Hyundai's bigger, bolder i20 certainly looks the part. We're in Jodhpur to tell you what it's like to drive.
That’s something that can be said about the car’s dynamics as well. Hyundai has clearly made progress in terms of suspension setup, but it’s still far from the benchmark set by the Fiat Punto Evo. The steering, for one, has a dead zone around the straight-ahead position though it turns into corners quite eagerly. There's a balance in the chassis that wasn't there before but there's also still a fair of roll around corners. But once again, it’s in more everyday driving conditions that the i20 is at its best. The light steering makes parking easy, the suspension is absorbent (save for the odd thud on big bumps) and even suspension noise is very well contained. There’s also a newfound maturity in the i20’s high-speed manners, though it’s still not near the class bests.
Should I buy one?
If an engaging driving experience is all you seek from your hatchback, the i20 is not the car for you. It betters the old i20 in almost every way, but dynamics are still not its strongest suite. But if you are primarily looking for an all-rounder with lots of space, a premium cabin and lots of features, the i20 could just be your best bet. It’s got peppy enough engines that should prove to be sufficiently fuel efficient too. Overall refinement is also very impressive, so when you add all of it together you get a car that gets you your money’s worth, premium price notwithstanding. Hyundai’s proven service backing only helps to make the i20 a car that’s easy to recommend.
NIKHIL BHATIA