Hyundai i-Gen i20 1.2 VTVT petrol detailed review |

Hyundai India launched the facelifted i20 on the 28^th of March. The facelifted i20 now gets the Fluidic Design theme and is tagged as the i-Gen i20. The car gets its first major facelift since 3 years from launch when the car it made its first appearance in 2009. The i20 has been a good seller despite its high price when compared to its competitors in the large hatchback segment.

Hyundai which is currently the second largest player in India has constantly updated the i20 with new features and variants. We were the first to snap the new i20 pics and bring details to our readers.

We drive the new i-Gen i20 Sportz variant in Goa to find what’s new in the car and how it feels when compared to its predecessor.

Exteriors and styling

The facelift on the Hyundai’s i-Gen i20 is keeping in line with Hyundai’s Fluidic design which is also found on the new Verna, i10 and the Sonata sedan. The car looks fresh, very sporty and catchy. The front of the car gets a makeover and is the most noticeable part of the facelift. The chrome grill is replaced by high gloss black grille with the Hyundai logo embedded into it.

The wraparound headlights look similar to the ones found on i10 and Verna. The round fog lamps are replaced by the stylish, trapezoidal fog lamps and the number plate is housed slightly higher than the pre-facelift model.

The side has very few changes like alloy wheels with 8 spokes instead of 5, VTVT badging and ORVMs which are now get the heated function and can be folded electrically with a touch of button placed on to the driver’s door hand rest. The Magna & Sportz variants get body coloured door handles and ORVMs.

In addition to this The Asta variant gets chrome door handles which adds the extra elegance. However according to us it looks slightly out of place when compared to the body coloured door handles. The Era variant gets black door handle and Outer mirrors.

The tail lights and rear bumpers are also reworked to blend with the new design theme. New features include on the i-Gen i20 include:

Automatic headlamps switch on and off as per outside visibility conditions for convenient and safe driving

Rain sensing wipers which automatically start operating in case of sudden shower or rain

Reverse parking camera well camouflaged under the boot lever.In addition to this The Asta (O) variant gets rear parking sensors, rear spoiler with integrated stop lamps and rear wiper & washer.

The above features are available only on the Sports and Asta variants. 8 spoke alloy wheels are standard on the Sportz and Asta while the other variants get full wheel covers. On the rear the tail lamps are same in terms of shape with clear lens. On the rear the car seems to look very similar to the previous i20.

Interior Comfort & Convenience

The interiors certainly look fresh compared to the older gen i20. The dashboard is now finished in black instead of chocolate brown and contrasts well with the beige colour plastics on the lower part of the dashboard.

The central console has an integrated music system which is well embossed on the black dashboard. The i20 is equipped with a 2-Din audio system, 4 speakers and 2 tweeters. The audio system also gets AUX-In, USB and Bluetooth connectivity. The system is eye-catching and has impressive sound quality.

Few buttons on the centre console are in black compared to all silver in the pre-facelift version and has blue back lighting which looks good. The instrumental cluster is simple and easy to read. The Supervision cluster, this is what the company calls has a smoothing blue and white illumination with the dials spaced in a manner which is easy to read.

The leather wrapped steering wheel is available only on the top variants (Sportz ans Asta) and gets the dark colour treatment. The steering has tilt and telescopic function which can be adjusted for ones convenience. The audio and Bluetooth controls further helps to improve comfort.

The front seats are slightly lacking in thigh support but are comfortable nevertheless. The Asta variant also gets an armrest at the front a segment first feature. Rear is spacious with good leg and head room. The seats are comfortable and have good width so seating three abreast is not difficult unlike other hatches. The 60:40 split seats further add to the flexibility.

There are two cubby holes and a bottle holder between the two seats and place to keep nick-knacks ahead of the gear lever.The front door pockets are slim and can hold only magazines. The boot is ample for a hatch and can fit couple of large bags comfortably.

Smart touch is the light in the boot which turns on upon opening the boot. There are two reading lights with theatre dimming. The internal Rear View has ECM (electro chromic Mirror), upon sensing headlight intrusion from trailing vehicles, the ECM automatically reduces glare for safe night driving, it also adds up as screen for the reverse camera.

