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Pre-worshipped car of the week : Buying a used Hyundai i20

17th July 2020, 12:33 by Kanad Kalasur

It was the 2008 i20 that became the first successful premium hatchback in India (no doubt helped by the pricing debacle of the Jazz in 2009). Hyundai didn't want to alter the successful formula it had, so the 2nd-gen car is more of an "improvement" of the overall package. Sold as the Elite i20, this model made its debut in 2014. It is now nearing the end of its product lifecycle, with the 3rd-gen i20's launch scheduled in the near future. You can expect prices to drop in the used market when the new car is unveiled.

Positives:
• A properly premium family hatchback for Santro money
• All-rounded package in a clean, mature design which has aged well
• Spacious interiors with outstanding quality, fit and finish. Practical 285 liter boot too
• 1.4L diesel has excellent driveability, refinement, performance & fuel economy. 6-speed gearbox is smooth
• Automatic available. Earlier examples had a lovely AT paired to a more powerful 1.4L petrol
• Suspension offers a comfortable ride and neutral handling characteristics
• Owners have reported the car to have good reliability
• Hyundai's competent after-sales-service & wide dealer network
• Features such as the 8-speaker stereo, rake & reach steering, rear air-con, reversing cam, cooled glovebox and lots more

Negatives:
• 1.2L petrol is nowhere as impressive as the diesel. Mediocre highway performance for a premium hatchback
• Dynamics & steering aren't to an enthusiast's tastes. Swift, Polo etc. are more fun to drive
• Service costs & (some) spare parts are on the pricier side (especially when compared to rivals)
• Anyone over 5'11" will find rear headroom to be insufficient. Sloping roof eats into cabin height at the back
• Missing equipment vis-a-vis the 1st-gen i20: Rear disc brakes, sunroof, auto-wipers...
• 1.4L AT (torque converter) guzzles petrol. 1.2L CVT petrol was later introduced in '18
• Rear wiper only on the top Asta trim!

Mod Potential:

Don't go overboard as this isn't an enthusiast's driving machine. Better to use it as a premium family car. If your right foot is heavy, a freeflow exhaust on the petrol or a remap for the diesel might spice things up.

Availability:

In every nook & corner of the country! This car has enjoyed exceptional success and hence, the options are plenty in the used car market. Also keep an eye out for the Active variant if you want additional ground clearance.

Here are some on sale - 2015 29,300 km Petrol, 2015 45,000 km Diesel, 2019 5,500 km Petrol, 2019 4,000 km Petrol AT.

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