It is fair to say that Hyundai aims its local product offering at the entry-level side of the market, even with vehicles like the Santa Fe and ix35 in its stable. Cars like the i10, i20 and Accent have been (and still are) important sellers for this Korean manufacturer, and although the i20 is not brand new, this facelift and specification update give it a welcome injection of modernity.
What has changed?
The revised nose now fits in neatly with the design that we have recently experienced on most of the manufacturer’s passenger cars. At the rear, slight changes have been made to the lamp clusters, while reflectors have been incorporated into the lower section of the bumper.
It is the enhanced specification level, however, that stands out more than the exterior revisions. Bluetooth phone preparation, rear park assist and steering wheel controls are standard across the range, while the level of safety has also been improved. The top GLS offers six airbags while the lap belt for the middle-rear seat has been replaced with a three-point belt.
The centre facia is the most stylish part of the interior though. Working through the buttons you get the sense that effort has been put into the feel, while the design now features a gloss finish.
On the road
Hyundai has dropped the 1,6-litre petrol engine that was offered in the previous range, which means the 1,4-litre petrol engine is the only power unit for now. There are two trim levels – GL and GLS – while an automatic is also offered.
In terms of the driving experience, the only major change is the adoption of a six-speed manual gearbox. This unit lowers the claimed fuel consumption, but it also means you have to use the gears more often, more of the time. This is not unique to the i20 though, as several manufacturers are doing the same, which makes sense in our country where we cover long distances.
Otherwise, the driving experience is respectable, and the interior improvements give the car a more upmarket feel. That said, noise intrusion is still an issue, as the i20 doesn’t succeed in cocooning its passengers as well as a Polo does.
Summary
With an increase of between R3 000 and R5 000 compared with the outgoing i20, the new model definitely makes more sense. It might not feel as solid as Ford’s Fiesta or Volkswagen’s Polo, but if you compare specification levels of the Hyundai versus its competitors, you might just come away pleasantly surprised.
Specifications* (auto in brackets)
Hyundai i20 1,4 GL
Engine: 1,4-litre, four-cylinder petrol
Power: 73 kW at 5 500 r/min
Torque: 136 N.m at 4 200 r/min
0-100 km/h: 11,6 seconds (12,9)
Fuel consumption: 5,7 L/100 km (6,8)
CO2: 132 g/km (140)
Top speed: 181 km/h (170)
Price: R164 900 (R174 900)
Service plan: 3 years/60 000 km
Service intervals: 15 000 km
*Manufacturer’s figures
