Korean brand Hyundai has revealed the facelift version of its latest i20 hatchback, which offers a more modern design as well as new tech and a new DCT gearbox. Will it have enough to take on the mighty Ford Fiesta though? Well it offers a bigger boot – 326 litres compared to 292 – so it’s off to a decent start.
New Car, New Look
As you would expect from a facelift model, there are some subtle, but smart design changes. The new i20 has new bumpers as well as tweaked rear lights and the brand’s Cascading Grille at the front. Three new colours are available for the i20 and buyers can now also select a Phantom Black two-tone roof if desired. There are also new 15″ and 16″ alloys available too, so it’s safe to say that the design team has been hard at work.
More Tech
The new i20 also features more safety tech to help bring it bang up to date with customer demand. The Hyundai SmartSense suite is made of features such as lane departure warning, lane keep assist, autonomous emergency braking, driver attention alert and high beam assist. A 7″ touchscreen is also on hand to help keep drivers connected with features such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher spec models also get navigation as well as live services.
New Gearbox
For the first time, the i20 will be offered with a seven-speed DCT automatic gearbox if buyers choose the 99bhp 1.0 turbocharged petrol. Hyundai’s Idle Stop and Go is also standard on all models to help with emissions and fuel consumption. The 99bhp petrol can also be selected with a 5-speed manual, whilst the 118bhp variant of the 1.0 litre turbo is available only with a 6-speed manual.
There is also a 1.2 litre naturally aspirated petrol engine, but this is not available with said automatic gearbox. Offering a power output of either 74 or 83bhp, this engine is only available with a 5-speed manual. Performance and fuel consumption facts are yet to be announced by the Korean brand as is the price, which should be revealed closer to the new i20’s release date.
“The i20 is one of our DNA models and has continuously been one of our top-selling cars in Europe for a decade. The i-range is the strong foundation of our brand’s success in Europe”, says Andreas-Christoph Hofmann, Vice President Marketing & Product of Hyundai Motor Europe. “By updating the New i20 in design, safety, connectivity and powertrain line-up, we are continuing to meet the expectations of our customers to ensure the ongoing success of this model range.”