Used Hyundai i20 2020-present reliability review

What should I look for in a used Hyundai i20?

What are the most common problems with a used Hyundai i20?

When viewing a used car, always follow our used car buying checklist.

As with all cars, check for bodywork damage and kerbing on the wheels, and inspect the interior for signs of wear and tear. Every Hyundai comes with a five-year, unlimited mileage warranty and five years of UK roadside assistance – you'll get what's remaining of that with a used i20 of this generation.

When safety experts Euro NCAP tested the i20 in 2021, it was awarded four stars out of five. Looking deeper into the results, the model did well at keeping child occupants safe but didn’t score particularly well when it comes to adults in the front, especially in the far-side excursion test.

The i20 comes with plenty of standard-from-new safety equipment, including automatic emergency braking (AEB) with forward pedestrian monitoring, driver attention alert, eCall emergency assistance and lane-departure assistance. Top-spec Ulimate trim also adds blind-spot monitoring and cyclist detection for the AEB.

Is a used Hyundai i20 reliable?

We consider the i20 to be a reliable car because it finished in sixth place out of 24 cars in the small car class in our most recent What Car? Reliability Survey.

It did so with a great score of 98.1%. Reader feedback has been positive on the i20 and the other Hyundai models we've put through our reliability survey have all performed well.

Hyundai, as a car brand, ranked 14th out of 30 manufacturers. Its overall reliability score of 93.1% is confidence-inspiring, and it surpasses the scores of many rival carmakers, such as Ford, Mazda, and Skoda. Mind you, brands like Mini and Toyota scored even higher.

Used Hyundai i20: owners' reliability data

As part of our Reliability Survey, What Car? readers said that i20 models are generally reliable (with a few exceptions).

Most owners reported smooth and trouble-free ownership experiences, particularly praising the longevity and performance of the engine. Some minor issues such as occasional infotainment glitches and sensor malfunctions, have been reported but they were typically resolved quickly with a system reset or minor repairs.

However, a few readers highlighted more significant problems, including intermittent stalling and unexpected warning lights. These issues often required visits to the dealership, where service experiences varied. Some customers reported efficient and friendly service, with dealerships addressing problems promptly and under warranty. Others, though, faced longer wait times and higher-than-expected repair costs.