Hyundai I20 Reviews

Did you get a shock a couple of weeks ago when the price of petrol jumped almost 30 cents litre at the pump? Fear not, help is here.There’s little you can do about the rising cost of oil – but there is a choice of fuel-efficient cars with most mod-cons for less than $14,000 drive-away, no more to pay. Previously, it hasn’t always made economic sense to trade-in your old banger and buy a new car purely to save money on petrol. More often than not, the fuel savings are evaporated by the high cost of a new model.But that’s changing. The strong Australian dollar – and the most competitive new-car market in the free world – means you now get much more for your money. Standard fare typically includes six airbags, air-conditioning and, in most cases, wireless Bluetooth phone connectivity. That’s in addition to the miserly consumption and peace of mind new cars provide.As ever, the headline prices are for cars with manual transmission. Figure on another $2000 for auto (where available). One other word of caution: always ask how much metallic paint costs. Holden charges as much as $550 extra (Hyundai and Nissan $495 and Suzuki $475) which takes some of the shine off the bargain price.With all that in mind, we’ve assembled the four cheapest – and most worthy – fuel misers money can buy.Holden Barina SparkSales of the smallest new Holden money can buy have fallen off a cliff this year because of newer competition and the lack of an automatic transmission. But the baby Barina Spark will be worth another look in January when it finally becomes available with an automatic transmission – two years after it went on sale.The Barina Spark is among the smallest of this bunch but it comes with five doors and five seating positions, although there is really only room for two in comfort in the back. The interior has a futuristic design. It’s a user-friendly layout, with plenty of storage cubbies, although the plastics are hard to the touch.The 1.2-litre four-cylinder engine is willing but, as with most cars in this class, you need to keep the revs up to maintain momentum up hills. Or keep with the traffic. Road holding is sound but not best-in-class. Happily, there’s a full-size spare in the boot.The sound system is below average and Bluetooth is not standard (it’s a $410 accessory). In North America the Barina Spark is available with internet radio; Holden is rolling this feature across the range starting with the regular Barina in the new year.As with many brands, Holden offers fixed price servicing. But check the fine print: Holden requires you to service the car every nine months, not 12, which makes it dearer to maintain over the three-year warranty period. And another thing: Holden has the dearest metallic paint option in this group. At $550 extra, be sure to haggle.VERDICTSharply priced but lacks some features standard on rivals. Wait until January for the updated model.Holden Barina SparkFrom: $13,990 drive-awayEngine: 1.2-litre four-cylinderEconomy: 5.5L/100kmTransmission: 5-speed manual, 4-speed auto from JanuaryHyundai i20In the past few months the Hyundai i20 has had a facelift and a price cut, and it’s now back to being a bargain buy. When the i20 was released two years ago, Hyundai initially set the price at $16,990 – and buyers stayed away in droves.The Hyundai i20 has the longest warranty of this lot – five years and unlimited kilometres – but at this price only comes with three doors. Standard fare includes six airbags, Bluetooth connectivity (including music streaming) a new six-speed manual or optional four-speed automatic transmissions.The i20 is among the roomiest of this quartet, with the biggest boot (Hyundai i20: 295L, Nissan Micra: 227L, Barina Spark: 170L, Suzuki Alto 110L). As with the others, it comes with a full size spare. The Hyundai i20 is also the only car in this price range to score a five-star crash safety rating (the Volkswagen Up is five-star but it is $13,990 plus on-road costs, giving it a drive-away price closer to $17,000).The Hyundai’s interior is neither striking nor dull, it’s been designed to make life easy with 12V and USB power sockets, decent sized door pockets and a roomy glovebox. Given that the i20 has the biggest engine of this bunch, it’s no surprise it has more go and copes with the daily grind with less stress than the others.Road holding is near the top of these four cars but not class-leading. We’re not a fan of the Kumho Solus tyres in the wet. In the dry they’re fine. Hyundai’s fixed-price servicing deal is among the cheapest available – but the offer runs out after three years. Disappointingly, service costs return to free-market prices in the last two years of Hyundai’s warranty coverage.Given that it has just introduced this program, here’s hoping Hyundai extends the servicing deal to five years before the first