Carving out a larger market share
Hyundai’s second generation i20 looks poised to net a bigger audience, writes Lerato Matebese
HYUNDAI seems to be riding the crest of a wave in recent years, thanks to the fluidic sculpture that has seen its designs move from bland and functional to more purposeful and stylish.
Such cars as the Veloster, for instance, broke with the mould as far as the company’s designs are concerned to offer those looking for something different, perhaps even quirky, a product for their whims. Now the company has added the second generation i20 hatch, which showcases the second generation of fluidic sculpture design and offers a sharper, even more squared-off design language than the original.
While the previous generation i20, which was launched in 2009 and sold 68,631 units locally, offered decent build quality and a high level of standard equipment at the price, it lacked some flair in the styling department, which saw the likes of the Kia Rio surge ahead with a more Eurocentric design that captured the imagination of those who otherwise were looking at German or Japanese offerings instead.
Four years in the works, the latest model has emerged from the drawing board looking slightly sharper than its predecessor with design elements that include a blacked out C-pillar that gives the illusion of a floating roof, something that is perhaps more associated with Citroen than the Korean marque.
The i20, which is built in Chennai, India manages to strike an impressive pose compared to its rivals, thanks largely to the sharper front end design with those wraparound headlights and a more pronounced signature trapezoidal grille with chrome embellishment. The rear, in particular, has a more mature design thanks to the slimmer light clusters, which give the vehicle a much broader stance than it actually has.
While the styling manages to address the shortcomings of its predecessor, it is perhaps the functionality and the overall space on offer that impresses the most.
There are two engine derivatives on offer, both of which are essentially carried over from the predecessor. The first is a 1.2l with 65kW and 120Nm with a fivespeed manual transmission. The second is a 1.4l powerplant that produces 79kW and 135Nm through a six-speed manual gearbox or a four-speed automatic.
Meanwhile, two trim levels are on offer — the Motion in the instance of the 1.2l, and the higher specification Fluid in the 1.4l variants. The former comes standard with 17-inch alloys instead of the hub cabs found in the Motion model.
At launch we managed to sample the top specification model in manual guise, which is perhaps the better transmission considering the engine’s rather paltry outputs. Interior space has been maximised compared to the previous generation thanks to the 24mm increase in width (1,734mm) and a 45mm longer wheelbase (2,570mm) and it feels similar to that offered by the previous i30 instead, which speaks volumes. Boot space is 294l.
Over and above the standard climate control, Bluetooth connectivity and electric windows with one-touch open and close functionality on the driver’s side, there are also safety items such as ABS and EBD and dual airbags on offer.
The 1.4 we drove at launch presented a level of refinement that was missing in its predecessor. Cabin refinement is overall markedly improved and the ride exhibited manners perhaps more related to those of its bigger sibling, the i30. Performance, to be frank, is a tad stunted by the power sapping reef altitude and overtaking slower traffic needs to be a well calculated manoeuvre. Much like the updated Kia Rio I drove a few weeks ago, the i20 could certainly do with a small capacity turbocharged engine.
Nonetheless, once up to speed the vehicle manages to be a consummate cruiser and could easily be driven for long distances in relative comfort. Speaking of comfort, the leather seats offer decent support, while the cabin layout is good, so navigating one’s way through the various settings is fairly intuitive. In all fairness, the overall impression of the latest model is that of a well-appointed, stylish hatch that will appease those looking for something with a bit more flair than was previously the case.
Interestingly, there is also news on the possibility of a performance division for the Korean marque. The acquisition of Albert Biermann, ex-BMW Motorsport division engineer, by Hyundai seems well timed as the company’s high performance division, N-Series (the N apparently representing Namyang, where the Hyundai production factory in South Korea is located), looks as though it will finally take shape. According to Stanley Anderson, director of marketing at Hyundai Automotive SA, there are now plans afoot to produce some performance models, following an announcement in 2013 that the i20 WRC car would carry the N logo.
We hope that with Biermann on board we might finally see a Golf GTi competitor in the form of the next generation i30, scheduled to launch next year.
Pricing
1.2 Motion R184,900 1.4 Fluid R204,900 1.4 Fluid automatic R214,900