Hyundai i20

The Hyundai i20 debuted with three engine options - 1.2-litre petrol, 1.5-litre diesel, and the brilliant 1.0-litre turbo petrol. Now, the N Line only gets the 1.0-litre turbo engine with exactly the same specs. So, you have 118bhp and 172 Nm of torque and two gearbox options to play with, a six-speed iMT and a seven-speed DCT.

Now, we have driven the 1.0-litre turbo variant extensively and can vouch for its performance. The acceleration is strong and thanks to the brilliant mid-range, it’s got fantastic tractability too. Making things more exciting in the N Line variant is the throatier exhaust note and more importantly the addition of paddle shifters that come with the DCT gearbox. This was sorely lacking and it’s great that Hyundai has added it here since it definitely enhances the driving experience. What would have made things more exciting for the N Line variants is a proper manual gearbox instead of the iMT. Also available now is a disc set-up at the rear which does add to the overall braking performance but we still wish it had a better initial bite.

Hyundai had got everyone excited the moment they announced the introduction of their N Line in India. Now, us enthusiasts, we were already having wet dreams about a near 200bhp hot-hatch with electronic trickery that would surpass the joys that were once given by the now-extinct Punto Abarth and the very expensive but awesome Polo GTi.

The unveil, however, left us a little disappointed. The engine specs remained unchanged from the standard i20 turbo but Hyundai did manage to sprinkle a little chaat masala to spice things up. But the question is, does it have enough to warrant the higher price tag? Or does it just make sense to buy the standard i20 Turbo which is cheaper and has the same engine specs?

Coming to the ride and handling, compared to the last-gen i20, Hyundai has done a stellar job with the new car. The N Line gets some further rework with a sportier set-up on the suspension. While it hasn’t made the car stiffer, it does feel a lot more planted in the corners. Its rolls are lesser too, which means quick direction changes are dismissed easily. Hyundai has worked on the steering too by adding a little weight which has resulted in a much better on-steering feel.

Overall, the minute changes in the N Line do provide a sportier driving experience. However, we can’t help wonder if Hyundai could have just done a little more by bumping up the power figures a bit with an ECU remap and perhaps made the car sit a little lower, which would have added to the sporty experience a whole lot more.

The standard i20 Turbo is a very sporty looking hatchback. So, starting at the front, you get WRC-inspired sporty highlights in the form of the chequered flag-inspired front grille. This front lip spoiler is on the standard car as well, but the N Line gets the red/grey highlights. On the sides, you get the new alloy wheels. No change in size, they’re still 16-inch but with a new design, which we found to be too busy. Apart from that, the highlights on the front lip spoiler make their way onto the side skirts as well. The front callipers also get the N Line treatment.

Moving on to the rear, the standard i20’s design was a bit polarising. But, the N Line Hyundai has fixed that a little. To add better proportions, you now get this new spoiler that extends down to the windscreen. And finally, the part we love the most, the off-set chrome dual exhaust tips which don’t just look the part but give the car a throatier exhaust note too. We think Hyundai has done a fair job to spice up the i20 Line.

Moving to the inside, the all-black plasticky cabin remains the same but now get sportier touches. First up is this new bespoke three-spoke steering wheel with the N Line logo. The N branded leather gear knob is all-new too. The N logo makes its way onto the leatherette seats as well, which look and feel good. Additionally, you get N Line carpets and sporty metal pedals too. The red highlights that we see on the outside make it to the insides as well along with red ambient lighting.

In terms of features, the i20 N Line carries over all the equipment from the standard i20. It comes equipped with a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a digital instrument cluster, wireless phone charging, cruise control, automatic climate control, a single-pane sunroof, seven-speaker Bose sound system, and much more.

The i20 N Line additionally gets new voice recognition functions along with an updated Bluelink app that features 16 free over-the-air map updates. Safety features include six airbags, TPMS, rear-view parking camera, automatic headlamps, electronic stability control (ESC), vehicle stability management (VSC), hill assist control (HAC), and more.

The Hyundai i20 was already an excellent premium hatchback offering stylish looks, space, plenty of features, and brilliant performance. With the N Line, Hyundai wants to satiate the needs of customers who want something a tad sportier. Price-wise, this N8 DCT variant is about Rs 35,000 more than the similarly specced Asta DCT option and you can add Rs 15,000 more for a dual-colour option, which makes it a good value considering the changes on offer.

But, as we mentioned before, the N Line raised a lot of expectations from the enthusiasts and we still think this was a good opportunity to make the i20 the hot-hatch that we enthusiasts have been yearning for. But I guess we’ll have to wait a little longer for that.

