Hyundai i20 1.1 CRDi 75 CV Tecno, review and road test

The B-segment is booming, and this is reflected in the new launches from brands, which are increasingly investing in improved design and quality in the city car segment. Before testing a car I always have a rough idea of what I am going to find, but sometimes the star of the test surprises you and exceeds your initial expectations.

That is what happened to me with the Hyundai i20 I tested, a car that surprises with its engine (just three cylinders and 75 CV, very well used), its perceived quality and its complete equipment. If you are looking for a fuel-saving city car, well equipped and with good finishes, do not miss this test of the Hyundai i20 1.1 CRDi with 75 CV, because I am sure it will interest you.

Exterior design

The Hyundai i20 debuted as a new generation, and with it a new name, back in 2009 when it hit the market. In 2012 it received some changes, and at the end of 2014 the second generation of the Hyundai i20 arrived. The most notable aspect of the exterior design is the changes to the front end, which is now much more robust and has greater personality, a front more typical of a compact than of a city car, with the new design features that identify the Korean brand, such as the large grille.

The front-end lines have been sharpened, and the headlights feature LEDs for both the daytime running lights (lower LEDs) and the position lights (upper LED that outlines the headlight). From the side, the C-pillar of the car stands out, painted in glossy black, giving the impression that the roof floats and that the glazed surface continues.

At the rear, the large lights stand out, with some lighting functions (fog light and reverse light) located in the bumper. Once again, the large bumpers give the impression that it is a big and robust car.

Interior design

When we sit behind the wheel of the Hyundai i20 we see a driving position typical of a higher segment, materials with good fit, two-tone finish (standard on this trim level), complete instrumentation and a sense of space. All the controls are well placed and easy to use, quite intuitive, even the radio. The perceived quality is well above the expectations usually held for this segment, especially the two-tone part of the dashboard, which is soft plastic, and the good fit of the materials used.

The driving position is good, since the seats offer good lateral support (unusual in the city car segment), there is a front armrest (very useful on long journeys), and the driver also has good visibility, including to the rear.

The rear seats are sufficient for two adults, who will travel comfortably in terms of legroom and headroom; of course, as is normal, three will be a bit tight in width. This trim level has four speakers, but all four are in the front seats.

Boot and storage

In terms of storage and cubbies for objects, the i20 is surprising, since both the centre console and the central tunnel have several spaces to leave a phone or keys; it also has a central lidded storage compartment and door pockets (quite large and in all four doors).

As a practical detail, it is worth noting the two 12V sockets, which are always useful for charging our trusty smartphones, whose batteries never last long. The boot has a capacity of 326 litres, with a regular and quite usable design.

Engine and performance

In the diesel range of the Hyundai i20 we can choose between a 75 CV three-cylinder engine or a 90 CV four-cylinder. When requesting the test from Hyundai Spain, I expressly opted for the small three-cylinder, which has been powering the small Korean cars for years and stands out for its performance.

Without a doubt, the choice did not disappoint me; on the contrary, it surprised me with its good response and low consumption from this small engine of barely 1.1 litres. This three-cylinder has a variable-geometry turbo and delivers 180 Nm of torque (from 1,800 rpm).

When starting the car we notice the nervous idle typical of a three-cylinder, but as soon as we set off, the engine is smooth in its response. The useful rev range runs from 1,800 to 3,000 rpm, where it runs out of breath, although that is more than sufficient and the response at low revs is strong.

Paired with the engine is a six-speed gearbox (it is unusual to see six-speed gearboxes in such small engines), a gearbox that offers a very correct feel and short ratios (in sixth at 120 km/h it turns at 2,500 rpm).

Handling

Now we know a bit more about the engine hidden under the bonnet of this Hyundai i20, and it is time to get into the handling. During the first kilometres at the wheel, the first thing that catches our attention is the good interior insulation, along with the lively feel the engine has when starting up.

On country roads it moves with ease, more than expected, so I decided to take it onto the motorway to check whether it is up to the task. The response is good both when merging and when tackling an overtake, and the stability is surprising, without a doubt it has no fear of motorway driving, where consumption is also low.

Where it performs best is in mixed city and country driving; the i20 is very agile, partly thanks to its responsive engine and partly thanks to its low weight (1,100 kg). If we drive more spiritedly, it is not a sports car, but it does not suffer excessive body roll, and the engine’s response gives it a certain agility in any situation.

In town it is a small car, with good visibility and practical for getting around cities without problems.

Consumption

Beyond the performance this engine delivers (much more than other diesels of similar power), it is very economical in terms of consumption. On the motorway it manages with 4.6 litres per 100 km, although where we achieve the best figures is on country roads, averaging around 4.3 litres per 100 km on our usual test route.

In town, consumption rises somewhat, but it still stays at around 5.9 litres per 100 km, which, given our test route (through Vigo, a city with many hills), is a very good figure.

Equipment

Even from the base trim, the Hyundai i20 comes quite complete, including in terms of safety, where it does not forget six airbags, stability and traction control, or active front headrests.

There are four trim levels: Essence, Klass, Tecno and Style. Even the base trim already includes air conditioning, an on-board computer, a sound system with USB and AUX and two speakers, electrically adjustable heated mirrors, among other features.

Our trim, Tecno, is one of the most balanced in terms of price and equipment, as it has practically everything without needing to go up to the top-of-the-range model. Worth highlighting is the sound system, which even had an integrated 1.2 GB hard drive and four speakers (all in the front seats), but which stood out for its sound quality (unusual in this segment).

The climate control is another standard feature on the Tecno trim, as are the 16-inch alloy wheels and Bluetooth. It is also worth noting that from the second trim level up, the lane departure warning system is also fitted.

Prices of the Hyundai i20

The official prices are as follows, but without discounts or the PIVE scrappage scheme. With both discounts, petrol versions start at 10,649 euros.

• 1.2 MPI 85 CV Essence 15,150 euros
• 1.2 MPI 85 CV Klass 16,000 euros
• 1.2 MPI 85 CV Tecno 16,900 euros
• 1.4 MPI 100 CV Tecno 17,950 euros
• 1.4 MPI 100 CV Style 20,650 euros
• 1.1 CRDI 75 CV Essence 16,850 euros
• 1.1 CRDI 75 CV Klass 17,700 euros
• 1.1 CRDI 75 CV Tecno 18,650 euros
• 1.4 CRDI 90 CV Essence 17,450 euros
• 1.4 CRDI 90 CV Klass 19,250 euros
• 1.4 CRDI 90 CV Tecno 21,950 euros
• 1.4 CRDI 90 CV Style 20,450 euros

Opinion and personal assessment

Hyundai has considerably increased the quality of its models, and also offers a lot of equipment in a segment where it is unusual to see cars so well equipped with compact-class quality. The Hyundai i20 with the 75 CV diesel engine surprises with the performance of its small engine, ideal for those looking for a car to drive around town and countryside with occasional motorway trips.

In terms of handling , it moves with ease on country roads and in town, responding correctly on the motorway, especially in terms of insulation and stability. Consumption is very restrained, and even in town the figure does not reach 6 litres per 100 km according to our own measurements.

The most notable aspects are the interior quality and the complete equipment, although on the other hand the final price is higher than that of other similar models; that said, it is well justified in a car that surprises in many respects and offers something more than being a simple city car.

Technical specifications of this car

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