Hyundai i20 Hatchback Review 2023
The Hyundai i20 Hatchback is a compact and stylish city car that appeals to those who want an affordable and practical motor. With a cool exterior design and a modern interior, the i20 Hatchback is a great choice for a new driver or young professional.
Rivals to the i20 Hatchback include the Ford Fiesta, Volkswagen Polo, Honda Jazz, and Skoda Fabia.
Our Hyundai i20 Hatchback review covers:
- Stylish exterior with a large front grille
- Spacious and practical interior with decent kit as standard
- 352-litre boot
- Mild-hybrid 1.0-litre petrol engine
- Four trim levels: SE Connect, N Line, Premium, and Ultimate
Pros:
- Plenty of space in the cabin
- Nippy engine
- Decent tech given its price
Cons:
- Suspension quite firm
- Only one engine is available
- Rivals are a bit more premium
The i20 Hatchback is now in its third generation and still has a pretty smart exterior. It has a large front grille, angular headlights, and a refined rear end complemented by brake lights running across the boot.
Inside the i20 Hatchback, there's plenty of space for a family of four. Two adults can sit in the front comfortably, while two teenagers will easily fit in the rear. Add a third passenger in the rear and things start to get a bit tight, so if this is something you'll be doing often, go for the larger Honda Jazz.
Boot space comes in at 352 litres as standard, which is bigger than the Ford Fiesta and on par with the Volkswagen Polo. You get a height-adjustable floor, and the rear seats split and fold 60/40 to extend luggage space to 1,165 litres.
The i20 Hatchback is one of the cheaper city cars on the market, so it doesn't come with any soft-touch materials other than the seats. Regardless, the build quality is good and the dashboard features some nicely textured plastics. If you want a more premium interior, look towards the Skoda Fabia.
You get a 10.25-inch digital cluster and an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system with a DAB radio, Bluetooth, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. Upgrade to N Line and you get a 10.25-inch touchscreen with sat-nav and Bluelink.
Both screens display sharp graphics and are responsive to touch, and there's a range of touch-sensitive buttons below that you can use for shortcuts.
Four trims are available: SE Connect, N Line, Premium, and Ultimate.
SE Connect has 16-inch alloy wheels, a 10.25-inch digital cluster, an eight-inch touchscreen display, 48-volt hybrid technology, rear parking sensors, a rear-view camera, driver attention warning, intelligent speed limit warming, and lane keeping assist.
N Line has 17-inch N Line alloy wheels, a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation, climate control, LED lights, auto wipers, electric folding mirrors, interior mood lighting, an N Line body kit, N Line interior branding, rear privacy glass, and smart key/keyless entry.
Premium adds heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a chrome window surround.
Ultimate completes the trims with a BOSE premium sound system, a grey dashboard interior, a wireless charging pad, a phantom black pearl two-tone roof and matching door mirrors, lane follow assist, forward collision assist, and blind spot collision warning.
Under the bonnet, there's a 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine that uses 48V mild-hybrid technology to improve fuel efficiency. It's paired with a manual or dual-clutch transmission and comes with two power outputs, 99 or 118bhp.
Both use mild-hybrid technology, which means that there's a small electric motor and battery. The car can run on electric when decelerating or stopped, meaning it returns a good fuel economy of 55mpg.
The entry-level 99bhp unit achieves 0-62mph in 10.4 seconds and tops out at 115mph. This makes it perfect for driving around town and on a country road and is on par with the 1.0-litre units in the Ford Fiesta.
If you want a bit more kick, go for the 118bhp version, which achieves 0-62mph in 10.1 seconds. Exclusive to the N Line trim, it only feels more powerful, so unless you like the extra kit, we suggest you keep the standard unit.
On the road, you'll find the i20 Hatchback pretty good to drive. Its handling is better than most of its rivals, as it's sharp, accurate, and doesn't lean when cornering at high speed.
Its suspension could do with some improvement, but that's us being picky. Around town, it deals with small bumps in the road well, and you'll only feel larger potholes and speed bumps. However, if you do live on a particularly bumpy road, you'll find the ride comfort quite firm and not as comfortable as the Volkswagen Polo.
Prices for the new Hyundai i20 Hatchback start from £20,530.00 OTR* or to lease from £196.22 per month.
Looking to get behind the wheel of the Hyundai i20 Hatchback? Nationwide Vehicle Contracts is one of the UK's largest car leasing brokers and offers a range of leasing deals to suit your every need.
Leasing may be cheaper than an outright purchase, thanks to a low initial deposit and fixed monthly rentals.
*' On the road' price correct at time of publication and includes one year's road fund license, DVLA first registration fee and number plate fee. Prices are subject to change; always check with your nearest retailer.
