“Cute” aptly defines the new face Hyundai has given the i20 for the refresh. But this little ride isn’t just charming on the outside – what’s underneath the sheet metal delights as well.
Starting with what’s under the bonnet, there are three engine options including the 1.2-litre and 1.4-litre petrol, as well as a 1.1-litre and 1.4-litre diesel. The 1.2-litre petrol rated at 84bhp and 119Nm is a gutsy little guy with a 12.7s 0-60mph figure. In most cases, this would be our power plant of choice. The base engine is so good it’s tough to justify forking over the extra poundage for the 1.4-litre which puts out 99bhp.. For those who are primarily concerned with squeezing out every drop of fuel economy, the diesel engines are prime candidates. The 1.1-litre 77bhp option can net as much as 88mpg although performance is hardly Formula One race ready, taking nearly 16s to reach 60mph. The 1.4-litre 89bhp diesel is a slightly better compromise between economy and fun racking up a 0-60 time of around 14s while maxing out at 76mpg.
The smiling mug of the 2014 Hyundai i20 gets updated with the definitively Hyundai hexagonal front grill along with rounded front wings and a re-designed bonnet. All of the front lighting has been tweaked as well to reflect Hyundai’s latest design cues. The hind quarters of the car have been revised to include a new rear bumper and taillights. On paper the dimensions of the i20 do not appear to have changed much, but when you open the door and take a seat inside the renovated model, you will immediately sense the improvements. The front seats provide a multitude of adjustments that will fit body types ranging from a basketball player to a jockey, and the back seats actually afford enough room to keep an adult human being content. All of this room for Homo sapiens does not come at the expense of space for material items. There are 295-litres of luggage space ready to haul whatever you desire. One of the biggest complaints about the outgoing model was that the interior felt cheap and unenticing. Hyundai has attempted to address this issue by using better quality plastics and fabrics as well as a new interior colour pallet. While these changes don’t turn the i20’s cabin into that of a Maybach, they get the job done.
This car is a supermini designed with thrift in mind and is priced accordingly. Expect to pay between £10,000 and £14,500 for the pint-sized compact. The i20 comes in three and five door flavours with classic, active and style levels to choose from. All models including the base, come standard with ESP, air conditioning, CD stereo with USB/AUX-in, electric front windows, remote central locking and a trip computer. One nifty feature is the air condition cooled glove box – perfect for keeping that KitKat bar from melting on a sweltering summer day. If you step up to a fancier model, you get the option of alloy wheels, Bluetooth with voice recognition, front fog lights, and a touch of leather trim here and there. For being small, the i20 is no slouch in the safety department either receiving a five-star Euro NCAP crash test rating, in part due to the standard stability control and six airbags.
So, what does it cost to keep one of these babies? Well, with the five-year warranty with triple care after-sales package, you won’t have to budget much for maintenance expenses. All models get excellent fuel mileage with the petrol 1.2-litre giving out 57.6mpg and 114g/km on combined cycle and the oil burner achieving 88.3mpg and 84g/km as referenced earlier. The Intelligent Stop and Go System (ISG) that stops the engine when it’s not needed, helps attain these impressive figures.
If you’re looking for soft buttery leather as well as seats that warm and massage your buttocks, the i20 probably isn’t for you. If you are looking for a sensible, dependable, well-engineered automobile then this Hyundai should definitely be on your list. The numerous improvements have given this supermini a big personality.
What do you think of our 2014 Hyundai i20 review? Leave your comments. We love to read them.
