Still striking
Hyundai thinks it’s time for a refresher for the i20 after about three years. The facelift is one of a fairly subtle nature and also on a technical level, the South Koreans stick to the well-known recipe.
The current Hyundai i20, presented in February 2020, is – certainly compared to its predecessor – a striking appearance. It is certainly not the most extravagantly lined Hyundai, but it stands out, especially with its stubborn rear, against ‘safer’ lined competitors such as the Volkswagen Polo and Ford Fiesta. Of course it has to be your taste and for the time being the Dutch sales figures do not show that ‘we’ run away with it. The i20 isn’t necessarily bad, but it doesn’t quite match its predecessors. Last year, 2,060 units left the showroom, there may be a little more this year and who knows, the facelift may contribute to that.
In any case, the facelift does not bring a major change of course for the i20. The biggest innovation is in the nose. Hyundai mounts a different front bumper with somewhat larger black decorative elements. Furthermore, the i20 gets a new grille without the Hyundai logo in it. The (otherwise new) emblem is now above the grille and is larger. Striking: where the logo used to be, a black surface can still be seen in the grille. Anyone who had hoped for a complete restyling of the rear will be disappointed. A new rear bumper with a larger and more angular black element in it is the most noticeable change. In the interior, it mainly remains the same, although a USB-C charging port is now standard and navigation maps can be kept up to date via OTA updates.
Hyundai i20.
In the technical field, it is also a feast of recognition. Once again, the engine range starts with the naturally aspirated 1.2 MPI with 84 hp, followed by the more frequently chosen 100 hp 1.0 T-GDI with 48-volt mild hybrid technology. The stronger power source of 120 hp has also remained. Switching is possible with the mild hybrid i20 with a manual iMT six-speed gearbox or a seven-speed automatic transmission, with the 1.2 MPI you have a five-speed manual gearbox. Prices of the updated Hyundai i20 will follow in the run-up to the market launch, which is expected to take place at the end of this year.
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– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl