Item: Hyundai i20
Rating: 4
Author: What Car? Team

Mild hybrid means there’s a very small electric motor and battery, which adds a little electrical ‘kick’ to the engine as you drive around. All you’ll be aware of is that it pulls from about 1800rpm, feels hearty in the mid range, and, while it doesn’t feel hugely energetic in the final furlongs of the rev counter, it gets over the 0-62mph-line in 10.4sec. Or in other words, there’s plenty of poke for town or country driving. Officially it'll do up to 55.4mpg and 115g/km of CO2, which is good for the class. 



1.0T GDi 48V MHD

Hatchback

Hyundai has transformed itself from a maker of oddball hatchbacks that sold in small numbers in the UK, to a major rival to the likes of Ford, Vauxhall and Volkswagen.

The Korean firm’s Ioniq Hybrid is particularly impressive, having beaten the trend-setting Toyota Prius when we tested the cars back to back.

Meanwhile, at the extremes of the Hyundai range you find the tiny i10 city car – a four-time What Car? award winner – and the stylish yet family-friendly Santa Fe SUV.

As a bonus, all of these cars come with the reassurance of a five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty, whereas most of Hyundai’s rivals offer only three years and 60,000 miles of cover.

HYUNDAI

We’d suggest sticking with the entry-level SE Connect trim for the best balance of kit for your cash. It has most of what you might want, including an 8.0in infotainment screen, digital instruments, a DAB radio, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay/ Android Auto, rear parking sensors, a rear-view camera, air-con, a leather steering wheel and gearlever, automatic lights and wipers, cruise control, electric windows and mirrors and 16in alloy wheels.  

SE Connect

1.0T GDi 48V MHD SE Connect 5dr

10t-gdi-48v-mhd-se-connect-5dr

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The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/i20/hatchback/review/n53">Hyundai i20’s</a> driver's door opens to 65 degrees. That's a wider angle than on the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/fiesta/hatchback/review/n106">Ford Fiesta</a> (63 degrees) or <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/citroen/c3/hatchback/review/n17364">Citroën C3</a> (62 degrees), but not as generous as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/vauxhall/corsa/hatchback/review/n33">Vauxhall Corsa</a> (71 degrees).

The door sill is 368mm from the ground; that’s higher than the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/nissan/micra/hatchback/review/n17365">Nissan Micra’s</a> (362mm), but only by 6mm. From inside there’s a 121mm sill to step over when getting out. The Micra has a much lower sill (86mm), while the Corsa’s is higher, at 130mm.&nbsp;

The i20’s height-adjustable driver’s seat can be set anywhere from 557mm to 600mm above the ground. That's on a par with most rival <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-small-cars-2021/n16997">small cars</a>, but if sitting high up is crucial to your comfort, the C3 (658mm) and 208 (639mm) both have loftier maximum seat heights.

The i20’s 352-litre boot is bigger than the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/fiesta/hatchback/review/n106">Ford Fiesta’s</a> and similarly roomy to competitors’ boots like the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/seat/ibiza/hatchback/review/n17359">Seat Ibiza</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/polo/hatchback/review/n83">Volkswagen Polo</a>. Certainly it’s enough to get by on for the shopping or luggage for trips away. 

The height-adjustable boot floor adds an extra layer of usability, not just enabling you to create a separate storage area but also for levelling out the boot floor when the rear seats are raised and reducing the height of the internal loading lip.

The i20 feels generally solidly made but isn’t as plush as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mini/hatchback/hatchback/review/n17237">Mini 5dr</a> or <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/208/hatchback/review/n30">Peugeot 208</a>, which have easily the most deluxe interiors in the class. There are no soft-touch materials in the i20, other than its seats and door armrests, which is the same deal as the Ibiza and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/fabia/hatchback/review/n47">Skoda Fabia</a>. 

But, thanks to some nicely textured plastics, the 1950s-style slatted design on the dashboard and doors, plus the softly damped switches and two-tone interior on the upper trims, the i20 pulls off a more premium feel than those two.

