HYUNDAI i20 N

A HYUNDAI ON ECOTY? NO, THIS ISN’T A TEST TO see if you’re paying attention at the back, because anyone who has followed the N programme since its inception in 2015 will know that the Korean powerhouse has stopped at nothing to create the very best volume performance car brand possible.

Its original i30 N came very close to upsetting the hot hatch apple cart. Other than those wearing Type R or Renault Sport badges, few have been able to best it since its launch. And while the i30 N has been enhanced this year via a mid-life facelift, it’s the newest model we have here: the i20 N supermini.

The i20 takes everything Hyundai learned with the i30 and ups it by 20 per cent, or even more in some areas. It gets back to the spirit of a hot hatch more so with a compact footprint, agility that takes advantage of low weight, and a level of performance that means you neither feel conspicuous when making progress or short-changed when hanging on to the tailpipes of more exotic machinery. The i20 N has proven to be a car that appeals to and entertains everyone who drives it, regardless of their ability.

In this company the diminutive i20 has its work cut out, for sure. Its depth of character is going to have to dig deep if it’s to keep its head above water. But it wouldn’t be here if we didn’t think it was capable of holding its own and taking more than a few scalps along the way.

And why do we think it might? Because those who have experienced the i20 N are eager to do so again, and those that haven’t are chomping at the bit to discover if there’s substance to support the hype.

‘CARS LIKE THIS STAND OR FALL ON BEING HONEST AND FUN – AND THE i20 N IS EXACTLY THAT’ – ADAM TOWLER, EVO 285