Hyundai Motor's i30 Hatchback has been named Car of the Year for 2008 by automotive journalists in Spain.

In winning the award, the i30 beat out a lineup that included the Fiat 500, the Ford Mondeo, the Peugeot 308 and Toyota's Auris.

Fifty-two journalists from various Spanish media outlets assess models released the previous year on a range of categories including design, performance, safety and reliability.

The i30 is the first Asian car to receive the significant honor.