Hyundai i20

In the premium hatchback space, the Hyundai Elite i20 has been a prominent player with monthly average sales close to 10,000 units. It has also managed to retain its position in the top 10 selling cars each month. But now, there’s a new one. It drops the ‘Elite’ from its name and comes with many new features, added powertrain options, and an attractive design both on the inside and outside. Can it fill the shoes of the outgoing Elite i20? Let’s find out.

We have driven the diesel and the new 1.0-litre Turbo-Petrol versions of the new i20 for this review.

Adopting Hyundai’s new ‘sensuous sportiness’ design language, the new i20 is quite a looker, no matter what the angle you look at it from. The wedge-shaped headlamps have some striking LED elements, and it integrates well with the low-slung nose and drooping bonnet. Upfront, the blacked-out meshed grille is the new Hyundai signature, and on either side are triangular elements housing circular foglamps. In profile, the chrome-finished fly-back beltline instantly catches attention. There are cuts and creases on the doors, fenders, and everywhere you move your glance to, keeping things interesting. Those 16-inch alloy wheels look good but some swanky wheel design to match the flamboyance of the rest of the car would have been better.

At the back, the wrap-around tail lamps get a unique ‘horizontal thunderbolt’ lighting signature. Apart from that, the tail lamp remains busy with more elements inside of it and the chrome inserts joining the two lamps in between. The rear windscreen gets extended piano-black surround on the side and bottom reminding us of something similar as seen on the Altroz. But, the petite roof-mounted spoiler and black-finished diffuser elements at the bottom make the i20 look sportier than any other car we have seen in this segment.

On the inside, the new i20’s cabin is fresh and modern, carrying bits and pieces from the more expensive Hyundai models. So, you see the first-in-segment digital instrument cluster borrowed from the Verna, sitting behind the Creta-styled steering wheel. The floating 10-inch touchscreen panel is the biggest in the segment and gets Hyundai’s latest interface too, which is smooth and easy to use. On the centre console, there’s a panel for air-con controls and a vertical ‘Coolpad’ for wireless charging. However, better material quality on the inside would have elevated the feel of the cabin, and the all-black layout misses out on some soft-touch materials too.

In terms of space, the front row is adequately spacious with good visibility all around. There’s a good amount of headroom and sufficient shoulder room too. The seats offer the right amount of support, especially on the side bolstering. Meanwhile, the driver’s seat can be adjusted for height, and the reach-and-rake adjustable steering makes it easier to find the right driving position.

In the second row, the scooped-out the roof helps with added headroom, while there are ample knee and legroom available. Seating three in the back seat should be a comfortable affair too. On the flip side, there’s no cupholder on the folding armrest and no headrest for the middle passenger. Even the seats don’t get split function and the boot space is rather small at 311 litres.

In terms of features and equipment, there’s a long list on offer. This includes the BlueLink connected car tech, wireless charger, sunroof, Oxyboost air purifier with AQI display, digital instrument cluster, TPMS, cooled glovebox, cruise control apart from auto AC with rear air vents, electric ORVMs, auto-dimming mirrors, seven-speaker Bose sound system with sub-woofer, welcome function, puddle lamps, blue ambient lighting, cornering lamps, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, fast USB charging ports, and the 16-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels. In terms of safety, Hyundai is offering six airbags in the top-spec version of the i20 along with ABS with EBD, ESC, and hill assist control. Moreover, it also comes with ISOFIX, height-adjustable front seatbelts with a reminder, and speed/impact sensing door locks.

Hyundai is offering three engine and four gearbox options with the i20. Replacing the older 1.4-litre diesel is Hyundai’s newest 1.5-litre U2 diesel producing 99bhp at 4,000rpm and 240Nm from 1,500rpm. It can be had only with a six-speed manual gearbox for now. There are two petrol engines – the familiar 1.2-litre Kappa making 82bhp when paired with manual and 88bhp with the automatic, and a new 1.0-litre three-cylinder T-GDI turbo-petrol motor making 118bhp and 170Nm. The latter can be had with the new iMT or a six-speed DCT automatic transmission choice.

