Hyundai HB20S: mature compact sedan

Conventional sedans have not been so popular in the Netherlands for years. Car manufacturers have regularly struggled to sell sedans in the compact middle class and below. The proportions did not always come out nicely, something that we also see outside of Europe. Hyundai has, among other things, a sedan version of the i10 on the international sales lists. That Grand i10 Sedan is not the only sedan of the brand that we do not know here. Hyundai sells the Accent/Verna, the Celesta, the Elantra, the Lafesta, the Mistra, the Sonata and so on. In South America, the HB20S is the smallest sedan of the brand. Hatchback brother HB20 recently went under the knife and now sedan version HB20S has also been thoroughly renewed.

The Hyundai HB20S as it was presented in 2018.

Briefly, the Hyundai HB20S undergoes the same facelift as the hatchback version H20. That is of course not surprising, in fact they are body variants of the same model family. This means that the HB20S will also receive a completely new muzzle, a front that gives the sedan a less open look than the original. With its smaller, meaner-looking headlamps and de-concave grille, the HB20 family now bears resemblance to the brand’s more serious, larger models. As with the hatchback version, the rear of the HB20S will also be completely overhauled. The old separated taillights make way for optically linked ones, complete with an LED strip running across the width of the bips. The license plate moves from the rear bumper to the tailgate, the Hyundai logo is now on the rear spoiler integrated into the tailgate.

Is this Hyundai HB20S coming to the Netherlands? Well no. The letters ‘HB’ in the model name stand for Hyundai Brasil and that of course indicates that the model has been specially developed for the South American market and in particular for that of Brazil. The engine list includes a modest 80 hp 1.0 and a 120 hp 1.0 T-GDI. The HB20 series is quite important for Hyundai. Although Fiat Strada commercial vehicle was the best-selling car in Brazil in 2021, Hyundai’s HB20 series was allowed to call itself the best-selling passenger car. 86,455 HB20s were sold last year, slightly more than the Fiat Argo (84,644 units). Other South American competitors of the HB20 are the Chevrolet Onix and Volkswagen Gol.

Is the Dutch market ready for the return of the sedan in response to the proliferation of SUVs and crossovers that has arisen? We are curious about your opinions.