The brave people at Hyundai decided to let the baboons at Knowsley Safari Park loose on the new i30 for a whole day.

This had something to do with putting the car through its paces, and despite the chaos it seemed to fare pretty well, with no real damage, something Hyundai attributed to the car’s ‘extra strong materials used to build the interior, easy-wipe plastics, tough fittings and high-quality steel’.

The new generation i30 is a stylish hatchback and is very much a viable contender for the family market, especially for those not wanting to sacrifice style in favour of practicality.

It has a choice of four engines with five power outputs – three diesel and two petrol units – ranging from 90 to 128 PS.

It was a smooth ride, comfortable on bends and particularly competent at motorway speeds, although this is a car that suits nipping around town as much as it does driving long distances.

Priced from £14,500, Classic models come with Bluetooth connectivity with voice recognition, front fog lights, LED daytime running lights, steering wheel audio and phone controls, air cond-itioning, electrically adjustable, heated, body coloured door mirrors, electric front windows, a RDS radio/CD with MP3, iPod, Aux and USB connectivity and a height-adjustable driver’s seat. Inside there’s a decent amount of space for the driver and all passen-gers, and boot capacity is up to 378 litres – more than both the VW Golf and Ford Focus.

An optional panoramic sunroof provides plenty of light in the cabin.

Safety is a top priority for Hyundai, and the i30 features the latest active and passive safety technologies.

Safety features include ESP (Elec-tronic Stability Program), VSM (Vehicle Stability Management), ABS (Anti-lock Braking System), BAS (emergency Brake Assist System), HAC (Hill Assist Control) to prevent roll-back and ESS (Emergency Stop Signal), which flashes the brake lights when an emergency stop is detected. Each model is fitted with six airbags as standard – front, front side and full length curtain – while an innovative driver’s knee airbag is optional.

The car is available in five exterior colours – creamy white, aqua blue, sleek silver, steel grey and phantom black.

Hyundai is also offering an industry-leading five-year triple care package. This includes a five-year, fully trans-ferable unlimited mileage warranty, five years of roadside assistance and five years of vehicle health checks.

Fact File:

Car: Hyundai i30 1.4 Classic
On the road: £14,500
0-62mph: 13.2 seconds
Top speed: 113mph
Fuel: 47.1mpg (combined)
CO2 emissions: 139g/km