The i20 joins the ranks of ‘cross hatchbacks’, with rugged looks, greater ground clearance and all its core strengths intact.
Should I buy one?
That depends on how you view the cross hatchback – or Sports Styled Vehicle, in Hyundai parlance – segment, itself. On one hand, these are ultimately still hatchbacks, with no added hardware to back up their off-road looks, and so what you’re paying a premium for are ‘go harder’ looks without the substance to back them up. It seems a little superficial. However, if you think of these cars as the range-topping variants of their hatchback counterparts that just happen to come with more distinctive styling and a bit more equipment, then the premium becomes easier to justify. Hyundai has also added the benefit of a little more ground clearance which, though it doesn’t do wonders for the car’s styling, does add a bit more utility to the car.
As far as cross hatchbacks go, then, this is a great example – not over-styled, but just distinctive enough to stand out from the thousands of i20s that already ply our streets. It has all of Hyundai’s core strengths – equipment, styling and ease of use, but also suffers from its usual weaknesses – primarily an unengaging driving experience. Its use of funky interior colours is a bit adventurous, but we think it works in a more ‘lifestyle-oriented’ vehicle like this.
We have to say, however, that its biggest strength comes from the fact that its donor car – the i20 – is such a capable product, and less so from the rugged styling add-ons that the Active brings with it. For most, we still think the i20 hatchback will be more than car enough, but for those who want something more distinctive, the i20 Active is clearly one of the best cars of its kind. However, at a price that's around Rs 90,000 more than the equivalent i20, this top-end SX trim bears a heavy premium, so you will have to shell out a lot to stand out from the crowd.