First up, the diesel. On idle, the oil burner feels refined and muted but there are some vibrations felt on the pedals and steering. However, these vibrations won’t be noticeable if you aren’t paying much attention. Engage the first gear and depress the clutch, and you’d notice how improved the clutch action is compared to the older ‘Elite’ i20. The new i20 diesel gets off the mark with a smooth and assuring feel but we noticed a slight lag under 1,500rpm. Go past that and the strong mid-range comes into play where the motor becomes quite tractable. That said, at city speeds you can easily get around with the available low-end grunt without any hassle. But for quick overtakes, you’d need to get the motor into the sweet mid-range between 1,500-3,000rpm. The same mid-range helps with effortless cruising at highway speeds and triple-digit speeds can be maintained without having to strain the motor. But the power does taper off close to 4,000rpm, so it isn’t viable to wring the engine all the way to the 5,000rpm redline. The six-speed manual setup is well-gated with light and easy throws and has a minor notchy feel to it.

On the other hand, the 1.0-litre T-GDI motor feels refined for a three-cylinder unit. You could barely hear it off the line, but go past the 2,000rpm mark and the motor starts to feel alive. Under that, there’s enough grunt to potter around the city speeds without any hassle. It’s a high revving motor and once the turbo is spooled up and ready for action, the fun factor of this motor is increased tremendously. It doesn’t shove you in the seat, but the acceleration is quick and you’d be doing triple-digit speeds in no time. Even maintaining that speed on the highway isn’t difficult as the motor tends to upshift early with enough reserve to catch up for hurried overtakes. What’s more, the DCT is smooth, seamless, and goes about doing its job brilliantly.

In terms of ride quality, the i20 feels on the stiffer side at slower speeds. There are noticeable jitters even on the smallest of irregularities and thuds from the sharp-edged potholes are sent prominently inside the cabin. However, the ride quality improves with the increase in speeds, and the road irregularities are taken astride with a rather reformed poise. Even highway stability is impressive and you can maintain good speeds all day. Combine that with solid braking performance and the new i20 certainly feels confident to drive. There’s a ground clearance of 170mm and the new i20 can thread over the biggest of potholes or unpaved roads with ease.

As for the steering, there’s a slight vagueness around the dead centre. Move past that and it is direct and responsive. Going two and a half turns lock-to-lock the steering feels light and easy to manoeuvre around the city at slower speeds. Out on the highway, it does weigh up nicely but lacks a connected feel which could have made it more involving. Also, you’d need to constantly correct the steering wheel at higher speeds. There’s noticeable body roll present as well so the i20 won’t be your ideal tool for corner carvings. On the upside, the brakes on our diesel i20 were solid and did a commendable job of bringing the hatchback to a halt. But the same cannot be said about the brakes on the DCT-equipped model.

The new-gen Hyundai i20 has not only grown in size compared to the model it replaces, but it also ups the ante of what we should expect from a premium hatchback with its many segment-firsts on offer. Also, it is one of the few cars to offer a diesel engine option, which itself is a reason enough to buy the i20. But more than that, the new i20 also looks fantastic, has a spacious and feature-loaded cabin, and a plethora of variants to choose from ranging across various engine-gearbox combos. So, the new i20 remains a well-packaged family hatchback which ticks all the right boxes. Prices for the new Hyundai i20 range between Rs 6.80 lakh and 10.75 lakh (ex-showroom) and it currently competes against the Maruti Suzuki Baleno, Tata Altroz, Honda Jazz, and the Volkswagen Polo.

Hyundai i20 ownership experience

Hyundai i20, which recently got a makeover, has been garnering good support and appreciation from Indian customers. The Hyundai hatchbacks, i10 and i20 have established themselves really well among the other options available.

Second to the India’s largest manufacturer, Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai has provided stiff competition to all the players in the hatch range. The i20 was seen as a direct rival to the dominant Maruti Suzuki Swift, which began the trend of premium compact hatches in India.