Other features include:

Fully Automatic climate control which allows one to set the desired temperature and the system takes over to ensure uniform & convenient cooling at all times.

Start stop button a feature also found on the Nissan Micra allows one to start/stop the car by just a touch of a button.

A cooled glove-box to help to store your soft drink or beer cans and Multi information display to keep you updated with the fuel average and other controls.

Performance

We tested the petrol 1.2 kappa engine. It now gets VTVT which helps the power be bumped to 84ps@6000 from 79ps@5200 and a torque of 11.6kgm@4000rpm. The car is mated to a five speed gearbox.The engine is responsive and pulls well from low rpm and is good to drive. The engine doesn’t rev much and overtaking on the highway will have to be calculated.

The car stills seems to be a bit underpowered but is quicker when compared to the previous i20. It is nice to drive in the city but on the highway you do feel a lack of power.

0 to 100kmph is achieved in around 16 seconds. This is a bit slower compared to the rest of the competition. The midrange is a bit flat and there isn’t any sudden rush of power as a result 30 to 80kmph in 3^rd gear is achieved in 17 seconds and 40-100 in 4^th takes around 23 seconds. The engine is smooth and there aren’t any vibrations.

The engine is slightly noisy, especially at higher Revs, and the sound does intrude into the cabin. The gear lever has a short throw and the gear changes are smooth but the gear lever feels a bit flimsy. If one does want more performance the we would recommend the i20 with 90 horsepower.

Ride and handling

The car is easy to drive and has good visibility. The tilt and telescopic steering is light and direct and makes for a fantastic drive, easy manoeuvring of the car at turns makes it a boon in the city. At higher speeds too the steering remains light which doesn’t inspire much confidence especially those who like the extra feedback which some cars provide during cornering. The car doesn’t like to be hustled around corners either so the enthusiasts will be disappointed.

The 185/65/R14 tubeless Tyres offer decent grip levels, the brakes have good stopping powerand the car overall is very good for normal driving. It also feels safe to drive due to all the safety features on offer. Low speed ride isn’t great, having said that we felt that the suspension was slightly on the softer side compared to the old car and absorbs bumps better.

The car is stable at high speeds on smooth roads but isn’t so when the road gets bumpy and there is constant up down movement on undulating surfaces. Well it’s an off roader but considering the Indian road conditions the company should take into consideration.

Braking is certainly spot on thanks to the ABS, and disc brakes at both front and rear.

Final verdict

Features like reverse camera, auto headlamps and wipers, electrically folding heated OVRM are first in this class. Sportz variant has driver airbag, ABS, EBD, automatic climate control. In addition to this the top variant gets start stop button, keyless entry, 6 airbags, Sunroof and parking sensors.We must say that is indeed a lot of kit.

There are some shortcomings like the not so powerful engine and unsorted ride. Look beyond it andwhat you get is a large spacious and comfortable car with loads of features. The car is easy to drive and the new facelift makes it more appealing in terms of styling and overall appeal.

The ex-showroom prices for The sportz and Asta variant areRs 575247/- and Rs 621083/- respectively. The top of the line Asta (O) costs 665895/-.The prices are on the higher side but it does offer lot of features some of which are found on cars twice its price. The car is definitely good value for money. i20 has been a very successful car and with the recent facelift we expect the things to be even better than before.

Pros:

Eye catching exteriors and interiors

Endless feature list, Spacious interiors.

Cons:

Expensive on the pocket- there are more options, 1.2 engine hasflat midrange, Feels like driving any other small car. Ride and Handling isn’t the best.

Specifications:

Length: 3995mm

width: 1710mm

height: 1505mm

wheelbase: 2525mm

Fuel tank: 55ltr

Engine configuration: 4 Cyl, 16 Valves

Valvetrain type: DOHC with Dual VTVT

displacement: 1197

Maximum power: 84ps/600rpm

maximum torque: 11.6kgm/4000rpm

Suspension Front: McPherson Strut with Coil Spring & Stabilizer bar