Introduction

Performance & drive

Interior

Passenger & boot space

Accessibility & Motability

Costs & verdict

There’s very little wrong with the essentials, because the seat, pedals and steering wheel line up nicely, and there’s plenty of space for your left foot next to the clutch on manual models. The steering wheel also has enough reach and height extension to cater for most people, and the driver’s seat bolsters stop you spilling over your passenger around tight bends. 

There are a couple of issues: there's no lumbar adjustment, even as an option, although to be fair&nbsp;the lower back support is pretty good anyway; the backrest angle is adjusted using a lever that has a&nbsp;set number of positions, rather then the finite control that a wheel adjuster offers; and the seatbelt clasp is quite short, so it’s a bit of a pain clicking the buckle up. 

The digital instruments are clear, but, unlike the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/seat/ibiza/hatchback/review/n17359">Seat Ibiza</a> or <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/polo/hatchback/review/n83">Volkswagen Polo</a>, they don’t have the option to display a navigation map. The rest of the controls, including the climate controls, are dead easy to adjust because they’re&nbsp;simple, physical buttons.&nbsp;

All versions except the Element special edition have 48-volt mild-hybrid technology to assist the engine, and a choice of manual or automatic gearboxes.&nbsp;

SE Connect specification adds automatic emergency braking, rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera, which should aid city driving and parking.

OUR PICK

Fuel 

Gearbox

0-62 MPH

http://example.com

10t-gdi-48v-mhd

1.0T GDi 48V MHD 120

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It’s a 201bhp 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol and, when you rev it out, it produces lively, Ford Fiesta ST-rivalling pace. When we tested it, it went from 0-60mph in 6.6sec and if you keep going it’ll hit 142mph (officially). It sounds the part, too, but the accelerator response isn’t as sharp as we’d like ­– both when you put your foot down and lift off the throttle pedal. It’s relatively economical, though: we managed a real-world test average of 40mpg.

1.6T GDi

16t-gdi

We’d suggest sticking with the entry-level SE Connect trim for the best balance of kit for your cash. It has most of what you might want, including all the infotainment and parking aids we’ve talked about, plus air-con, a leather steering wheel and gearlever, automatic lights and wipers, cruise control, electric windows and mirrors and 16in alloy wheels.&nbsp; 

That said, Premium trim is also worth the extra if you can afford it and like the idea of 17in alloy wheels, heated front seats, privacy glass, power-folding door mirrors, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror and climate control. 

Ultimate trim adds plush items like keyless entry, but it’s also quite expensive.

Talk about U-turns. The previous-generation Hyundai i20 was sold under the advertising banner of “Follow your brain”, which, when all is said and done, meant&nbsp;think like a Victorian. Forget all that namby-pamby emotional stuff; just focus on making a rational, logical and sensible choice for your next small car. Ergo, buy an i20.

All that’s gone out of the window now, though. Today’s Hyundai i20 is way funkier than the previous model; its&nbsp;striking design has creases and angles in all the right places and there are options like two-tone paintwork. In other words: don’t follow your brain. It’s time to loosen the stiff upper lip, embrace romanticism, let your hair down and follow your heart instead. 

<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LRAOKQxNBVk"></iframe>

It’s not all flights of fancy, though. In fact, there’s still plenty of sensible stuff to pique your impassive side. The i20 features all the latest must-haves, including a gizmo-laden infotainment system and 48v mild-hybrid engine technology, which aims to make it more efficient. Plus it’s been designed to provide plenty of space and it comes with Hyundai’s five-year warranty, which is definitely sensible brain fodder. 

Is the Hyundai i20 now a world-beating small car? Is it better than stalwarts like the sharp-handling <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/fiesta/hatchback/review/n106">Ford Fiesta</a> and the classy <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/polo/hatchback/review/n83">Volkswagen Polo</a>; or the other excellent models in this class, including the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/honda/jazz/hatchback/review/n17343">Honda Jazz</a>?&nbsp;That’s what we’ll be exploring, in detail, in this review. All you need to do is kick back, click forward and we’ll furnish you with the facts. 

