The Koreans are continuing their advance. Even though Hyundai is not doing as well in the Netherlands as its colleague Kia, the brand is certainly no less ambitious. There is a brand new i20, which in terms of technology is not inferior to brands with more history.
Although Hyundai is causing a furore with electric models like the Kona and a completely new electric Ioniq line is in the starting blocks, that does not mean that the brand is ignoring the existing part of its portfolio. Where some car brands change their strategy by scrapping certain model series, the Koreans do it differently. They maintain what is already there and the rest just adds to it. Take the A segment. The European brands will stop, while the Hyundai group will continue to carry the Kia Picanto and Hyundai i10. And it is not entirely coincidental that these are the top cars in their segment. Hyundai is not sitting still in a class higher. The B segment is of course of a different level and with models of just about every major player, it is not an arena in which South Korea has been at the top until now. The i20 was also a big improvement over the faded Getz and especially the second generation i20 was a big step forward. However, with competitors such as the Volkswagen Polo, Renault Clio, Opel Corsa, Ford Fiesta and Peugeot 208, this is not a playing field in which you simply walk to the lead. However, the sales numbers here are so high that it pays to use a strong player. That is why there is already a brand new third model series after six years. That is relatively fast and indicates that they are not taking a breather in Seoul to concentrate on the current electric race.
Downright flashy
Let’s start with a look at the new Hyundai. In the higher segments, the brand has long shown that it has guts with bold designs, but in this class we have not seen that swagger before. A European design center and acquired drawing talent result in a hatchback that looks downright flashy. The back may not be very timeless, but we certainly think the whole thing is successful. The i20 has also grown visibly. It is not only wider than its predecessor, but also lower. The trunk also got bigger, but strangely enough not in the version that we have, about which more later. We first take a look in the back seat, where it is fine to keep going. There is a striking trend in the B segment, where the cars seem to be getting tighter and therefore less usable as a family car. The i20 dips into that gap by offering adults a very usable rear seat with its longer wheelbase. When we take a seat in the front, our eye immediately falls on a very modern cockpit. The large multimedia screen is the absolute eye-catcher. It is fast and comprehensive and it works nicely thanks to nice shortcuts. This screen is standard from the Comfort Smart version; we drive the luxury Premium version that adds a few more things, such as a nice Bose system, seat and steering wheel heating and adaptive cruise control. In addition, the i20 has a laundry list of safety options on board, from blind spot detection and autobrake to lanekeeping and automatic high beam. In this segment, these are things that we see more and more often, but which are certainly not self-evident. The ergonomics of the i20 are nice, because not all functions are hidden in the touchscreen. Fortunately, there are also ‘normal’ buttons, to quickly set functions such as seat heating or climate control. Without a doubt, the Korean is a well-equipped car, while it is also not expensive compared to the competition. It is the use of materials in the interior that is most disappointing, because even though it all looks slick and modern, it is quite a lot of hard plastic that strikes the clock.
New three-cylinder
Then take a look at the drive, because there is something interesting to tell about the Hyundai. The i20 has a new 1.0 three-cylinder and it functions as a mild hybrid with starter dynamo, sailing mode and an extra battery to give that little bit of electro boost. That extra battery is located under the bottom of the trunk, which explains why the luggage compartment of the i20 is not excessively large. The powertrain is linked to a new automatic transmission, a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. This whole works very smoothly and softly together. The engine is remarkably vibration-free for a three-cylinder, but what really impresses is the smooth way in which it switches on and off at speed. If you don’t keep an eye on your tachometer, sometimes you won’t even notice. The same applies to the gearshift actions of the box. It’s not the fastest of its kind, but it is smooth and comfortable. That suits the rest of the car, because the new i20 is very soft. Sometimes against the softness with significant bumps, but the roads in our country are fortunately quite good. Because the Hyundai is also very quiet, you can speak of a calming car that does not rush you in any way. It never gets exciting because of the remote steering and the soft suspension, but the i20 is much more mature than its predecessors due to its flexibility and silence.