ON THE ROAD – IAN LYNAS PREVIEWS THE NEW HYUNDAI i20

The new Hyundai i20 comes with a refreshed, stylish design and a safety package and best-in-class connectivity, the most comprehensive packages in its class. This is a manufacturer that has enjoyed, and continues to enjoy, success in motorsport and has certainly worked for them in bringing the brand to a wider and often youthful audience. The new model will have wide appeal as it boasts a sleek and modern exterior that will be eye-catching on the road; with the shape and pattern of the front bumper, as well as the radiator grille enhanced to create an elegant look with the all important sporty elements.

Many drivers will welcome that the newcomer retains its sporty stance thanks to its low roof profile and long wheelbase and these features enhance the vehicle’s aerodynamics by lowering air resistance, which also improves handling and heightens fuel efficiency. Even with compact B segment dimensions, the new i20 offers lots of interior room, as well as 352 litres of boot space with the rear seats up, 1,165 litres with the rear seats folded down. Power choice, the one litre T-GDi engine, available with 100bhp or 120bhp is designed for maximum efficiency and performance and is available with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission (7DCT) or a six-speed Intelligent Manual Transmission (iMT), providing a smooth and responsive driving experience. Upon releasing the accelerator, iMT can decouple the engine from the transmission, effectively saving fuel by allowing the vehicle to enter a coasting mode.

The latest connectivity features; upgraded with a standard 4.2-inch LCD cluster, USB type-C, second-generation eCall based on the 4G network, and Over-the-Air (OTA) map updates. Features that were already popular in the previous version, such as the optional 10.25 inch cluster and 10.25 inch display screen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless device charger, and the latest update to Bluelink telematics remain. Re safety; more Hyundai Smart Sense safety features now come as standard. Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) for ‘City’, ‘Interurban’, and ‘Pedestrian’ now includes ‘Cyclist’. FCA which helps detect and avoid potential accidents with obstacles ahead and Lane Following Assist (LFA) ensures that the vehicle stays in the current lane of travel. Optional safety systems are also available, including Rear Cross-traffic Collision Assist (RCCA) which applies the brakes while backing out of a parking space if a risk of collision with vehicles to the rear and side is detected. Blind-spot Collision-avoidance Assist (BCA) which uses visual alerts that appear on the exterior mirrors if another vehicle is detected and navigation based Smart Cruise Control (NSCC) uses the vehicle’s navigation system to anticipate curves or straights on motorways and adjusts the speed for safer driving; all very clever. This new Hyundai will certainly catch the eye with a wide choice of exterior colours and an optional black two-tone roof. Production of the new i20 is planned to commence in the third quarter of this year at the company’s manufacturing plant in Izmit, Turkey and looking to the future the range will expand with a number of other variants.

The new i20 will not only appeal to current owners but should attract customers looking for an elegant and sporty design. The I-range which is made up by i10, i20, and i30 has been a success story for the company right across Europe and currently they are three of the brand’s most popular models, delivering quality, reliability, and practicality and value for money.

Ian Lynas