Hyundai launched the i20 in our market as a premium hatchback and it has been on sale since 2008. It was one of the first cars to feature Hyundai’s fluidic design in India. The car was feature rich and was available in both petrol and diesel variants. Hyundai has now given a major styling makeover to the car and revised the interiors calling it the Elite i20
Exterior
The i20 now wears Hyundai’s new Fluidic v2.0 design theme and carries minimal resemblance to the old car styling wise. The Elite i20 seems to have moved up the ladder in terms of premium appeal and now mimics most of its European counterparts. The stance is forward leaning and thanks to the flared wheel arches the car now looks more modern and sportier than ever.
The front fascia gets a wide but compact air intake with mesh design. The grille is the biggest element in the front and gets chrome surrounds more in line with the one found in the Grand i10. The headlights have a swept back design to add to the sportiness of the overall combination of elements. The side profile is noticeable thanks to the strong shoulder line, silver door handles and the softly flared wheel arches.
A new design element that Hyundai appears to have integrated is the blacked out B-pillar and C-pillar that gives an impression of a floating roofline. The rear end gets long wraparound tail lamps, a big Hyundai logo in the centre and bumpers that accommodate the reverse lights and reflectors on either side.
Interior
The Elite i20 is feature rich from inside which is a norm for all Hyundai cars now. The cabin now looks better with the redesigned dashboard in beige-black combination. The Elite i20 gets all the features available on the old car with new additions like the steering adaptive parking assist, lane change indicator, in-built service reminder and rear air-con vents.
The three-spoke steering wheel gets integrated audio and Bluetooth controls. It gets height adjustable driver’s seat, 2-Din audio system with 1 GB internal memory, climate control system, cooled glovebox, cruise control, reverse parking assist, gear shift indicator and electro-chromatic rear view mirror. The top-end Asta features automatic headlights, rear wash and wipe, clutch lock and a second power outlet. The boot capacity at 285 litres is the second best in the segment after the Polo which has a capacity of 294 litres.
Engine and Gearbox
The Elite i20 gets the same petrol and diesel engines from the previous car. The petrol is a four-cylinder 1.2-litre Kappa engine producing 83bhp and 113Nm of torque mated to a five-speed manual gearbox. The diesel variant is powered by the 1.4-litre CRDI mill churning out 89bhp and 219Nm of torque mated to a six-speed manual gearbox.
