Buy only coz of looks, not anything else. Review on Hyundai i20

Yeah,  I am talking only about petrol version. I haven't driven diesel one, and not planning to since I dont think anyone in his right mind would consider leaving many more better cars market for its sake. ( just  think about Dzire/Manza being replaced by i20 )

Hyundai has completed 10 years in India already. Seeing the pedigree, they are good on service and after sales satisfaction ( only after Maruti, if you talk about pricing of spares ). They provide good interiors, and "feel good" feel once you are behind the wheel; although they are never been driver cars, or having best fuel efficiency. The engines/handling has never been a selling point of hyundai. Yes, I am talking only about petrol versions here.

I went to Hyundai showroom as I was planning to buy a car in range 5-6 lacs, and liked looks of i20 very much. Especially its rear side, I haven't seen any other car with such beauty from this angle. Being hyundai it is bound to be popular : that's what I thought.

I sat behind the wheel, it was all dark brown dashboard: nothing to complain about. Controls etc also appear placed well, along with gear box.

All this impression disappeared when I started it and moved forward. The engine isn't powerful, and using same engine as i10 on bigger chassis isn't a good idea as proved on the road. I took it on an empty highway and car accelerated lazily, clocking 3 digit speed with no fun involved in it . Steering feedback was sore, engine wasn't revving happily as what you have expected and some noise intrusion as revved hard. Smoothness of engine is best observed if you have driven Ritz or Swift or Ikon and then drive this car. It wasn't up to standards which I was expecting.

I have driven i20 many times after the first ride and I always keep wondering what apart from looks make people buy this product ?

My mother complained about cramped rear seats, and I concur. We have Ford Ikon, and this car was no match for it, even if its costlier ( yet a hatchback ). There was road construction going on on the way, and I had to ride it slowly over potholes. The car gave some bad jerks, displeasing all of us

The brakes were also 1 important point. Though they are sufficiently powerful, they are pretty sensitive ( just touch your shoe with brake pedal and it would do the job !) I don't consider it as a positive feature since I had to be pretty careful to not to make life of rear vehicles difficult, since I have habit of ikon.

I am not setting Ikon as a benchmark here.  Come on Hyundai, you are selling a hatchback with price of  Sedan and have nothing more to offer ? Why a customer is supposed to pay through nose to buy a decorative ( yet useless) product like i20 ? What makes you think you can fool people ?

Possibly they think they can charge premium like other car makers do, like Honda does for Jazz. They forget about reality and live in dream world. You arent Honda or Toyota to do that. ( personally I don't recommend Jazz too as it is much more irrationally priced vehicle )

I had driven Ritz few days back and even though they are in different segment t ( Ritz top model is cheaper than i20's entry model ) Ritz is much better to drive, to sit and overall. I believe in fuel efficiency also it is better. But surely, I felt home behind Ritz's steering, similar to what I have always felt in Ikon .

Talking about all functional ( things that matter) things I cant help but see everything missing here. On contrary I felt Ritz is an excellent product and seeing it selling in huge numbers should be an eye opener for Hyundai.