2015 Hyundai i20 preview
Hyundai has transformed its reputation in recent years. Traditionally it’s tried to get your attention through all sorts of sensible reasons like long warranties, frugal engines and the extra space it offers for your money. Now they’re trying to do all these thing but also win you over with some design “wow” as well! However, can the i20 really beat the establish opposition, like the Ford Fiesta and the VW Polo?
There’s no doubt that Hyundai is trying to get your attention with a more expressive design. There’s the hexagonal blacked-out grille at the front and most noticeably at the rear there’s a blacked-out pillar behind the rear doors. The idea of this is to give the impression that the roofline is somehow “floating” on top of the passenger area and give the car an overall sportier look. However, it will be the customers that decide if this is the sort of detail that will make the i20 more desirable.
The new i20 is bigger than ever before. In total it’s six centimetres bigger than the Ford Fiesta. Of that, four and a half centimetres is allocated to the wheel base. What this means is that the cabin is particularly spacious. It means an adult of the size of six foot plus will find it more than comfortable enough for a short journey. However, the biggest problem is in the height but there is a panoramic roof which probably steals some of the headroom.
The i20 has an all new dashboard design which showcases a plethora of new materials and a lot of new technology. This new look brings the whole car up in terms of its quality of feel and its usability. All the controls fall easily to hand and all the technology is easy to find while intuitive to use. What is not clear is what trim level you will need to go up to to get the seven inch detachable screen that sits on the dashboard. It’s a really nice touch but would be a pity if you have to buy the top spec car to get it.
Even small cars get the latest technology these days and the i20 is no exception. All editions of the i20 will get six airbags, electronic stability control, hill start assist and tyre pressure monitoring. A lane departure warning system is also going to be available as an option. Other technology highlights include automatic windscreen demisting, a heated steering wheel and a full length panoramic sunroof.
Don’t expect any surprises on the engine front. The core units will be Hyundai’s 1.25 litre four cylinder petrol with a five speed gearbox. There’s also a 1.4 litre petrol which links to a six speed manual gearbox or a four speed automatic transmission. Finally, there are two diesels both with six speed transmissions. These should all provide under 100g per kilometre for Co2 emissions.
The new i20 goes on sale in early 2015 priced from around £10,500. So, has Hyundai built a car that you will buy with your heart as well as your head? We’ll leave that for you to decide.
