Hyundai has unveiled an upgraded i20, which aims to attract customers with a sleek look and even more technology. The third generation of this small B-segment car was introduced in 2020, and then over the past year, the automaker unveiled an upgrade that, at first glance, brought only very minor changes.
The front end has been given revised front bumper and grille shapes, making the i20 look much sportier. The FullLED headlights are also flashy, but you only get halogen headlights in the base and full LED lights are only available at an extra cost. If you order them, the typical triangular daytime running lights disappear down below and are replaced by a subtle line in the headlights.
At the rear, we also find a revised bumper and all-new Z-shaped taillights with the i20 signature. Otherwise, not much has changed here, except perhaps the plastic side deflectors on the rear glass are slightly larger, contributing to better aerodynamics. The car is also adorned with the carmaker’s revised logo, while the wheel arches are filled with new wheel rim designs.
The color menu has been expanded to include three new shades. We have the new metallic Lucid Lime and the pearlescent Lumen Gray Pearl and Meta Blue Pearl. A total of 8 paint finishes will be on offer, with the optional contrasting Phantom Black Pearl roof paint remaining available, but only from the Style trim onwards. At no extra cost, you can have the beautiful Mangrove Green Pearl, for example.
The interior features basic black cloth seats with print. On higher trims, you can have lime-colored trim with stitching, for example, but even at the base, the seats are solid in material and very well contoured. Because they have both manual sliding and reclining, they can be set relatively low, which can be a plus for taller figures.
In the Family trim, you also get 16” alloy wheels with 195/55 R16 tires, tinted rear windows, heated front seats and steering wheel, automatic climate control, and a Supervision dashboard with a 10.25″ LCD display. At the base is a classic dashboard with hands and a small display in the centre.
The i20 Family we tested didn’t have the optional Smart Pack (smart key with dashboard start button and wireless mobile phone charging), so we unlocked manually and started with the key, as was once common. I mean, it is common, except that after so many top-of-the-line features, one just sits down and wants to push the button. So I recommend the Smart Pack with all ten if you’re spoiled… 🙂
Most fans of the classic will be satisfied, as the facelift hasn’t changed the concept of on-board comfort controls either. And so the audio volume knob remains right next to the central display, and you adjust the climate control in the middle of the dashboard with very well ergonomically managed dials and other physical buttons.
To the left of the steering wheel, you’ll find a button to heat the steering wheel and a button to turn off the Stop&&&Start system, while the centre console features a simple drive mode selector and controls for heating the front seats. For drifting and winter fun enthusiasts, the classic mechanical parking brake lever has been retained.
Pleasingly, those who want to plug in their phone can take advantage of both the two types of USB connectors currently in use, as well as ample storage around the front seats. A large 1.5-litre bottle fits comfortably in the door. The only thing that’s a little disappointing is the amount of hard plastics used, which on the other hand are easier to maintain.
The only thing that the Hyundai i20 has that’s a bit dated, even after the upgrade, is the responsiveness of the basic central infotainment display and having to connect my phone to a cable when I want to use Apple CarPlay or Android Auto apps. What’s also disappointing is the tricky switching off of the ‘forced’ driver assistance systems, especially the one that beeps to warn of even the slightest speed limit exceedance. If you want to turn it off, you have to do so via a menu in the dashboard, using buttons on the steering wheel. So a little pre-flight preparation and then again every time you start it up again.
So, the vehicle already comes with more Hyundai Smart Sense safety systems as standard equipment. The FCA autonomous emergency braking system has modes for city and out-of-town driving. Alongside pedestrians, it is also able to detect cyclists, and the LFA active lane-keeping assist ensures that the vehicle stays in its lane. It’s a shame we only get conventional cruise control in this trim, as all the systems are here and the adaptive one is just a matter of software switching it on.
The i20’s strong point, compared to its French competition for example, is the really solid rear passenger space. Adults of average height can travel comfortably, even on fairly long routes, without bruised knees or heads. The USB-C connector in the centre panel and the small storage compartment are also pleasing.
The suitcase has a capacity of 352 liters, is quite small and offers the possibility to carry a spare wheel with you. I also appreciate the idea of being able to slide the boot plate just behind the rear seatbacks. Otherwise, there are still two small handles for hanging bags on the sides but some compartments or other fastening system is missing here.
Even after the upgrade, the Hyundai i20 can be fitted with one of three petrol engines. An atmospheric 1.2-litre four-cylinder forms the base, and a turbocharged three-cylinder in two power outputs is an alternative. The test vehicle was fitted with the engine, a 1.0 T-GDI mated to a smart six-speed manual transmission. The result is a peak power output of 74kW (100k) and peak torque of 172Nm between 1500-4000rpm.
The engine has plenty of power for a small and relatively light (1065kg without driver) i20, and there’s no need to do much understeer magic even when you need to accelerate harder when overtaking. The engine feels engaging from around 1900rpm and stops somewhere before 6000rpm, which is the point where you need to upshift. There’s plenty of refinement, it does growl a bit when cold but is otherwise soundproofed. The only thing it can be faulted a little for is the worse turbo spooling at low revs, where you’ll feel like a beginner in driving school when you’re revving and shifting from 1st to 2nd gear.
Consumption, after a week of testing and driving almost 1000km, stopped at 5.5l/100km, which is actually quite fine, as the WLTP Combined Combined consumption table is 5.2-5.5l/100km. At motorway speeds, around 130km/hr, the engine spins at around 2000rpm and consumption is relatively low, thanks to the sixth gear. Our routes were 20/40/40 city/country/highway.
I have to praise the intelligent 6-speed transmission to the skies. Not only does it get the automatic intermediate throttle right, but it’s also incredibly precise, and its trajectories would be the envy of many a more luxurious “sports” car. We should also praise the decent soundproofing of the cabin from the wheels or aerodynamic noise. Even at 130 km/h on the highway, the i20 is a relatively quiet car;
In terms of comfort and fit, the suspension is more sport-tuned and therefore stiff. On rougher surfaces, the chassis is occasionally bouncy, and can also take a pounding from the rear axle over transverse bumps. Its track handling is exemplary, however, and you can enjoy the i20’s twisties at the limit. At the engine’s limit, of course, because here the chassis overtakes the power – and rightly so.
The choice of reason is the Family gear just tested. It includes just about everything a small car in this class should have, and it won’t break the bank with the price. The 1.0 T-GDi Family version tested starts at €14,840. With the addition of the pearl Dragon Red paintwork and the aforementioned LED headlights, we’re at €18,530. Compared to the competition, this is quite an interesting offer.
The Hyundai i20 Family is a great choice of small car, because for reasonable money you get a very nice car that, although small in stature, is grown-up in character.
