Hyundai i20N
By Ian Strachan.
Some manufacturers have pulled out of the hot hatch market. Not Hyundai, who have brought race-track technology to their i20 model and turned it into a growling, road-hugging performance car.
The sprightly i20N is a smart, well specified, high-performing little car with all the extras you’d expect on something much bigger. It certainly looks the part. My test car came in distinctive Performance Blue with 18″ grey alloys, lipstick red trim and red brake calipers. The hot hatch look was completed with a black roof and black rear spoiler.
This Hyundai looks good, with a crisp, character-full profile, and performs exceptionally well. The i20N has a turbocharged 204 bhp 1.6 litre petrol engine. It’s brisk, peppy, and noisy. You can wake up the neighbours on start-up, with a built-in sound generator and variable silencer control. It sounds powerful and IS powerful, with a top speed of 143 mph where legal, and a 0-60 mph time of 6.2 seconds. Linked to a six-speed manual gearbox the engine responds extremely well. For the frustrated racing driver, distinctive N paddles are mounted on the chunky leather steering wheel.
The i20N handles nicely and feels exceptionally sure footed. In fact the overall ride and handling of this vehicle is very impressive indeed despite a firm suspension set-up.
You get plenty of extras on the i20N that many manufacturers would charge you extra for, including heated front sports seats in leather and fabric, automatic air conditioning, and cruise control with speed limiter. You also get those smart 18-inch alloys, heated steering wheel, rear parking sensors with camera and a good sound system with steering wheel mounted controls. Sound and satellite navigation systems are controlled via a 10.25-inch touchscreen.
The interior is of a very high quality for a smallish car, with comfortable seats for rear passengers and plenty of leg and head room. The boot is respectable and can be increased by folding the rear seats.
The whole car has a solid, quality feel with high body rigidity and good use of materials. You don’t always get this with Korean car, but this Hyundai is an honourable exception
The i20N 1.6 T-GDi 204ps with a starting on the road price of £25,250. My test car had pearl paint (£550), a BOSE premium sound package (£500) and a two-tone black roof (£500)
This is a very impressive performance car that will certainly give more established cars a run for their money, particularly among drivers who are not marque-obsessed. And there’s a five year unlimited mileage warranty to go with it.
