Rent Self Drive Hyundai i20

Rent Self Drive Hyundai i20 in Mangalore, Udupi and Kasargod

The Hyundai i20 is a small hatchback that’s long held a reputation for being practical and sensible, pitching itself as an alternative to UK favorites such as the Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen Polo.

Remember that one very quiet kid at school? The one that seemed to ace it in maths and had covered all the food groups in their packed lunch each day. Now in their early 20s, learned to ride a motorbike and became the lead singer of an Indie band — and you have the new Hyundai i20. Once understated in style, but decently practical and sensible in how it went about its business, this new i20 looks comparatively wild at a first glance.

Updated in 2023 front, the grille is slightly slimmer than before the refresh and has angular headlights either side. The side has plenty of sharp creases to add some character, while the rear is a bit too fussy for our tastes – even with the funky rear light bar-like effect.

The sportiness of the exterior continues to the cabin. With two large screens as standard, you can get bright colors that can match the bright outside tone, while it’s certainly got a dynamic nature to it, with different textures to keep it interesting. If the pre-facelift model is to be believed though, the materials inside aren’t the best.

It is redeemed by its space, though. There’s plenty of adjustment in the driver’s seat and steering wheel, so you won’t struggle to get comfy there, while passengers in the back get a good amount of head and legroom for a car of the i20’s size.

Boot space is reasonable too, coming in at 352 liters — that’s a single liter over the Volkswagen Polo, but is a few liters down on the Skoda Fabia.

Rent Self Drive Hyundai i20

There’s one engine for the Hyundai i20 from 2023, and that’s a 1.0-litre, three-cylinder turbocharged petrol. This engine produces 100hp and is linked to a six-speed manual gearbox or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic.

It is a good engine — punchy enough for motorway use and handy around town.

The Hyundai i20 does tick all the basics for pottering around town, which is probably why you’d look at this kind of car. Testing the pre-facelift model, we found that the steering is light, the turning circle is impressive and it’s super easy to park. A light clutch makes stop-start traffic effortless plus a seamless mild-hybrid system helps cut emissions and boost economy without you ever really noticing it — though firm-set suspension means you’re going to feel bumps a bit more than you might like.

It’s fine on a motorway as well. It’s nothing special and the Volkswagen Polo is comfier for longer journeys, but the Hyundai i20 offers enough power for overtaking easily. It gets noisy though, with wind, tyre and road noise all filtering into the cabin rather noticeably.

Where the Hyundai i20 might surprise you most is on twisty roads. The firm suspension results in little lean and a lot of grip – though the steering doesn’t feel the most engaging. It’s fun, but not quite so much as the Ford Fiesta.

That quiet kid-turned-Indie rocker will still be the smart, sensible mind at heart and that’s the same with the Hyundai i20. It’s practical, good to drive and ticks all the basics of town driving — but the visual transformation is maybe just a bit too much.

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