
Hyundai are now received as a car company that supplies quality products. The i20 is a good looking car finished to a high standard but with a range of underpowered engines that let its performance down.
The Hyundai i20 comes with a choice of two petrol engines and one diesel option. The 1.2 three cylinder petrol engine with 75bhp is available with all three specifications. The 1.4 four cylinder option however, is only available in the Deluxe trim and mated to an automatic transmission and puts out 100bhp. The diesel option is a 1.1 litre with 75bhp. While power is the same as the smaller petrol option, the diesel feels slightly more urgent low down the revs. It is also the most economical engine of the three.
The i20 goes up against competitors like the Volkswagen Polo and the Ford Fiesta in the supermini segment. While the engines do not bring much of the a fun factor to the table, the Hyundai’s light steering makes for a bit of fun in the corners and it changes direction swiftly and with ease. There is plenty of grip too so body control is kept in check. The manual gearbox is a 5-speed option only and has a fluid feel to it helping you to feel more involved if you decide to tackle a back road. The i20 ride overall is quite comfortable, but for more fun factor, the Ford Fiesta is a more engaging option.
The Hyundai i20 come with the choice of three trim levels. These are Classic, Deluxe and Premium. The Deluxe option like in the smaller i10 sibling is probably the best value for money offering a fully colour coded exterior with nice interior touches like a leather steering wheel and gear knob. If you like larger wheels for a better exterior look, the only extra the Premium pack brings over the Deluxe is 16 inch alloys. Bluetooth, hands free and full smartphone connectivity is all present and controllable via a multi-function steering wheel.
The layout of the Hyundai i20’s interior is not the most inspiring aesthetically but a functional one all the same, with all buttons and control where they should be and easy to find. The quality of materials used on the dashboard are not of the highest standard and feel a bit rough and hard to the touch. When you compare it to the likes of the latest Opel Corsa interior, the Opel is light years ahead with a stylish design, quality finish and 7 inch touchscreen at the heart of the controls. It’s an interior feel that lacks the panache of some of its main rivals.
The i20 scored 4/5 in Euro NCAP crash testing. It may not be full marks but the i20 is a very safe car. It is built from high-strength steel and comes with six airbags, electronic stability control and an emergency stop signal as standard. There are also a range of further safety enhancements on the options list. These include items like lane assist/departure warning and tyre pressure monitoring system.
The level of space crated by the Hyundai i20’s interior is very impressive. It is class leading with plenty of room in the front and rear for adult passengers. The latest model is lower, wider and longer than before. It gets a really impressive 326 litre boot (bigger than all other rivals) complete with a false floor that collapses to create even more room. The rear seats fold with a 60/40 split so you can open the cabin up fully to 1042 litres for storage of larger objects too.