If you're considering a new car for 2012, why not try an offering from a manufacturer you've never considered before? If the car you plump for is anything like the Hyundai i40 Tourer, you're likely to be pleasantly surprised.

Hyundai may be considered an anonymous also-ran here in the UK, but it's the fourth-largest car maker in the world, and the i40 is the perfect example of why it sells so many cars. Gadget-laden and with interior design and quality on a par with major rivals like the Ford Mondeo, there's no objective reason you wouldn't buy one. It's also massively practical, with a roomy, inviting interior and a huge boot.

Things look even better when you consider the i40's price. With a fully loaded, top spec model coming in at £25,895, it undercuts a similarly specced Mondeo by around £5,000. It also beats the Mondeo's three-year, 60,000-mile warranty with a five-year triple care service which includes a five-year unlimited-mileage warranty, five years' roadside assistance and five years of annual complimentary vehicle health checks.

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The current model's styling is also worlds away from the humdrum of Hyundais of old, and a match for any of its European competition. It makes the sober styled Volkswagen Passat Estate in particular, look very staid.

Ok, so it's unlikely to be the last word in driving thrills, but if what you really want is a comfortable, practical, well-specced car that doesn't cost the earth and won't let you down, then look past the badge and consider an i40 Tourer. It could be all the car you ever need.