Hyundai i20 (2023) – Back to Basics

Hyundai i20 1.2 MPI i-Motion – €22,795

The current, third generation of the Hyundai i20 has been available since 2020, but was recently given a refresh. On the outside you can easily recognize the newcomer by the nose, which has a slightly different grille. The logo is no longer part of this, but is now placed directly above the grille.

In 2021, shortly after the market introduction, the pre-facelift i20 was already featured in ‘Back to Basics’. The first thing we notice when we pick up that item is of course the price. Back then you had a basic i20 for €18,635, now you pay at least €22,795 for it. Moreover, nothing changes in terms of engine and equipment level, because for that entry fee we are still talking about a turbo-free 1.2 MPI with 84 hp, designed as ‘i-Motion’. However, the price comparison is not fair, because even before the facelift, the i20 was already more expensive than when it was introduced. When the facelifted i20 was put on the price list, it was €700 more expensive than before, according to our own article.

In the context of this section we found a price list from January, in which the basic i20 was still listed for €21,795. This makes the i20 exactly €1,000 more expensive than at the beginning of this year. That higher price has one major advantage: the i20 now has an 8-inch touchscreen as standard. Navigation is missing, but Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are, so that is actually not a loss. Before the facelift, the basic i20 had a cluster with buttons for audio controls in this location, but no full-fledged screen.

The instruments are now ‘digital’, but don’t imagine too much about that. In fact, it is a 4-inch cluster, seamlessly incorporated into a glass plate in which the speed is indicated, among other things, with the well-known ‘alarm radio letters’. This is different from before, when the simplest i20 simply had analog meters. As usual, the key must be in the ignition to start, but as usual the basic necessities for a pleasant drive are present. For example, every i20 comes with air conditioning and cruise control and a reversing camera ensures that parking is a breeze. The extensive adjustability of the steering wheel and seats guarantees a pleasant seating position. We miss the center armrest, which is supplied from the second equipment level (Comfort, €24,495). Striking: according to the price list, the storage compartments in the rear doors are only standard from the Comfort. Anyone who is a passenger in an i-Motion apparently has to hold loose items themselves.

Above the ‘old’ basic dashboard, below the new one. Pay attention to the radio/screen, but also to the instruments.

15-inch hubcaps

From the outside you can clearly see that you are dealing with the basic version. Once again, plain white is the only ‘free’ color. Other versions also have more LED lighting, with only the top Premium model using LED technology for all lighting functions. The i-Motion is also the only i20 that has 15-inch wheels, and the only one with steel wheels and hubcaps.

With its current, significantly increased starting price, the Hyundai i20 is one of the most affordable cars in its segment. It cannot compete with a Dacia Sandero, but competitors such as the Opel Corsa, Peugeot 208 and Volkswagen Polo are more expensive. The most affordable Toyota Yaris is slightly cheaper than the i20 at €21,695, while the also facelifted Renault Clio is almost as expensive.

Because a list is clearer than text, we list the most striking standard equipment of the Hyundai i20 i-Motion:

• Height-adjustable chair
• Height and depth adjustable handlebar
• Split-folding rear seat
• Light sensor
• Air conditioning
• Cruise control
• Reversing camera
• Central door locking with remote control
• 8-inch multimedia screen with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay

A lot, but that means that the following things are missing from the entry-level i20:

• LED lighting all around
• Light metal
• Storage compartments in rear doors
• Center armrest front and rear