customers hit this hump in their ownership experience. And another thing: Hyundai makes a point of the fact that the i20 was designed in Germany – but it’s built in India.VERDICTThe roomiest, zippiest and safest among this quartet (also has the longest warranty). But you only get three doors at this price.Hyundai i20From: $13,990 drive-awayEngine: 1.4-litre four-cylinderEconomy: 5.3L/100km manual, 5.9L/100km autoTransmission: 6-speed manual or 4-speed autoNissan Micra STWith its bubble-shaped cutesy looks, you could be forgiven for thinking the Nissan Micra is a bit of a toy car. But it’s surprisingly capable and, in the three-cylinder guise we’ve chosen, more fuel-efficient in the real world than the rating label suggests.The Micra very nearly won a host of Car of the Year awards when it was released two years ago, winning praise for its road holding and fun-to-drive dynamics. It tops the class in this price range (and has the tightest turning circle this side of a Smart car).Picking the right time to buy is key to the Micra's appeal. It has been priced as low as $12,990 drive-away for a manual model (an absolute steal), but the current cash offer is $13,990 drive-away – or 0 per cent finance for 60 months. However, if you take the finance offer you must pay full retail, which is closer to $15,990 drive-away.Our advice? Pay cash or arrange your own finance and shoot for a $12,990 drive-away price and see if you can get a Nissan dealer to take the bait. As with the Hyundai i20, the Nissan Micra has an inoffensive but functional interior, with plenty of hidden cubbies, big door pockets and glovebox and (for an economy car) surprisingly good seats.Although there are seats for five, it’s better off carrying a maximum of four. An unusual omission, the centre back-seat position lacks a head rest. The sound system may look bland but the audio quality is above average, and the Bluetooth set-up works a treat – but it doesn’t yet include music streaming and there’s no USB power source, just a 12V socket.Nissan offers fixed price servicing for the Micra (and the rest of its range) but it’s the dearest in the business. Nissan requires a visit to the dealer every six months – and the cost of each visit is higher than the competition. And another thing: Depending on overseas demand, Nissan sources the Micra from factories in Thailand and Indonesia.VERDICTOur pick based on its current discount price, the Nissan Micra is the best to drive in this group and (contrary to the label) among the most frugal.Nissan Micra STFrom: $13,990 drive-awayEngine: 1.2-litre three-cylinderEconomy: 5.9L/100km manual, 6.5L/100km autoTransmission: 5-speed manual, 4-speed autoSuzuki Alto GLIf you really want to drive your dollar further, the Suzuki Alto is the champion. Priced at $11,990 drive-away, it’s making life hard for the other mainstream brands – and even the cut-throat Chinese car makers struggle to undercut it.The Suzuki Alto is three years old now but is standing up well to the test of time. Its 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine is not the most refined in its class, but it operates with sewing machine-like reliability. It’s also the most frugal car in this group – in part because it demands premium unleaded petrol (95 octane), which is dearer to buy but goes further than regular petrol.The Suzuki Alto doesn’t come standard with Bluetooth but the current $11,990 offer for the “Indie” pack includes a portable navigation unit which comes with Bluetooth. The Alto has a hard-wearing functional interior that probably won’t win any beauty contests, but it’ll likely outlast owners. At least Suzuki is honest about how many people can fit comfortably; it only has seatbelts for four occupants.The boot is small (at least there is a ful size spare underneath) but as with all the hatchbacks here, the back seats fold so you can fit more gear. And another thing: Suzuki is the third-biggest car maker in Japan and outsells Mitsubishi, Subaru, Honda and Mazda in Europe. The Alto comes from India, where Suzuki is the market leader.VERDICTAt this price, nothing gets close. The limited edition ‘Indie’ pack is a bargain as it includes navigation and Bluetooth.Suzuki Alto GLFrom: $11,990 drive-awayEngine: 1.0-litre three-cylinderEconomy: 4.7L/100km manual, 5.3L/100km autoTransmission: 5-speed manual, 4-speed auto 