When you’re fully up to speed we can also help to get you a great deal on your next new car. Simply head over to our <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">New Car Buying</a> service to find out how much you could save.

The interior is reasonably wide for a small car, so you’ll have some elbow room to spare, and there’s no issue with leg or head room if you’re over six-feet tall. 

The front door bins aren’t massive but there are enough spaces elsewhere to make up for those, including a large glovebox, cubbies by the gearlever and under the front centre armrest (Premium trim and above), as well as a couple of cup holders.

Because of the i20’s firm suspension set up, it doesn’t lean over too far when you corner quickly and the lack of bounce that we mentioned above also makes it feel very stable over mid-corner bumps. It has plenty of grip as well, although the playful balance that makes the Fiesta such a hoot to drive spiritedly isn’t quite replicated here. 

The Fiesta also has sweeter steering. Not that the i20’s steering is poor; it feels sharp and eager to turn in to bends, but only once you’re past the initial nebulous patch just off centre. That vagueness also has you making little tweaks on the motorway to keep it tracking arrow straight.

Entry-level SE Connect comes with an 8.0in touchscreen, a DAB radio and&nbsp; Bluetooth, as well as <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-apple-carplay/n1193">Apple CarPlay</a>&nbsp;and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-android-auto/n1194">Android Auto</a> functionality.

So far, we’ve only tried the upgraded system that comes as standard&nbsp;from Premium trim and up, and it's&nbsp;very good. It has a 10.3in touchscreen –&nbsp;one of the largest in the class –&nbsp;plus in-built sat-nav. The screen is sharp and the graphics look smart, and you get a row of shortcut buttons to hop between menus –&nbsp;albeit&nbsp;touch-sensitive ones, rather than physical buttons – that are&nbsp;placed prominently so you can reach them easily. There’s a slight delay swapping between the main menus, after which the software seems more responsive and it’s easy to find what you want after a bit of practice. 

The standard stereo has six speakers, but top-spec Ultimate trim adds a Bose system with a subwoofer, as well as wireless phone charging.

This section is as simple as it gets because there’s only one engine. It’s called the 1.0 T-GDi 48v Hybrid, and it’s a 99bhp 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol with <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-is-a-hybrid-car-and-should-you-buy-one/n1290">mild hybrid tech</a>. That means there’s a very small electric motor and battery, which adds a little electrical ‘kick’ to the engine as you drive around. 
 
All you’ll be aware of is that it pulls from about 1800rpm, feels hearty in the mid range, and, while it doesn’t feel hugely energetic in the final furlongs of the rev counter, it finishes the 0-62mph sprint in 10.4sec (11.4sec for the seven-speed auto 'box). 

Or in other words, there’s plenty of poke for town or country driving. It certainly doesn’t feel lacking next to a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/fiesta/hatchback/review/n106">Ford Fiesta 1.0 Ecoboost 95</a> or <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/seat/ibiza/hatchback/review/n17359">Seat Ibiza 1.0 TSI 95</a>, but you can, of course, opt for more powerful engines in those rivals should you wish.

Roomy and&nbsp;decent to drive, but there are better all-rounders

The i20 isn’t quite at the level of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/honda/jazz/hatchback/review/n17343">Honda Jazz</a> for roominess in the rear, but it’s still excellent compared with most of its peers. You can get two six-footers in the back seats relatively easily, and adding a third person is doable, but shoulder room won’t be great. The middle passenger is blessed with only a small hump in the floor, so there’s more foot space than there would be in a lot of the competition, too.

The rear door bins aren’t massive, but they’ll fit a 500ml bottle.

Like every three-cylinder engine we’ve ever tested, the i20’s thrums a little and produces some slight vibrations, but it’s never coarse or annoying. 

The accelerator, brakes and clutch are set up in such a way that you can start off and stop smoothly, and the gearbox is accurate, but not joyously slick like the Fiesta’s.

