Hyundai i20 – a must drive entry on your shortlist

Until recently, there’s been a rash of new superminis, smaller cars were becoming an endangered species. One of the most long lived is Hyundai’s i20 and in its latest guise offers a redesigned line-up with generous standard equipment and an enjoyable drive.

The range starts from just €23,286/£20,010 for the lead-in Element model that comes with air conditioning, auto lights, high beam assist, power windows, cruise control, rear parking sensors with rear view camera, navigation, 25cm/10” display screen, Android Auto and Apple Car Play and 40cm/16” alloy wheels. Black Line and Tech Line models are priced at €27,010/£23,210 and €28,529/£24,515 respectively.

Power comes from a 1.0-litre, 3-cylinder petrol engine that develops 90PS with either 6-speed manual or 7-speed automatic gears. It’s a perky engine despite a leisurely 11.5 seconds to the benchmark 100kph/62 mph and allied to a smooth gear change makes it a surprisingly entertaining drive on cross-country roads.

For a small car there’s an admirable amount of space inside and it’s practical too. In addition to passenger space the storage for in-car bits-n-bobs is good with decent door pockets, a good size glovebox and cubby trays in the centre console. The central tray on the dashboard is also plenty big enough for a smartphone – and, on higher spec models, it comes equipped with a wireless phone charging pad.

Build quality is largely excellent for, by today’s standards, a cheaper car, although there are some less tactile plastics inside the car.  On the road the i20 deals with the worst excesses of our potholed tarmac admirably and through twisting cross-country roads it’s possessed of sharp handling.

Style is very subjective but along with some lively colour options – Mangrove Green Pearl, Lucid Lime Metallic, Vibrant Blue Pearl and Lumen Grey Pearl – there’s a mix of slim, sharp lines it’s far from the generic styling so often seen on our roads.

While newcomers such as Renault’s 4 and 5 and Nissan’s Micra may be grabbing the headlines with their retro inspired lines, neither offer the space and practicality of the i20. Hyundai has managed to combine the best of a practical, down to earth transport choice with a style that wouldn’t look out of place parked adjacent a trendy café bar.

If you’re looking for an all-rounder small car that is equally at home in the city or on longer runs then the i20, especially the well-equipped lead-in model, is a must drive entry on your short list.

Facts at a glance

• Model: Hyundai i20 Element
• Engine: 1.0-litre, 3-cylinder, 90PS
• Gears: 6-speed manual (optional 7 -speed automatic)
• Price: €23,286/£20,010
• Performance: 11.5 secs to 100kph/62 mph – 180kph/112 mph maximum speed
• Economy: 5.7 l/100km 49.6mpg
• Emissions: 130 g/km

Model tested was UK-specification and equipment levels and prices may vary in other markets