Shopping trolleys aren't renowned for steering, ride quality or comfort or features. Neither are the cars that share - rather unkindly - the title, but recent offerings have raised the bar.Ford and Mazda contribute models that show dynamics aren't beyond the reach of light car buyers. Hyundai's i20, the Indian-built five-door hatch model, certainly looks better than the company's previous efforts. It's teen-priced A-to-B transport - a little hatch that's all about ...VALUEThe i20 we've been piloting is the 1.4-litre five-door Active manual, the entry-level five-door priced from $16,490.For that, the features list is surprisingly good - automatic (just after take-off) remote central door locking, an alarm, two-way adjustable steering, airconditioning, a 60/40 split-fold rear seat and a four-spear sound system with 3.5mm auxiliary jack and a USB port. The sound system also offers a Bluetooth phone link, something many cars twice the price have yet to manage.TECHNOLOGYThis end of the market isn't going to offer high-end technology like night vision or active cruise control, but the safety list below and the aforementioned connectivity will appeal to the younger first-car buyers who are shopping in this segment.The i20 didn't like to have the iPhone plugged in to the USB, refusing to acknowledge the presence of a music player within the phone - it's not the only car to baulk at the double-act either.DESIGNIt's a little shopping trolley so it's not going to set new standards for exterior design, but it shows more flair than the little box that i20 is replacing - the Getz. The cabin is on the plasticky side - but we're south of $20,000 so that's to be expected - but overall it's not an unpleasant interior.There's storage pockets for all sorts of paraphernalia and - even for a driver at 191cm and broad - it's reasonably comfortable cabin, although the bar across the base of the driver's backrest made its presence known and detracted from the seat comfort. Bootspace at 295 litres is good enough to take a folded stroller and baby bag, which is something a couple of contenders in the (larger) small car market could not manage due to restricted load bay width.SAFETYSlowly this is becoming more of a selling point and Hyundai - which previously offered viable safety option packs not tied to upgraded trim or features - have put useful levels of safety in the i20, with cars since September last year getting six airbags, making it one of the cheapest five-star NCAP cars available.The safety features list now has traction and stability control (something absent from the standard features list for much of its opposition), dual front and front-side airbags, full-length curtain airbags and anti-lock brakes.DRIVINGA little prettier than the some of the reps in this segment, it falls short of knocking the Fiesta out but could match the Yaris for aesthetics. We're in the manual, which has only an average shift action and a light and dead clutch pedal - if it were our long-term test car there would be a risk of regular over-revving which would mean a short clutch lifespan.The three-door i20 was a Carsguide COTY finalist last year and impressed with its honest efforts and the four-door has carried on that theme. The engine works hard but is no sparkler - there's little to like about the noise when it's called on to work hard, or the outputs. It can be kept humming with the manual gearbox to maintain a reasonable rate of knots within traffic - but anyone looking for an automatic would definitely need to head for the 1.6.The ride quality is on the poor side, particularly on the smaller bumps and ruts, the blame for which can perhaps be attributed to the tyres. The suspension isn't heavily skewed towards handling either - the ride quality is acceptable without shining and a little more localisation is needed. The driver's seat was marred by a cross-bar that sat at near the base of the backrest, which detracted from an otherwise comfortable seat.VERDICTAs a suburban get-about, the i20 gets reasonable space, class-leading safety gear and a decent number of features for the asking price; dynamically it falls short of the class yardsticks from Ford and Mazda but as A to B transport it more than does the job.HYUNDAI i20 ACTIVE 5-DOORPrice: $16,490Warranty: 5 years, unlimited kilometre Resale: 61%Service interval: 15,000km or 12-monthsEconomy: 6 l/100km; 142g/km co2, tank 45 litresSafety: Six airbags, stability control, ABS & EBD.Crash rating: 5 starEngine: 73kw/136Nm 1.4-litre DOHC 16-valve four-cylinderTransmission: five speed manual, front-wheel driveBody: 5-door, 5 seatsDimensions: 3940mm (l); 1710mm (w); 1490mm (h); 2525m (wb)Weight: 1117kgTyre size: 185/60R15 steelSpare: tyre full size