Once you’re on the motorway, wind noise and road noise are noticeable, as they are in most of its rivals, with the exception of the hushed Polo. 

<h3>&nbsp;</h3>

We haven’t&nbsp;any data on this&nbsp;i20 yet (it’s too new for that) but judging by Hyundai’s reliability record as a brand on the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/the-uks-most-and-least-reliable-car-makes/n20069">2020 What Car? Reliability Survey</a>, you shouldn’t have too much to worry about. It finished well up in 6th place out of 31, below Mini, Skoda and Toyota, but above all its other rivals. 

Hyundai’s five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty and five years of UK roadside assistance provide reassurance&nbsp;that only Kia’s seven-year cover can beat.

The i20 isn’t a soft and forgiving car, but it is well controlled. Even if you find yourself on a fast country road that’s endured varying degrees of subsidence, you won’t be bucked about like you would in something springier, like, for example, a Citroën C3. 

Because it’s on the firm side, though,&nbsp;you'll feel most bumps as they pass beneath the car. It’s not horrendously harsh, but anyone looking for a small car with rather more give should try out the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/208/hatchback/review/n30">Peugeot 208</a> or <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/polo/hatchback/review/n83">Volkswagen Polo</a> instead.

Cash buyers will discover that the i20 is similar money to a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/fiesta/hatchback/review/n106">Ford Fiesta</a> and actually, like for like, a tad more than an equivalent-spec <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/polo/hatchback/review/n83">Volkswagen Polo</a>. It’s also quite a bit more than rivals like the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/seat/ibiza/hatchback/review/n17359">Seat Ibiza</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/fabia/hatchback/review/n47">Skoda Fabia</a>. 

The i20’s predicted to hold onto a bigger chunk of its list price (after three years) compared with the Ibiza or Fabia, or the Fiesta for that matter. It should hold it’s price nearly as well as a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mini/hatchback/hatchback/review/n17237">Mini 5dr</a>.&nbsp;As yet we don’t have <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/pcp-or-hp-which-car-finance-option-makes-most-sense/n1163">PCP finance prices</a>, but <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/depreciation-what-is-it-and-how-do-i-avoid-it/n1122">strong resale values</a> should help keep the monthly payments competitive. 

The 1.0 T-GDi 48v Hybrid engine has good official economy and efficiency that puts it up at the sharp end of the class with rivals like the Ford Fiesta 1.0 Ecoboost 125 Hybrid, which helps to keep your running costs and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/company-car-tax-bands/n1255">company car tax bills</a> low. That said, proper hybrids (the i20 is a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-is-a-hybrid-car-and-should-you-buy-one/n1290">mild hybrid</a>) like the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/honda/jazz/hatchback/review/n17343">Honda Jazz</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/toyota/yaris/hatchback/review/n31">Toyota Yaris</a> are even better.&nbsp;

There’s no <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/euro-ncap-safety-ratings-2019-%E2%80%93-how-safe-is-your-car/n17044">Euro NCAP</a> crash test as yet, so all we can tell you is that the i20 comes with a host of safety aids to (hopefully) stop you needing the crumple zones. 

The standard list includes <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-is-aeb-and-how-does-it-work/n3283">automatic emergency braking (AEB)</a> with pedestrian monitoring, a driver attention alert, eCall emergency assistance and lane departure assistance.

The top-spec Ultimate trim adds blind spot monitoring and cyclist detection for the AEB. 

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Again, the Jazz is the king in this regard, with flexible rear seats that offer many more options than any of its key rivals to help you fit things on board. The i20’s 60/40 split-folding rear seats are merely par for the course, and there aren't any useful additions, such as&nbsp;a ski hatch.

The front passenger’s seat doesn’t get height or lumbar adjustment on any version.

With a capacity of 352 litres, the Hyundai i20's boot is one of the largest you’ll find in a small car. In fact, it's not far off the luggage space of some cars from the family car class.

