New i20: revolution or evolution?

ROAD TEST: Hyundai i20 1.4 Fluid

Johannesburg - Revolution and evolution. Two words you’ll hear often in the motoring game to emphasise whether a new model’s a complete knock-your-socks-off display of progression, or just a mild transfiguration of something we already know.

Hyundai’s second-generation i20 hatch, if we’re talking about style, is a revolution. Park this car next to the previous version and it’s clear designers have gone all out to ditch the now six-year-old jelly-mould look. Instead, the new i20 adopts a more European flavour with sharp German creases, sculpted Italian lights, and a floating roof reminiscent of many French cars. It’s still not exactly stand out in a crowd stuff, but this new “Fluidic Sculpture 2.0” design language is a signal that Hyundai’s moving upmarket... in appearance terms anyway.

EVOLUTION INSIDE

Underneath its fresh skin the new i20’s more evolution. Inside, you’ll find a “why fix what ain’t broke” approach, with similar hard plastics and neon blue digital displays to the outgoing model’s. The dashboard’s been re-styled to suit the more modern exterior, but functionality of stereo and climate control systems is pretty much identical. This, I’d say, isn’t necessarily a bad thing though, as old-school pushbuttons and dials are simple to understand and use. Some rival brands are now moving on to revolutionary colour touchscreen systems, which look very zhoozh, but are often too complex and distracting to operate.

The front-wheel-drive chassis is very much the same too, but swelled ever so slightly to give occupants a tad more head and shoulder room. Cargo space, however, at 294 litres (1010 with the seats folded) is slightly less than the old i20’s. I like that Hyundai has included an elastic netting to hold things vas in the boot (all cars should have this feature), and there’s also a full-size spare tucked away in there, but it’s unusual for a next-generation car – especially in the hatchback segment – to get a decrease in stowage space, even if it is just by a little.

Ride quality is very good. Our test car with its 55 profile, 16” rubber cruised over rough surfaces with confidence, and softly cushioned but still well-bolstered seats mean passengers can nestle in and endure longer trips in reasonable comfort. Build quality is also excellent, and the interior aced my ultra-stringent squeak and rattle tests. One very minor complaint, which could have been specific to our car, was a loose finishing cap on the gear lever which irritated my palm with every shift. Yes, I suffer from OCD.

SAME ENGINE, LESS POWER

Unfortunately the new i20’s drivetrain can’t be categorised as revolution or evolution. This generation gets the very same 1.4-litre “Kappa” petrol engine as its predecessor but with less power, and in the case of a six-speed manual gearbox, a heavier fuel consumption. Power is up by a trivial 1kW to 74, but torque is actually down to 133Nm from 136. Bizarre. Higher-tech competitors with turbocharged engines will make this naturally-aspirated unit seem outdated and, dare I say, sluggish. Underpowered might be too harsh a word, but getting up to the speed limit from a standstill does take a noticeably long time – especially at high Gauteng altitude.

The fact that its power band comes at a relatively high 3 000rpm doesn’t help its average fuel consumption either. Hyundai claims 6.5 litres per 100km, but our car lingered around 7.5 for our week long test duration. Not a bad figure in all fairness, but one we’d expect from something with a little more gusto.

What’s really worrying is that another, even less powerful, 1.2-litre model (61kW/115Nm) is also available in SA. Not surprising that this version’s been kept well away from media at launch events and for road test schedules. But at only R184 900 the base model 1.2 Motion is reasonably priced against rivals like Polo, Mazda2, and Corsa. Those respective base models are all more powerful though.

Our 1.4 Fluid manual, at R204 900, is also competitively priced in its segment, and so long as you’re not in a hurry is worthy of its place among aforementioned peers. This derivative comes well stocked with automatic climate control, a six-speaker sound system, Bluetooth/Aux/USB inputs, rear parking sensors, two airbags and Hyundai’s standard five-year/150 000km warranty.

VERDICT

Not the most powerful of B-segment hatchbacks, but very well made, well equipped and well priced. A slight evolution from what was an already good package.

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FACTS

Hyundai i20 1.4 Fluid

Engine: 1.4-litre, four-cylinder petrol

Gearbox: Six-speed manual

Power: 74kW @ 6000rpm

Torque: 133Nm @ 3500rpm

0-100km/h (claimed): 11.4 seconds

Top speed (claimed): 182km/h

Consumption (claimed): 6.5 litres per 100km

Price: R204 900

Warranty: Five-year/150 000km