Hyundai i20 Review

1.2 Petrol

The Hyundai i20 is directly in C-segment territory. But then at this price you get a car that has all the space and features of a saloon minus the boot. Also, it's built to the latest safety standards. And safety is one area where the i20 shines - it's the first hatchback to get six airbags. The i20's easy to use nature makes it a good companion for city use and the wide-ranging assortment of equipment will keep you pampered. It's sensibly fuel efficient and with Hyundai's good service back-up, it should be hassle-free to run and own.

DESIGN AND STYLE

The i20's wide stance and prominent nose really stand out and, as it drives past, you notice the strong character lines on its flanks, which adds to the tautness of the shape. Another standout feature is the large fog lamps housed in prominent blisters on the lower bumper. Perhaps Hyundai's designers were so caught up with the front that they ran too close to the deadline as far as the rear is concerned.

The end result is a very generic rear, which does gel with the rest of the design, but doesn't stand out.
The build quality is noticeable the moment you grab the chunky door handles to open and shut the nicely weighted doors. This is indicative of a car that can last well for years on our roads.

CABIN

The i20 gets a well designed and handy cabin, although not one that moves the game forward in any important way. On the plus side, the Hyundai is without doubt roomy, with respectable space in the front plus a good range of seat and steering column adjustments.

A boot capacity of 295 litres is decent for this class of hatchback and the flat load area and wide tailgate aperture and 60:40 split rear seats, makes the most of it.The shiny plastics look downmarket and the dark brown colour isn't to everybody's taste and the vents for the air con are also not in keeping with the overall positioning of this car.

ENGINE

Under the i20's attractive bonnet sits the same 1197cc Kappa engine, which we've already seen in the i10. This all-aluminium 16-valve motor which develops 79bhp and 11.4kgm of torque now has to drag around a body that is considerably heavier. With its capacity to swallow five large passengers and a sensible amount of luggage, a fully loaded i20 does struggle on the highway, in particular when vertaking fast moving traffic.

For city driving, however, performance is satisfactory thanks to well judged gear ratios that make the most of the Kappa engine. The redline is closer to 6000rpm, but revving it is futile as it runs out of breath before that and the soundtrack gets awkwardly noisy. In fact, it is at lower revs that the i20 feels the most comfortable. At idle, the engine is particularly advanced with no vibrations filtering into the cabin. The i20 is a pretty fuel efficient car, with an in-city figure of 11.2kpl and 16kpl on the highway. It is not as thrifty as some A-segment cars but given its weight and size, these figures are quite decent.

RIDE AND HANDLING

The nimbleness of the i20's controls is instantaneously evident and undoubtedly this Hyundai has been designed around ease of operation. The clutch pedal's lack of fight takes some getting used, but the liberal assistance of the electric power steering and the light gearshift make the i20 a relaxing travel companion in urban environment.

The Hyundai's soft suspension does a decent job of dealing with speed breakers and potholes and appears well up to the task of dealing with Indian roads. But, as you up the pace, you begin to notice inconsistencies in the damping. Over patchy roads, the i20's front tends to bob, which can get uncomfortable. There is some body roll too, which means you can't corner enthusiastically either.

The i20 isn't for spirited driving and feels best when driven at a relaxed pace. The i20 has ABS with EBD, or brake-force distribution, which varies the amount of braking to each wheel depending upon the grip available. ABS is a total must, especially on our gravely roads and during the monsoon, and the i20's system works well. ABS however is not offered on the cheaper Magna variant.

FACT FILE  Fuel Petrol Type 1799 cc,4 cylinders Installation Front, transverse Power 79bhp at 5200rpm Torque 11.4kgm at 4000rpm Gearbox 5-speed manual Weight 1065kg Tyres 185/65 R14