Ownership review: Two months with my Hyundai i20 N Line DCT

The car has clocked 3600 km mainly in Delhi-NCR traffic, and I am confident that a consistent fuel efficiency of 13-14 kmpl with AC in city is achievable.

BHPian Ajay Sengupta recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Have owned a Titan Grey N8 DCT for almost two(2) months now and here is a short ownership review. Shall try to be as transparent as possible. First, a short background of the reviewed as well as the reviewer. The car was bought as the primary family car, the other one in the family is a Maruti Ignis. The N Line was required as I live in Delhi-NCR and had to sell (actually give away / got only 2.3 lakhs - expected much more) my 10-year old Skoda Yeti (4X2 Diesel). I am the "Uncle Ashok" of the house (see Suhaas' original review). First drove a car at over 40 years of age but later went on to become a fan of Jeremy Clarkson (Top Gear UK) whose video, where he actually lands a helicopter on a Skoda Yeti prompted my purchase of the Yeti ten years back much beyond my purchasing capacity at that time. The other drivers in the house are my two sons and a daughter-in-law.

• Bought the car at a "reasonable" on-road price of 12.8 lakhs (including a cash discount of 30k and only third party insurance at 6k , thinking that the geofencing feature will prevent thefts and sensible driving will prevent accidents). No accessories - using floor mats of my earlier car.
• From the first day the car had three major niggles - Airbag warning light permanently on, rear right door remaining unlocked and tyre pressures close to 50 psi.
• Took up with Hyundai at a senior level and the problems were resolved quickly. After the initial characteristic reluctance of the dealership, I started receiving calls from three(3) 'obsequious' service centres almost every hour. On inquiring , a local Hyundai official told me that they had prepared a Plan A, Plan B and I suspect a Plan C also. At the service centre I received chocolates, free mudflaps, an unusually large flower bouquet and a big box file with a print out of the entire N Line operation manual which is downloadable from Hyundai website (I had asked for a hard copy of the manual in my complaint to Hyundai). My basic question to Hyundai , however, still remains unanswered as to how did these major defects go unnoticed at the factory as well as at the dealership ?
• Considered upgrading the tyres . Inquired with Michelin and discussed about the low traction rating ( 'B' on the stock CEAT tyres) with local CEAT representatives but was undecided about the wisdom of upgrading for my type of use of the N Line. A rather amusing response I received from a tyre company official was that apart from the week and year of manufacture (3121 in my case) , ALL other markings were company "codes" and the end user need not 'bother' about them at all ! Michelin was ambivalent first and then said I could go ahead with Pilot Sport 4 but I do realize that such technical queries are answered at the call centre level and not by experts.
• However, a few days back while getting the tyre pressures checked at a petrol pump late in the night, the 'hawaa walaa' suddenly "discovered" two punctures in the front left tyre which was perfectly fine moments before ! This is a major malpractice going on in Delhi-NCR these days . It is then that the CEAT cnconditional 2.5 years' warranty came to my rescue and the company promptly replaced the 'defective' tyre....no questions asked !!! So the stock Securadrive tyres are going to continue on my N line notwithstanding their low traction rating. The CEAT dealer who replaced the tyre , however, confidently told me they would last "ek laakh kilometer" which makes me a bit scary, I may not have a chance to ride on ugraded tyres at all ! On a serious note , however, the N Line overseas ride on Hancook Ventus Prime 3 while the N Performance ride on Pirelli P Zero. For the duration the spare wheel was fitted on the car , there was a TPMS error on display which went away as soon as the new tyre went in position.
• Did not find any noticeable difference between normal petrol and RON 95 (IOC XP 95). Intend to fill RON 100 ( IOC XP 100) at least once because I understand that there is a substantial improvement in N line performance with this petrol.
• The car has clocked 3600 km mainly in Delhi-NCR traffic, and I am confident that a consistent fuel efficiency of 13-14 kmpl with AC in city is achievable.
• All members in the family are extremely happy except my wife who hates 'hatchbacks' and misses the ingress/egress , comfort , practicality , quality of materials and, in general, "capabilities" of the Yeti . I quickly go on to remind her that during the Yeti's ownership , ecstasies and agonies came in almost equal measures ! I personally, however, think height adjustable front passenger seats and front parking sensors on the N line would have made it a more complete package and long term ownership of a Hyundai (especially its DCT and those hi tech features ) is unknown to this first time Hyundai owner. The seats may seem comfortable but may not actually be so on long drives - would also have preferred good quality fabric seats over the leatherette ones . Lack of under body protection is also a cause of my concern.
• My son has taken the car to Allahabad and back (700 km one way) and has found the drive stress free , very enjoyable and was all praises for the cruise control.

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