Hyundai i20 Active

The i20 Active is very comfortable on the inside and it gets even more space than before. It has got a luxury feel to it and the instrument cluster and front dashboard look very nice and also make it look sporty. It looks like a proper European hatch with plenty of buttons and gizmos, and lots of lights. The seats are very comfortable and there is lots of leg room for all occupants. There is also a decent amount of boot space and lots of storage compartments. The ergonomics are great and help make the driver feel more comfortable.

Thanks to Hyundai you can choose from a variety of superb engines in the i20. The base engine is the 1.2 litre 4-cylinder Kappa petrol engine, which is also found in the high variant i10. It delivers 84bhp to the front wheels and gives it a good performance with a 5-speed manual transmission. Then there is the 1.4 litre U2 diesel engine with greater power at 90bhp and 224Nm of torque and this variant comes with a 6-speed manual transmission. The engine and transmission setups are simply brilliant and Hyundai has done a great job.

All the variants of the i20 feature the same suspension setup and the ride quality of the car is simply fantastic. The i20 is a brilliant and sporty hatch. The handling is impeccable and it is also very fun to take it on a track as well. With the diesel unit you get the best acceleration with the fantastic 6-speed gearbox that is very easy to use. The cabin is very inviting and the driver feels very comfortable and confident at all times because the car reacts exactly the way you want it to. The brakes work very well and can save you in a bad situation, the steering response is very rapid and there is very little body roll when taking on sharp turns. In fact, you can take on sharp corners and turns at high speeds comfortably. It really is an enjoyable car to drive.

The i20 gives a decent fuel economy thanks to the refined engines. The base 1.2 litre engine can give you around 14kmpl, and the diesel 1.4 litre can give you around 16kmpl.

Once again Hyundai have gone all out with their hatchback and the i20 Active comes with more features than the European hatches in India. There is power steering with tilt steering, power windows, a cooling storage box, integrated audio system with USB, AUX and 2 tweeters. There is also Bluetooth connectivity and steering mounted controls. It also comes with push button start/stop and an electric sunroof on the highest variant.

The i20 Active also has great new age safety features such as central locking, keyless entry, rear defogger, Paring Assist and Reverse assist with a rear camera, ABS with EBD, rain sensing wipers, fog lights and airbags including side and curtain.

The i20 Active is simply a brilliant car and one of the most exciting we have driven in this segment. The quality is undoubtedly very good as all the panels and materials used are top notch. The overall design is very modern and the inside is quite luxurious and comfortable. It is also a very reliable car with its very well refined engines and transmissions. It can compete with European hatches on a next level, so there is nothing more to be said about how good a car it is.

The price range is quite wide since there is a base 1.2 litre engine and a fully stocked 1.4 litre diesel variant, but still you get what you are paying for. Even with the highest variant that comes equipped with features never before seen in this segment, you are getting your money’s worth. The car is a high quality product with great engineering so it is not overpriced as some people would imply.

The i20 Active is part of a very elite club of hatches and it competes with European brands and gives them a run for their money. In fact, it still comes with the best features, so if you are looking for a premium hatch, the Hyundai i20 Elite is what you want especially since Hyundai have a fantastic service network already established in the country. The only negative is that it has a very low ground clearance, but other than that the car is excellent for India and will appeal to younger customers.