Photo: CarPix
While Hyundai has made plenty of interesting cars, there hasn't been a home run since the i30 drew in Volkswagen officials in Frankfurt, almost 3 years ago. This brand new generation i20 supermini could change all that, because from the looks of things it will knock the ball clean out of the park.
We've seen plenty of spyshots of the car already, but these are by far the most revealing ones yet, as Hyundai engineers allowed us to take a closer look at the taillights, interior and those fantastic taillights with a strong 3D effect.
Design-wise the rear quarters of the new i20 remind us of a lot of things. Like the Renault Clio 4, the last roof pillar is glossy, making it look like a piece of glass. The taillights are among the largest in this class and pop out from the bodywork. Like on the Honda Civic (EU hatch), you'll probably be able to see them when looking in the mirrors, which is helpful when parking.
The taillights split onto the boot lid, which when opened revealed a huge cargo hold, probably somewhere around 300 liters or more. Hyundai likes to think its boots are not only best in their class, but comparable to the class above.
Interior-wise, the quality of the plastics has not blown us over, though this could all be down to the test prototype being less well built. The simple three-spoke steering wheel has room for lots of optional buttons and is wrapped in black leather, like the gear shifter knob and handbrake. Automatic air conditioning, park assist, heated seats, a 12 volt socket and USB connectivity – these are all the sorts of features which European buyers will appreciate.
The cabin of the new i20 is quite large for a supermini, though we suspect this prototype doesn't reveal all of Hyundai's secrets. The lack of touchscreen display, reversing camera or electrically adjusting mirrors tells us this is, at best, a mid-grade i20.
Speaking of customers, the new i20 is expected to go on sale at the end of the year and for the first time ever will feature turbocharged engine options. At the recent Geneva Motor Show, the Koreans also revealed their first-ever twin-clutch gearbox for production cars, which could go into the i20 later in its life. As a reminder, the current model is offered with a 4-speed auto, an unpopular feature because it affects fuel economy. Twin-clutch gearboxes are offered by a number of other superminis, including the VW Polo, Skoda Fabia and more recently the Ford Fiesta. This economy model, though, is sticking with a five-speed stick and is likely powered by the base 1.2-liter engine.
Design-wise the rear quarters of the new i20 remind us of a lot of things. Like the Renault Clio 4, the last roof pillar is glossy, making it look like a piece of glass. The taillights are among the largest in this class and pop out from the bodywork. Like on the Honda Civic (EU hatch), you'll probably be able to see them when looking in the mirrors, which is helpful when parking.
The taillights split onto the boot lid, which when opened revealed a huge cargo hold, probably somewhere around 300 liters or more. Hyundai likes to think its boots are not only best in their class, but comparable to the class above.
Interior-wise, the quality of the plastics has not blown us over, though this could all be down to the test prototype being less well built. The simple three-spoke steering wheel has room for lots of optional buttons and is wrapped in black leather, like the gear shifter knob and handbrake. Automatic air conditioning, park assist, heated seats, a 12 volt socket and USB connectivity – these are all the sorts of features which European buyers will appreciate.
The cabin of the new i20 is quite large for a supermini, though we suspect this prototype doesn't reveal all of Hyundai's secrets. The lack of touchscreen display, reversing camera or electrically adjusting mirrors tells us this is, at best, a mid-grade i20.
Speaking of customers, the new i20 is expected to go on sale at the end of the year and for the first time ever will feature turbocharged engine options. At the recent Geneva Motor Show, the Koreans also revealed their first-ever twin-clutch gearbox for production cars, which could go into the i20 later in its life. As a reminder, the current model is offered with a 4-speed auto, an unpopular feature because it affects fuel economy. Twin-clutch gearboxes are offered by a number of other superminis, including the VW Polo, Skoda Fabia and more recently the Ford Fiesta. This economy model, though, is sticking with a five-speed stick and is likely powered by the base 1.2-liter engine.
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