Test drive: the new Hyundai i20, safer and more connected

We take the wheel of the new Hyundai i20, which arrives with an updated design, greater safety, the latest in connectivity and a 7DCT dual-clutch gearbox.

The second generation of the Hyundai i20, which reached the market in 2014, is being updated by reinforcing those areas where this city car was beginning to fall behind the category leaders, cars such as the Seat Ibiza, the Ford Fiesta or the Renault Clio.

To do so, Hyundai have slightly updated the design of the Hyundai i20, adding safety elements and driver assistance systems that were not previously available, as well as improving connectivity with a new multimedia system. Mechanically, not many changes were needed, but there is some novelty. The 1.0 three-cylinder petrol engine remains the sole protagonist, and the 7DCT dual-clutch gearbox makes its appearance. We told you at the time that the new Hyundai i20 says goodbye to diesel engines.

New Hyundai i20 video

https://youtu.be/VCy4ZrUTmyE

The Hyundai i20 range keeps its three body styles, with 3 and 5 doors, and the Active version of the latter, which, dressed up with a rugged look and greater ground clearance, positions itself as a more affordable alternative to SUVs in this segment, where Hyundai already offers the new Hyundai Kona.

Hyundai i20 Active image gallery

Exterior and interior design of the Hyundai i20

It is usual when there is not much to change that, to recognise a facelift of a model, the best approach is to place the new one next to the previous one. Doing so, the new grille of the i20 is much more noticeable, with a design in line with the rest of the brand’s new models. The bumpers and the light units are new. And at the rear, the number plate is now integrated into the tailgate.

Efforts have also been made to reinforce features that may appeal to a younger clientele, such as the body colours – a two-tone finish with a black roof is optionally available – and the interior – two new shades of blue and one red arrive. The latter keeps its basic shapes on the dashboard, with a simple, ergonomic design in which hard-touch materials predominate, but with good fit and finish. The Hyundai i20 continues to stand out for its favourable ratio between exterior size and interior roominess, with a usable boot offering 326 litres of capacity.

Turbo and petrol: three cylinders are enough

In other markets the 1.2 engine with 84 CV will also be offered, along with a 1.4 also of 100 CV, both naturally aspirated. But for Spain, Hyundai has opted for what is undoubtedly the best choice, having decided to abandon diesel engines in this category: relying on the three-cylinder 1.0 petrol engine.

With two power outputs, 100 CV or 120 CV, the small 1-litre engine has already shown its capabilities not only in the previous Hyundai i20, but also in the Hyundai i30 and the Hyundai Kona. A very smooth powertrain that surprises with how easily it handles long gear ratios. Now the start-stop system is standard, and the engine includes a particulate filter, which allows it to meet the Euro 6d emissions standard. Let us hope the newly arrived particulate filters for petrol engines do not cause the headaches these systems have caused in diesels.

The 100 CV version is paired with a 5-speed manual gearbox, while on the 120 CV Hyundai i20 the 6-speed gearbox is standard. As an option, and as the main mechanical novelty, the 7DCT dual-clutch gearbox with 7 speeds arrives for the first time on the Hyundai i20. The choice will depend more on budget than anything else, as the more powerful versions and those with the 7DCT gearbox are tied to the higher trim levels. Because even the “basic” 1.0 100 CV, with its 5 speeds, moves the Hyundai i20 with agility over all kinds of routes and is satisfactory for any type of use.

The 7DCT gearbox entails a slight loss in performance compared with the manual, which is more noticeable on the 100 CV version: top speed drops from 188 to 182 km/h, and 0-100 km/h goes from 10.8 to 11.4 seconds. For the 120 CV i20 the top speed of 190 km/h is maintained in both cases, with acceleration of 10.5 seconds, just 0.3 seconds slower than with the six-speed manual. The difference in performance between the two mechanical versions is more evident than the difference in consumption, with a homologated average starting at 4.8 l/100 km for the 100 CV, and from 5 l/100 km for the 120 CV version (NEDC cycle).

As with all these new-generation, supercharged, small-displacement engines, achieving near-diesel consumption is possible, but it requires efficient driving. If you make the most of its ability to rev high – it does so with ease, without vibrations and with a noise that is not unpleasant at all – it is easy to end up with consumption figures typical of more powerful engines, with averages above 10 l/100 km, as we were able to verify on the German autobahns.

Hyundai has also taken the opportunity to adjust some chassis settings on the i20, with a recalibrated steering and new dampers. The difference is enough to notice that the i20 feels more precise and fun on corners, without losing comfort on motorway journeys.

Hyundai SmartSense: complete safety

With the arrival of the SmartSense safety package, the Hyundai i20 is brought up to date with the driver assistance systems that are gradually becoming standard in this segment too. Thus, the lane departure warning is now joined by the lane keeping assist, which acts on the steering to keep the vehicle on its path if the driver ignores the warning alerts.

An autonomous emergency braking system is also available as an option, operating in both town and on country roads. Other features in this package include the driver attention alert system (configurable at several levels) and automatic high beam assist.

In terms of connectivity, the Hyundai i20 takes a step forward with a new top-of-the-range multimedia system. It includes a 7-inch colour screen compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus Live Services online services and a USB port for charging your mobile phone. Below this system, an intermediate option with a 5-inch monochrome screen is available. Basic versions come with a 3.8-inch screen.

Prices for the new Hyundai i20 will barely change compared with the equivalent versions of the previous model, except for those versions that include extra equipment.

Hyundai i20 image gallery

Technical specifications of this car

HatchbackHyundai i206 versions · from 21,520 €