Hyundai i20

Expert Review by Maxabout

Overview

The Hyundai i20 is a popular luxury hatchback in India, boasting a spacious interior and a long list of standard equipment. The manufacturer revised the i20's variations and certain features in March to present customers with a more comprehensive offering. A few examples include the replacement of the wheel caps on the entry-level Magna model and the addition of convenience features to the Sportz variant. Similarly, the Asta model is loaded with features and technology that was previously only found in high-end vehicles. The initial glance at the all-new Hyundai i20 piqued our interest, but with its comprehensive feature list and powertrain options, the new Hyundai would be more expensive than the competition. The price disclosure surprised many potential buyers, as the i20 ended up asking for a significant amount over other competitive vehicles.

Hyundai i20 Design and Style

A quick glance at the latest Hyundai i20 reveals its European design cues, which is a significant improvement over the previous model. So much so that establishing a visual link between the two generations becomes difficult. Hyundai's desire to attract a little younger demographic could be a major cause for this divergence.

A pair of elegant headlamps and a huge radiator grille takes most of the area in the front. The sharp-looking fog lamp housings compliment the upswept headlamps. The Indian model has a slimmer front bumper than the Western variant in order to fit within the 4-metre length limit, although there isn't much of a visual difference.

The wedge design, big DLO (Daylight Opening), and stunning 16-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels dominate the side profile. The rear end complements the attractive front end and has a similarly radical appearance, with LED taillights with a Z-shaped glow pattern and a reflector strip linking the taillights. Overall, the latest i20 appears to be incredibly modern and youthful.

Hyundai i20 Engine and Gearbox

This is where the Hyundai i20 clearly outshines the Maruti Baleno. The latter is now only available with two naturally aspirated 1.2-litre petrol engine options, whilst the i20 has three: a 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol, a 1.0-litre direct-injection turbo-petrol, and a 1.5-litre turbocharged diesel.

The 1.2-litre petrol engine produces 88 HP and 113 Nm and is offered in lesser trim levels. A 5-speed manual transmission and a CVT are available here. The top-end models feature a 120 HP and 172 Nm turbo-petrol engine with both a 7-speed DCT and a 6-speed IMT. The diesel engine produces 100 HP and 240 Nm of torque and is only available with a 6-speed manual transmission.

Hyundai i20 Suspension, Brakes and Tyres

The new i20 has a good ride quality thanks to McPherson struts up front and a multi-link arrangement at the back. It can easily absorb all the undulations, and unlike other lightly sprung automobiles from the South Korean manufacturer, the i20 does not wallow around. The front-heavy nature of the diesel model might cause a substantial rebound from the shock absorbers up front. Hyundai has equipped the i20 with Tubeless 185/65 (380.2mm) R15 (Steel), 195/55 (405.6mm) R16 (Styled wheel), 195/55 R16 (Diamond Cut Alloy Wheel) rear tyres across all variants and the 185/65 (380.2mm) R15 Steel (Magna), 195/55 R16 Styled Wheel (Sportz), 195/55 R16 Diamond Cut Alloy wheel (Asta, Asta O) front tyres. The spare tyre of the i20 is a 185/70 R14 Steel (Magna), and 185/65 R15 Steel (Sportz, Asta, Asta O). Disc brakes in the front and drum in the rear handle the braking system in the i20.

Interior and Instrument Console of Hyundai i20

The Hyundai i20 has always featured a highly premium cabin with excellent material quality. These characteristics are stronger than ever in the current model. The most recent model has a modern design and is built of high-quality materials. A wide-screen 10.24-inch touchscreen infotainment unit with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support, BlueLink connectivity features, digital instrument console, BOSE 7-speaker sound system, motorised sunroof, air purifier, rear air-con vents, and more are available.

2023 Hyundai i20 is slightly larger than its predecessor. Legroom has increased slightly in both rows, thanks to the 10mm increase in wheelbase. The second row is still insufficient for three adult occupants. With two on the back bench, the armrest will undoubtedly improve comfort. There is enough headroom, shoulder room, and leg room for four people on board. Even the 311-litre boot capacity is large enough to handle a large suitcase and two small-to-medium-sized pieces of luggage. There are plenty of cubby holes dispersed about the cabin. Finally, the chilled glove compartment will be appreciated in the summer.

Key Features of Hyundai i20

Key features of the new Hyundai i20 include tilt and telescopic adjustable steering, steering-mounted controls, keyless entry with push-button start, puddle lamps on ORVMs, front centre sliding armrest, blue ambient lighting, the 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and 50 BlueLink connected car features, Bose 7-speaker sound system with an amplifier and a subwoofer in the boot, wireless phone charger with cooling, air purifier, sunroof, cruise control, automatic climate controls, electric folding and adjustable ORVMs with auto fold, height-adjustable driver seat, rear wiper and washer, cooled glove box, rear AC vents, rear seat armrest, and a rear USB charger.

Global NCAP has not yet evaluated the latest generation Hyundai i20, however, it comes with a robust safety kit. The top-of-the-line model includes 6-airbags (dual front airbags, ISOFIX anchorages, ESC (Electronic Stability Control), Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), Hill Start Assist, VSM (vehicle stability management), ESS (emergency stop signal), rear parking sensors, and a rear camera with dynamic guidelines). The new i20 is built on Hyundai's K-platform, which has 66 per cent HSS (High Strength Steel).

Top Speed and Mileage of Hyundai i20

2023 Hyundai i20 mileage is 19.65 to 25.0 km/l (combined), the manual Diesel variant has a mileage of 25.0 km/l, and the manual Petrol variant has a mileage of 21.0 km/l and the automatic Petrol variant has a mileage of 20.28 km/l. The top speed of the Hyundai is around 160 km/h and it could speed up from 0 to 100 km/h within 9.9 seconds (turbo GDi engine).

Hyundai i20 Colour Options

2023 Hyundai i20 is available in 10 different colour options: Metallic Copper, Fiery Red, Fiery Red, Fiery Red with Black roof, Polar White, Polar White with Black roof, Typhoon Silver, Starry Night, and Titan Grey.

Hyundai i20 Price

The premium hatchback is available in four trim levels: Magna, Sportz, Asta, and Asta (O), with Hyundai pricing the new i20 between Rs 7.03 lakh and Rs 11.53 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).

Hyundai i20 Competitors

Hyundai's high-end hatchback competes with Honda Jazz, Tata Altroz, Maruti Baleno, and Toyota Glanza in the Indian market.

Conclusion

2023 Hyundai i20 now seems like a mature hatchback, not just in terms of amenities, spaciousness, and appearance, but also in terms of the powertrains. The 1.5-litre diesel engine is extremely smooth and seems like the greatest all-around performer in the series. It excels in city driving and is a capable motorway cruiser. The 1.2-litre petrol CVT feels more appropriate for city driving. Its refinement and power delivery will not let you complain while commuting. The 1.0-litre turbo petrol is just for those who want the excitement of a sporty engine and will pay a premium for it. While this engine is fairly fast, the i20's driving manners keep it from becoming an absolutely entertaining enthusiast car. To grasp the price, ignore the fact that it is a hatchback and concentrate on the upmarket experience it provides with its features, size, drivetrains, and overall cabin environment. Indeed, from the interior, it provides a sedan-like sensation, and the i20 merits its premium in this sense.