Feature rich, under powered and under cooled. Review on Hyundai i20

After 5 months and 6000kms, I thought it was time to write a review of my i20. Thanks to the mouthshut community for their unbiased reviews. The depth of some of the reviews does put the so called experts to shame.

I recently relocated to India after working in the US for more than 10 years. I had owned a Honda Civic, Toyota Camry, Honda Odyssey and a used Jetta during this time. I had minor to major problems with all these cars at some point.

Once I landed in India, I needed a car very badly. I wasn’t mentally prepared to drive the Scorpios and the Innovas. I found the Civic and the Carolla overpriced. A friend of mine suggested I take a look at the i20. The positive reviews of this car made me take a test drive. The folks at HMP did a very professional job. I found this car feature rich.

Six airbags, USB, steering audio controls, height adjustable driver seat, one-touch window down and the cooled glove box to name a few. The super smooth steering and the crisp gear change added to the WOW factor. But, the electrically retractable side view mirror was simply jaw dropping!I bought the Asta with Option model. I have to make two confessions:

1) I cannot stand the looks of any car without alloy wheels

2) I don’t think an ABS actually helps during braking. Having driven on snow, sleet and freezing rain for a long time, I can confidently say that ABS doesn’t really decrease the stopping distance. It just maintains the directionality of the car and that has been my personal experience. When I want to stop, I would rather spin or skid and hit the curb rather than stopping in the middle of a busy 4-way junction. Reducing the pressure on the brake will disengage the ABS and the braking would become more effective. Am I the only one with this opinion?

I still love this car after 5 months, but there are some very basic issues that need to be addressed by Hyundai. Why is the vanity mirror missing? How much would it cost Hyundai to add a light in the glove box? Why did Hyundai steal the horns from TVS 50? The mother of all issues is the Air conditioner. Once you park the car under direct sunlight, it takes for ever to cool. Certainly not good for an Indian summer. Folks in the back seat constantly complain of not getting enough air. The dark interiors don’t help the situation.

All passengers should be provided with pedals to generate electricity or store compressed air in a tank that can be used by the driver when on 2nd gear. I always find myself in a position where the car is too fast for the 1st gear but too slow for the 2nd gear.

The headlights are placed deep inside the body of the car. While it looks stylish, it results in an uneven lighting pattern. I see a dark spot in the middle. So annoying and dangerous it is, I stop the car and adjust the headlight leveller sometimes. The lighting pattern is more like an “M” rather than a desirable inverted “U”.

I get an average of 10.5Kms/Litre using the tank-full to tank-full method. I took it once for a long haul and got 15kms/Litre averaging about 120kmph. This is an underpowered and overweight car. The broader tyres don’t help I guess. Should I say the fuel efficiency is off by a good 1.5kms/Litre?

Overall, I’m still happy with this car.

UPDATE : Sometime in March, 2010, I had to brace myself for the hot Chennai weather. I got my car sun filmed. This impreoved the situation quite a bit and stopped the whinning of my fellow passengers. A month later, my ACs blowing capacity came down considerably. Since this was a gradual degradation, I didn't realize it. When my Dad got into the car one fine day, he knew right away there was a problem. I took my car to V3 Hyundai in Chennai which is very close to where I live. These guys are new and hence no appointment was required.

Withing 10 minutes, I was called inside the service area to check my AC. For the first time ever since I bought the car, I felt I probably didn't make a mistake in buying an I20. The AC was blowing with a lot of force. I don't think it was working like this when I first bought the car. I was told thatthe AC filter was blocked. I don't think that was the only reason as my AC never blew air at this force. Anyway, I walked out a happy satisfied I20 owner. I had plans to sell this car, but not anymore.

For those who still have issues with AC, please take your car to the service station and insist that this problem can be fixed.