It's arrived a week late, but the Hyundai i20 is ready to go on the Carsguide treadmill.The baby Hyundai comes with the sort of 'all-new' promises you get with a major model change, from the engine and suspension right through to the safety pack and cabin equipment. There is also a bunch of 'surprise-and-delight' features which are new for a Korean car with a $14,990 starting price, including automatic door looking and auto-off headlamps. These sort of things were a very big deal when they first came on a Lexus LS, just over 20 years ago, and set a target for Hyundai's price-first rivals.But the i20 is not what it seems. It is not a replacement for the top selling Getz. Instead, Hyundai Automotive is using the Euro-focussed i20 to spread its reach in the small-car class, most likely using a baby i10 - with a $13,000-ish pricetag - once the Getz dies next year.The $14,990 starting point for the i20 is up and above the Getz, partly because it is newer and costs more to make and partly because it will be part of a two-car attack in 2011. There's also a good chance the $14,990 three-door hatch will be the subject of Hyundai's long-running 'driveaway' pricing policy once the early demand slows a little.There are eight models in the lineup but only the 1.4-litre Active manual makes the bottom line, with an automatic gearbox adding another $2000 and the top-line 1.6-litre Premium auto taking the price all the way to $23,490 - with $320 extra for metallic paint.The value story is still strong as the basic car comes with air-con, power steering and remote central locking among its features. The electric mirrors also fold flat for tight parking spots. Moving up to the Elite brings a trip computer, leather-wrapped steering wheel and alloy wheels, while the Premium gets automatic airconditioning, bigger alloys and combination leather/cloth trim.Compared with its rivals, the value deal on the i20 is impressive even if the bottom line is not as sharp as some contenders.The mechanical platform for the i20 is completely new and that means lots of good things, including the latest Gamma-series four-cylinder engine. Outputs are 73.5kW/136Nm as a 1.4 and 91.1kW/156Nm in the larger 1.6, with claimed economy from 6.0L/100km and emissions from 142g/km of CO2.But it only has a simple torsion-beam rear axle, standard for the class, which limits suspension development, although there are four-wheel disc brakes. The five-speed manual gearbox is what you expect, but there is still only a four-speed auto across the range.Hyundai claims a lot of work went into cutting noise and improving the driving dynamics of the car, although there is no Australian input on the suspension settings.The i20 is a good looker with big headlamps alongside the family grille, a cute back end and reasonable cabin space. The interior steps up a long way from the Getz, particularly in the finishing of the plastics - and even the layout and operation of the dials and readouts - as it is aimed at people who could be spending more than $20,000.The seats are well shaped and have space for four adults, visibility is good in all directions and the final finishing is as good as anything in the class.The i20 comes with everything you need and expect these days, from six airbags to anti-skid brakes, but there is a catch. The first shipment of basic Active cars only has a pair of front airbags and there will be a price increase in September when it, too, moves to a six-airbag interior.So Hyundai currently claims a four-star rating for the $14,990 car and a full five-star result for the rest of the range, with five-star across the board soon.The car has ABS braking and ESP stability control, with traction control included, as well as electronic brakeforce distribution. But there is no chance to compare the operation of the electronics with its rivals, or the sort of cars - let's say a BMW 5 Series - which set the benchmark for calibration of active safety systems to avoid a crash.The i20 is nice enough for the size and price, although it does not rival the sporty feel of a Ford Fiesta or the all-round quality of the pricier (much) Volkswagen Passat. The best comparison is against the Getz and the i20 is roomier, quieter, more comfortable and compliant than Hyundai's current baby-class contender.The engine is quite spritely up to around 4000 revs, but is not keen to push to the redline, while the gearbox is slick and easy to use. The suspension is alright for the job but I find the steering has the same sort of 'binding' feel which mars the bigger i45, without the wobbly front suspension of the Sonata replacement. So it's fine for the price and everyday commuter work, but not remotely sporty.The i20 is what it is - a cheap small car, mostly for first-car buyers. It fits four people fine, and it actually has a bigger boot than I expect. It doesn't have much guts, which I kind of expect. It's a bit tragic, but I've probably been spoiled by driving cars like last week's Maserati.I would definitely wait to get the six-airbag model, even if it cost an extra $500, because I care about safety. But I just couldn't buy one, for a single simple reason. The air vents in the centre of the dash blow straight onto my hands, all the time when I'm driving. You cannot get away from it and it freezes my hands and makes driving a pain. So that's game over for me.A big step up from the Getz, and solid for the size and price. But not a standout.

