too bad at all for a sporty, five seat hatch.

Standard kit includes 18-inch alloys, a metal finish for the pedals, dual zone air conditioning and a sat nav system which is operated via a six-inch colour touchscreen.

Bluetooth and voice control are also part of the package and the cabin includes two 12-volt outlets and a USB port mounted at the front of a centre console that makes good use of space and includes a storage zone below the dash.

As hatchbacks go the i30 is on the roomy side and as a five door it is quite family friendly with boot space of 378 itres - larger than you get in a Ford Focus.

A rearview camera - complete with a high definition display - is fitted into the tailgate and pops out from under the Hyundai badge as soon as reverse gear is selected.

That's a neat bit of technology in its own right and pound for pound the i30 Turbo is well up to speed on all fronts - a sensible alternative which is fun to drive and easy to live with.

Three door versions cost £500 less and both come with Hyundai's five year warranty.