L ike its sister company Kia, Hyundai is enjoying a level of success not previously experienced by a company outside the traditional European manufacturer base. The reason why is a simple one: Hyundai has rapidly upped its game in a bid to compete head on with those European companies.

And the results to date have been impressive. Hyundai is coming to the end of a range-wide overhaul, which has seen the introduction of a new mid-size i40 plus revisions to existing models. The latest to benefit from such action is the i30 family hatch and estate range.

Boasting Hyundai’s new corporate face and sharper-looking sheetmetal, the car has been positioned to challenge the likes of Opel’s Astra and Ford’s Focus.

And with a new three-door model taking its place on the company’s Paris show stand alongside a refreshed Santa Fe and fuel cell-powered ix35, it’s clear that Hyundai is pulling out all the stops to ensure its growing market share is no fluke.