Hyundai Getz 1.5 CRTD GSi

While a diesel Getz is a welcome addition to the range, it's difficult to imagine the car becoming a big seller. The newcomer is good value and well equipped, but performance is lacklustre, and, for motorists who cover a low to average annual mileage, it offers no real advantage over the cheaper and livelier 1.3 GSi petrol version.

A five-year warranty and three years' free servicing until the end of next month already make the Hyundai Getz an attractive proposition for those looking for a no-hassle budget runabout.

And now it's even more miserly, thanks to the introduction of a three-cylinder diesel model. The CRTD GSi uses the same 1.5-litre common-rail powerplant that has appeared in the Accent and Matrix, giving claimed fuel economy of 58.9mpg. This may sound appealing, but is no better than average for an oil-burning supermini.

At £8,695, the Getz looks good value, though. It's more than £100 cheaper than the entry-level Renault Clio 1.5 diesel, yet has a CD player, ABS, twin airbags, electric windows, central locking and a rear spoiler as standard - proving that owning a budget car does not always mean settling for less kit.

But with diesel technology advancing rapidly, an inferior engine won't do in today's cut-throat market - and that's a lesson Hyundai had to learn the hard way. In the Accent and the larger Matrix, the three-cylinder struggles to cope. It's noisy, unrefined and slow compared to livelier European four-cylinder units. So the Korean firm's engineers have been busy adapting the motor for its debut in the Getz.

As a result, the engine is much quieter than it is in other Hyundai models. You can still feel vibrations through the cabin at standstill, but they're significantly less than before.

In terms of refinement, then, the Getz CRTD is good for a small car, although performance is still lacking. Accelerating from 0-62mph takes 16.5 seconds, and while the punch from 2,000-3,000rpm is reasonable, the distance between the gear ratios means it's difficult to keep the engine in this sweet spot.

On the motorway, the Hyundai does much better, since sound insulation at speed is reasonable and the car cruises competently at the legal limit. The problem is that the superior 1.3-litre GSi petrol model is £1,200 cheaper - and the CRTD simply isn't good enough to overcome that price difference.