The boot will take a folded wheelchair with the rear seats in use, and folding down the back seats should make room for a fully assembled chair. That's a rarity among cars of this size and price.

se-connect

This trim is well worth a look if you can afford it. It adds a 10.3in infotainment screen with in-built sat-nav, LED headlights, 17in alloy wheels, heated front seats, privacy glass, power-folding door mirrors, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror and climate control.

Premium

premium

Quite pricey but you get trinkets like keyless entry, a two-tone roof, a two-tone interior, a Bose premium sound system, wireless phone charging and extra safety kit. 

Ultimate

ultimate

It’s a well-equipped car for the money. It comes with a heated steering wheel, heated front seats, 18in alloy wheels, automatic climate control, power-folding door mirrors, privacy glass, keyless entry, a 10.3in touchscreen, a DAB radio, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, wireless phone-charging, built-in sat-nav, LED dipped beam headlights, rear parking sensors, a rear-view camera and digital instruments. Safety equipment includes automatic emergency braking, lane assistance, traffic-sign recognition and e-Call emergency response.

N Line

n-line

The Hyundai i20 is a solid all-rounder with the ability to please many potential buyers. It’s roomy, reasonably well equipped, has a nicely fashioned interior, should holds its value well and offers good performance and economy. The main caveats are that it’s quite pricey next to the bulk of the small car class, it’s not as comfortable as the Volkswagen Polo nor as sporty to drive as the Ford Fiesta. 

It’s easy to see out of the i20, with relatively thin pillars at the front and the little quarter windows, set into the rear pillars, help to spot what’s attempting to hide at the rear. 

All models come with rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera, while Premium trim adds bright LED headlights.

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Spacious enough for four adults to sit comfortably</li> <li>Logically laid-out interior that doesn’t</li> <li>feel too cheap</li> <li>Mature driving manners </li> <li>Decent-sized boot</li> <li>Competitive buying and running costs</li></ul>

Small cars, or superminis as they’re also known, used to be bought almost exclusively as first cars or by people with no children – but the likes of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/fiesta/hatchback/review/n106">Ford Fiesta</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/seat/ibiza/hatchback/review/n17359">Seat Ibiza</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/polo/hatchback/review/n83">Volkswagen Polo</a> have grown to the point where they can be considered all-round family transport, albeit with the odd compromise.

The Fiesta remains a star of the class, thanks to its strong Ecoboost petrol engines and suspension settings that are beautifully judged for British roads. However, the latest Volkswagen offers even more practicality, decent performance and a classy interior that has the edge on the Ford’s for quality.

Any of these models will be a competent commuter car – especially if fitted with one of the increasingly popular small turbocharged petrol engines – but just remember that while you’ll be able to carry two adults and two children, it might still be a struggle to get all of their luggage into the boot.

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Hyundai i20 review

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Read the definitive Hyundai i20 2022 motability review from the expert What Car? team.

The Hyundai i20’s driver's door opens to 65 degrees. That's a wider angle than on the Ford Fiesta (63 degrees) or Citroën C3 (62 degrees), but not as generous as the Vauxhall Corsa (71 degrees).,The door sill is 368mm from the ground; that’s higher than the Nissan Micra’s (362mm), but only by 6mm. From inside there’s a 121mm sill to step over when getting out. The Micra has a much lower sill (86mm), while the Corsa’s is higher, at 130mm. ,The i20’s height-adjustable driver’s seat can be set anywhere from 557mm to 600mm above the ground. That's on a par with most rival small cars, but if sitting high up is crucial to your comfort, the C3 (658mm) and 208 (639mm) both have loftier maximum seat heights.,With a capacity of 352 litres, the Hyundai i20's boot is one of the largest you’ll find in a small car. In fact, it's not far off the luggage space of some cars from the family car class.The boot will take a folded wheelchair with the rear seats in use, and folding down the back seats should make room for a fully assembled chair. That's a rarity among cars of this size and price.,,All versions except the Element special edition have 48-volt mild-hybrid technology to assist the engine, and a choice of manual or automatic gearboxes. ,SE Connect specification adds automatic emergency braking, rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera, which should aid city driving and parking.

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