Hyundai i20 Car Review

FamilyCar Rating Styling Performance Value EcoFriendly Safety Overall Rating Model Reviewed Hyundai i20 Elite auto $20,490* Other models priced from Active 3 door 5 speed manual $14,990* What we liked it Fuel efficiency, 5 star safety rating What we didn’t Vanilla exterior styling

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The sub $20k market just got more competitive with the launch of Hyundai’s little i20. It sits neatly between the Getz and i30 in terms of price and size. The car has been designed for the young at heart, with iPod connectivity, great list of safety features and enough nippiness to duck and weave your way around city traffic and end up with the prime park every time, thanks to its small size.

There are 3 model grades to choose from; the Active Elite and Premium. The Active is available in both a 3 and 5 door, while the Elite and Premium models are only available in a 5 door. The Active has a smaller 1.4 litre engine while the other 2 models have a 1.6 litre engine. Our review focuses on the middle model, the Elite auto. It’s pretty well equipped. It just misses out on the part leather seats, 16 inch alloys and climate control-which are all standard on the Premium model.

Driver Comfort & Visibility

We took the i20 on a city adventure from The Rocks to Palm Beach; the playground of the rich and famous. We may not have looked like rock stars in our i20s, but you don’t need a rock star income to buy one!

When it comes to the drive visibility is brilliant, thanks to its large windows and overall small size. Parking is a cinch, even in the tight parking lot at lunch. We drove both the manual and auto, with the auto being our favourite as it was powerful enough for overtaking and tackling winding hills. It wasn’t super speedy, but left you feeling a level of comfort and safety in these driving situations.

Keyless entry, power windows, power mirrors and air conditioning are all standard. The glove box is even linked to the AC system so that you can keep your drinks, make up and food cool.

Safety

Both the Elite and Premium models have achieved the maximum 5 star ANCAP safety rating. Standard features include ABS, EBD, Electronic Stability Control and 6 airbags.

To keep you safe when you’re out and about, the doors automatically lock when you hit about 40km per hour. They automatically unlock when you take the key out of the ignition.

Rear Passenger Comfort

Two adults can sit reasonably comfortably in the rear, but you wouldn’t want to travel from Sydney to Brisbane in the back. However, when it comes to the smaller folk amongst us, the back offers more than enough space. My 8 year old girls and their friend were right at home on the back chatting and looking out of the window with ease. And I was very comfortable knowing that the vehicle has a 5 star safety rating.

Entertainment

The i20 offers iPod, Aux and USB connectivity so that you can play the tunes you want to hear, without the ads. The Elite and Premium models have a 6 speaker audio system with a single CD player. These models also offer steering wheel audio controls, to get to those favourite tunes faster (and safer).

Storage

There are some good, usable storage options including a massive chilled glove box, front door pockets, a pocket on the back of the passenger seat, 2 centre cup holders, a couple of storage nooks and centre storage compartment. There’s also a hook to hang a bag on in the front passenger side.

The boot space is good for a car of this size. There’s also a storage net to stop your items from flying around the car when you’re on the run. If you need to pack more in, you can fold down one or both of the rear seats

Green Factor

The 1.4 litre manual Active is the most fuel efficient of the i20 models, but only just. It consumes 6 litres/100km combined cycle, while the more powerful 1.6 litre manual only requires 6.1 litres to go the same distance. This is on par with the Toyota Yaris and is better than the Mazda2. The i201.6 litre auto is only a gnat thirster than the manual model consuming 6.5 litres per 100kms. Carbon emissions are also good ranging from 142gm/km for the 1.4 manual to 155gm/km for the 1.6 litre auto.

Overall View

The Hyundai i20 is up against a pretty tough crowd in the light car segment, but it does hold it’s own thanks to its good fuel economy, standard safety features and reasonable value for money.

Pricing^† and Models

• i20 Active 1.4-litre petrol manual 3-door  $14,990^†
• i20 Active 1.4-litre petrol automatic 3-door $16,990^†
• i20 Active 1.4-litre petrol manual 5-door  $15,990^†
• i20 Active 1.4-litre petrol automatic 5-door  $17,990^†
• i20 Elite 1.6-litre petrol manual 5-door $18,490^†
• i20 Elite 1.6-litre petrol automatic 5-door $20,490^†
• i20 Premium 1.6-litre petrol manual 5-door  $21,490^†
• i20 Premium 1.6-litre petrol automatic 5-door $23,490^†
• Optional metallic / mica paint $320^†

Note: ^†Manufacturer's List Price - includes G.S.T but does not include dealer delivery and statutory charges.

If you are considering this car, you may also like to test drive the Honda Jazz, Suzuki Swift, Mazda2 Toyota Yaris or Ford Fiesta.

Features of Model Reviewed

Seats:	5
Airbags:	6 airbags
ABS:	Yes
EBD:	Yes
Electronic Stability Control:	Yes
Driver visibility:
Storage compartments:
Drink holders:	2
CD player:	CD player with 6 speakers
Air conditioning:	Yes
Power windows:	Yes
Power door mirrors:	Yes
Child restraint anchorage points:	3
Transmission:	5 speed auto
Engine:	1.6 litre
Fuel type:	Petrol
Fuel consumption (combined cycle):	6.5 litres/100 kms
CO2 Emission:	155gms/km
Greenhouse rating#:	7.5/10 (10=best)
Green Vehicle Guide rating:
ANCAP safety rating:
Warranty:	5 year/unlimited kms
Price:	$20,490*

*Manufacturer's RRP. Excludes dealer delivery and statutory government costs.

# All new vehicles sold in Australia (up to 3.5 tonnes gross vehicle mass) are tested to determine the level of fuel consumption and CO2 emissions (Greenhouse rating), which are displayed on the fuel consumption label attached to the windscreen of the car. The Green Vehicle Guide rating combines the Greenhouse Rating and Air Pollution Rating and awards a star. 5 stars is the best rating.  For more information, click here.
Information is correct at the time of the review. Please check with your Hyundai dealer for the most recent information.

Review Date: July 2010

Reviewed By: Melissa Pye