Hyundai has a rather shady track record when it comes to the art of facelifting cars. Remember those funny faces that ruined its otherwise streamlined designs of the late nineties? Who could forget what they did to the original Tiburon.

Well, only they know what actually happened there but the end result looked like something you'd have yanked off the end of a fish-hook.

The Elantra of that time looked like it had been crashed, as did the Sonata.

Clearly Hyundai learns from its mistakes and benefiting from nearly ten years of hindsight, Korea's most mainstream small hatchback seems to have gotten off lightly.

Some might miss the squat and chunky face that made the original Getz unique, yet the new version does have a somewhat more modern, and even racier, appearance.

It should also illuminate light onto the road ahead in the same manner as Peugeot's 206, while the rear end also appears more balanced thanks to a new strip in the tail lights that disguises the unharmonious transition between the lights and rear window.

While this is still not the best facelift of all time, the Getz has taken a decent stride in the area where it counts most — the value proposition. For the same R100K base price as before, buyers now get a somewhat more powerful engine and a driver-side airbag.

Most significant to us is the engine. Hyundai has replaced the old eight-valve 1.3 with a more modern 16-valve 1.4-litre that makes 11kW more power and an extra 8Nm of torque.

This makes Getz the most powerful car in its price segment if you exclude the CitiGolf, which we will because it belongs in a museum rather than a showroom.

However, the engine does not make enough grunt in mid-range and compared to rivals, its 15.2 second 80 to 120km/h time is on the slow side.

The Getz does well enough on the dynamic front, with sharp and safe cornering characteristics, marred only by its reluctance to actually communicate with the driver. Ride quality and damping are good enough, but expect things to get a bit bouncy when smooth roads elude you.

While the Getz' charming shape is still within safe distance of its sell-by-date, the interior is showing its age with a somewhat dreary design and distinct lack of imagination in that dark-grey-facia-meets-black-seats colour scheme.

The seats are comfortable enough, though they offer zero lateral support, and for junk hoarders there are more storage compartments and trays than you'd expect in a car at this price. Interior space is reasonable, though lagging behind newer rivals.

You get a fair features count for the money — air-con, electric windows and central locking are all there — although the radio will cost you extra. For the cost conscious, a two-year service plan is also standard.

That's what the Getz essentially boils down to. A bargain for sure, but it's a car you'll buy with your head only; a modern and efficient commuter — no more and no less. If you want some motoring fun in your life, you won't find much here. Page: 1 of 2 - next