Presently, every automobile manufacturer is trying to infuse its small iterations in this popular segment. We interview Mr. Satya Narayana Sharma, owner of a 2009 Hyundai i20 to find out about his experience throughout the ownership and whether he would recommend it to others.

 Hyundai i20 Technical Specifications

Mr. Satya Narayana Sharma owns a 2009 Crystal white Hyundai i20 Asta variant. It has a 4 cylinder 1197cc petrol engine, which produces a peak power of 80PS and a torque rating of 114Nm. Mr. Sharma has not done any retro fitment of an LPG kit on his vehicle. He gets a mileage of 12 kmpl in city and 16 kmpl on highways.

Below is the brief interview of Mr. Sharma revealing more about this ownership experience.

Question: How long has it been since you own this car and what made you choose it over other the options available in the market?

Answer: I bought this car in 2009 December. I don’t give much importance to the brand value, however I do look for a car with the best of features available and the reputation of providing the best service. When I was looking for a new car, the Hyundai i20 fascinated me with its impressive styling and its features like power windows, power mirrors, climate control, alloy wheels, ABS, fog lamps etc. I was also impressed with the fit and finish of the interiors and all this were very convincing for me to select it.

Question: Have you owned any other car prior to this?

Answer: Earlier I had the Maruti Suzuki 800, which has always been a reliable car. We had used the same for about two years or so. It is indeed a good family car. Later on as I wished for a more stylish car, I chose the Hyundai i20.

Question: Please tell us something about the present status of your car?

Answer:  Till now it has done 34,438 kms. As I was using it very frequently at about 100kms per day, it’s in perfect condition and we do enjoy the drive quality and comfort it offers.

Questions: How is experience compared to your earlier car(s)?

Answer: It is way above in performance, style statement and comfort in comparison to my earlier car. I have driven many other similar models but found this one to be the best.

Question: How about cost per service?

Answer: The last service was done at 29,306 kms. The overall billing was around Rs. 7000/- including oil change, shampoo cleaning of interiors, paid service etc. Maintenance cost is quite justified considering the segment it belongs to.

Question: Any accident repairs done or insurance claimed?

Answer: As I am a very careful driver and do drive at safe speeds during city driving or taking it out from parking lot, I have never met with an accident. Also there has not been any instance of claiming an insurance till now.

Question: Have you faced any mileage issues?

Answer: Mileage is quite good considering the displacement and the weight of car. I don’t have much issue regarding mileage and that is my secondary preference, the primary being the performance, style and the comfort offered.

Question: Can you tell us about your experience in long drives?

Answer: We have travelled a lot in this car, done close to 700kms on one day. It is a very comfortable and stable ride. One can easily drive at a speed of 150 kmph without any vibration or discomfort. I have not crossed the 150kmph mark. The performance of the car at high speeds is very impressive and makes it feel as if it’s gliding on the road.

Hyundai i20 Features

Question: Any brake down faced and how was the problem solved?

Answer: No Brake down faced till now.

Question: Any good/bad experience at the authorized service station?

Answer: Service quality is good with respect to workmanship .I did not face any problem with the service. The service engineers do give high importance to quality of work and delivery in time.

Question: How do you rate the overall ownership, would you recommend the same to others?

Answer: We are very much satisfied with the performance of the car. The cost of service is also very reasonable. However, the rising petrol prices can make people think twice before selecting this one. Proper planning of all the trips and switching the car off regularly at signals will help reduce the burden of rising fuel prices. About recommending this car, yes I do recommend it.

Question: If given an option to choose from the new cars, which make and Model, would you choose?

Answer: Currently we don’t have any plans of going for other car. However, Hyundai Verna would be the preferred choice for upgrade from the existing Hyundai i20.

Conclusion

From the above interview, it can be concluded that Mr. Satya Narayana Sharma is a very satisfied owner of Hyundai i20 and he recommends the same to the people looking for a premium hatchback, which offers the best of comfort. However, the Hyundai i20 is accompanied by the Grande Punto, Polo, Micra and Pulse hatches as well so a lot of options are available for the Indian consumers to choose from.

Hyundai i20 Competition