• Facelifted Hyundai i20 looking good

    by  • November 14, 2012 • Car Reviews, Test Drives

    Pin It
    2012 Hyundai i20 exterior front right static

    The facelifted Hyundai i20 is a stylish looking little car

    If you’re after a small car that’s stylish and generous on spec then you should take a look at the new Hyundai i20.

    The supermini has had a facelift and is now more fuel efficient and has a better specification offering.

    It’s a cute looking small but muscular car with nice LED lights at the front.

    Inside, the cloth upholstered seats are comfortable. Leg room is adequate both in the back and in the front, and the boot, which had a greater depth than width, was also a nice size, with extra storage underneath.

    The Hyundai i20 is billed as a five seater, but for adults, four occupants would be more comfortable.

    2012 Hyundai i20 interior cockpit

    The cockpit in the Hyundai i20 is well laid out and functional

    Both the dash and the centre console are well laid out. I liked the blue lighting on the instrument panel and the extra details on the display in the middle of the dashboard, which showed information such as the time, temperature and how much fuel was left in the tank.

    Infotainment-wise, the Hyundai had a radio/CD/MP3 player with USB and Aux ports at the bottom of the console, with space underneath for a phone or MP3 player. Bluetooth is also fitted.

    There are loads of storage cubbies and cupholders in the i20, including an unusual covered storage cubby above the USB port, which I used to keep my sunglasses safe.

    The i20 really has an excellent spec for the type of car that it is, with standard features including all of the above as well as an automatically dimming rear view mirror with an excellent rear view camera, rear parking sensors, rain sensing wipers, electric windows and 15” alloy wheels.

    2012 Hyundai i20 interior boot

    The boot in the Hyundai i20 is adequate and the rear seats can be lowered for extra cargo space

    The test car was a 1.2-litre five-speed Elite Plus petrol model with manual transmission and a manual handbrake.

    Our test route took us on city streets, suburban roads and urban motorway and the nippy little i20 handled all superbly. It’s a nice little drive with a good bit of poke in it.

    At the lights, it was fast and the light steering made city driving, and parking, a doddle. On the motorway, it was a steady climber to 120kph but didn’t seem at all slow.

    There’s very little to find fault with in this cute little supermini – I would recommend going up a spec level to avail of air conditioning though.

    Overall, I really enjoyed my time with the Hyundai i20. It’s stylish, practical, economical and fun to drive.

    The Hyundai i20 is available to buy now, with prices starting from €15,495 for the petrol model I was driving and from €16,995 for the 1.1-litre CRDI diesel model. It also comes with Hyundai’s five year warranty.

    Tech Spec
    Engine: 1.2-litre 85PS petrol
    Maximum Speed: 168km/h
    Combined fuel consumption: 4.9l/100km
    CO2 emissions: 114g/km
    Annual road tax: €160 (Tax Band A)

    Visit the Hyundai Ireland website or its Facebook page for further details.

    Related articles
    Hyundai i20 gets a facelift