There's more to the Hyundai i20 than a nice price. It's the first toddler from the Korean carmaker not being built on a bargain-basement bottom line, although a starting sticker of $14,990 is still good value in 2010.The i20 follows the line from Excel and Getz but goes a new way with more style and substance, picking up everything from ESP stability control and anti-skid brakes to Bluetooth connectivity. It's part of a plan to bring younger owners to the brand, as well as weaning Hyundai buyers from the price-first strategy which dominated its business until the arrival of the latest generation of i-badge models.The i20 has an easier start-up because the Getz runs through until sometime next year, with the smaller i10 already on standby to take up the price slack in the sub-$13,000 bracket. Hyundai is playing conservatively at first with the i20, only forecasting 5000 sales by the end of the year - against 20,000 for the Getz in 2010.Hyundai Automotive believes the i20 will bring sub-35 buyers to its brand, in contrast to the older bargain hunters who go for the Getz, and sees it as a better introduction to a company with i-car aspirations."You cannot be retrograde about new entries. i20 will sit by itself in the mainstream. It will be against Toyota Yaris, Honda Jazz and Mazda2," says Damien Meredith, director of sales at Hyundai Automotive.The i20 is not a typical Korean car because it was designed in Germany and is built in India, at a Hyundai factory in Chennai. It is aimed primarily at Europe. It's been tweaked for Australia in the suspension, with changes to the front springs, dampers and steering.Around 60 per cent of the sales are expected to be the base model, a three-door, 1.4-litre called the Active. There is also a five-door model, with Elite and Premium specifications, as well as a 1.6-litre engine and a four-speed automatic gearbox that puts an extra $2000 on the price of the five- speed manual. The top-line Premium auto - with trip computer, 16-inch alloys, auto aircon, folding electric mirrors, leather trim and more - tops out at $23,490.The engine options open with 73.5kW/136Nm from the 1.4-litre engine, and economy from 6.0 litres/100km and CO2 from 142grams/ kilometre, jumping to 91.1kw/156Nm and 6.1/144 for the 1.6-litre motor.Safety is handled by the ESP and ABS, with twin airbags in the $14,990 car - to be upgraded in September - and six airbags for five-star safety in the rest of the range. The car has independent front suspension and four-wheel disc brakes, while Hyundai touts its long wheelbase and a cabin package with more space than the Getz. And improved quality in every area.The i20 is a significant step forward from the Getz, but you expect that. It's much more stylish, there is more space and substance in the cabin, and safety is finally more than just an afterthought. The big surprise is the engines. The latest Gamma-series motor is the best yet from Hyundai, with real pep and the sort of efficiency that brings great economy and good emissions. It's an engine you can enjoy revving, while retired rally ace Ed Ordynski proved its miserly qualities with a 4.2 litres/100km run from Sydney to Gladstone, Queensland.The new look of the i20 is right in line with younger buyers, as Hyundai proves with a pair of cars that have been painted by two of Australia's brightest young artists. Even the basic car has a classy look that's way down the road from the boxy Getz. Inside, the design is smooth and integrated, although Hyundai has not moved to soft-touch plastics on the dash. The instruments are clear and effective, the trip computer in upscale models is worthwhile, and even the Active has more than enough standard equipment.The flagship Premium opens my drive and is light and response through inner-city Sydney. It gets along well, the suspension is well controlled, and the car is comfy and quiet. Switching to a 1.4-litre Active shows how well the Gamma engine performs, although there is more suspension noise and some thump from the tail end - perhaps thanks to different tyres on the 15-inch steel wheels to the 16-inch alloys on the Premium.It's good that Hyundai tweaked the suspension for local conditions, because its alright but not great. Without the work it would have been in trouble, particularly against the Ford Fiesta. The i20 is not a great car, but it's good enough for the price and its job in Australia. It's not a revelation but it moves the story forward with all the improvements you expect.