Pictures by Kapil Angane

Hyundai i20 ownership experience

Hyundai i20, which recently got a makeover, has been garnering good support and appreciation from Indian customers. The Hyundai hatchbacks, i10 and i20 have established themselves really well among the other options available.

Second to the India’s largest manufacturer, Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai has provided stiff competition to all the players in the hatch range. The i20 was seen as a direct rival to the dominant Maruti Suzuki Swift, which began the trend of premium compact hatches in India.

Presently, every automobile manufacturer is trying to infuse its small iterations in this popular segment. We interview Mr. Satya Narayana Sharma, owner of a 2009 Hyundai i20 to find out about his experience throughout the ownership and whether he would recommend it to others.

 Hyundai i20 Technical Specifications

Mr. Satya Narayana Sharma owns a 2009 Crystal white Hyundai i20 Asta variant. It has a 4 cylinder 1197cc petrol engine, which produces a peak power of 80PS and a torque rating of 114Nm. Mr. Sharma has not done any retro fitment of an LPG kit on his vehicle. He gets a mileage of 12 kmpl in city and 16 kmpl on highways.

Below is the brief interview of Mr. Sharma revealing more about this ownership experience.

Question: How long has it been since you own this car and what made you choose it over other the options available in the market?

Answer: I bought this car in 2009 December. I don’t give much importance to the brand value, however I do look for a car with the best of features available and the reputation of providing the best service. When I was looking for a new car, the Hyundai i20 fascinated me with its impressive styling and its features like power windows, power mirrors, climate control, alloy wheels, ABS, fog lamps etc. I was also impressed with the fit and finish of the interiors and all this were very convincing for me to select it.

Question: Have you owned any other car prior to this?

Answer: Earlier I had the Maruti Suzuki 800, which has always been a reliable car. We had used the same for about two years or so. It is indeed a good family car. Later on as I wished for a more stylish car, I chose the Hyundai i20.

Question: Please tell us something about the present status of your car?

Answer:  Till now it has done 34,438 kms. As I was using it very frequently at about 100kms per day, it’s in perfect condition and we do enjoy the drive quality and comfort it offers.

Questions: How is experience compared to your earlier car(s)?

Answer: It is way above in performance, style statement and comfort in comparison to my earlier car. I have driven many other similar models but found this one to be the best.

Question: How about cost per service?

Answer: The last service was done at 29,306 kms. The overall billing was around Rs. 7000/- including oil change, shampoo cleaning of interiors, paid service etc. Maintenance cost is quite justified considering the segment it belongs to.

Question: Any accident repairs done or insurance claimed?

Answer: As I am a very careful driver and do drive at safe speeds during city driving or taking it out from parking lot, I have never met with an accident. Also there has not been any instance of claiming an insurance till now.

Question: Have you faced any mileage issues?

Answer: Mileage is quite good considering the displacement and the weight of car. I don’t have much issue regarding mileage and that is my secondary preference, the primary being the performance, style and the comfort offered.

Question: Can you tell us about your experience in long drives?

Answer: We have travelled a lot in this car, done close to 700kms on one day. It is a very comfortable and stable ride. One can easily drive at a speed of 150 kmph without any vibration or discomfort. I have not crossed the 150kmph mark. The performance of the car at high speeds is very impressive and makes it feel as if it’s gliding on the road.

Hyundai i20 Features

Question: Any brake down faced and how was the problem solved?

Answer: No Brake down faced till now.

Question: Any good/bad experience at the authorized service station?

Answer: Service quality is good with respect to workmanship .I did not face any problem with the service. The service engineers do give high importance to quality of work and delivery in time.

Question: How do you rate the overall ownership, would you recommend the same to others?

Answer: We are very much satisfied with the performance of the car. The cost of service is also very reasonable. However, the rising petrol prices can make people think twice before selecting this one. Proper planning of all the trips and switching the car off regularly at signals will help reduce the burden of rising fuel prices. About recommending this car, yes I do recommend it.

Question: If given an option to choose from the new cars, which make and Model, would you choose?

Answer: Currently we don’t have any plans of going for other car. However, Hyundai Verna would be the preferred choice for upgrade from the existing Hyundai i20.

Conclusion

From the above interview, it can be concluded that Mr. Satya Narayana Sharma is a very satisfied owner of Hyundai i20 and he recommends the same to the people looking for a premium hatchback, which offers the best of comfort. However, the Hyundai i20 is accompanied by the Grande Punto, Polo, Micra and Pulse hatches as well so a lot of options are available for the Indian consumers to choose from.

Hyundai i20 Competition