Korean major Hyundai was one of the most upbeat of car makers displaying its wares at Paris and against all expectations genuinely merited this fact of life among visions of downtrends and gloomy sales revolving all around North America and Europe.
The third of Hyundai's i - themed cars (after the i40 and the i10), this is surely the supermini to top them all at least in the Indian context. Packing in an overwhelming modicum of European style with clean chiselled lines and swoopily curved creases that add much needed visual character, it would be galling to just suggest that the i20 is only about style and turnout.
The fact that its maker is dovetailing all its efforts in the small car class with European build, specs and dynamics to go with the looks and the packaging is manifest in this tiny package which effectively replaces the Getz supermini in Europe. This however wouldn't be the case in India, where the duo would reside – happily it seems for HMIL – at both ends of the B-segment.
The look of the i20, seemingly much prettier than the Getz and surely much cuddly than Suzuki's much acclaimed Swift. However the i20 is a larger car and this has to do with it being built from the ground up using a completely new platform that was created specifically to allow Hyundai to move into Europe's cut-throat supermini segment.
Built on a 2525mm wheelbase helps endow the i20 with a generous passenger cabin, surely the strength of the car along with its style and packaging of course.
As seen with the i10 already in this country, the turnout and the cabin treatment are very good for this class of car and for sure in Europe the trim and equipment levels are certainly class matching. This of course translates to great value considering the price it would be pegged at against its European rivals.
The handiwork of Hyundai's European technical centre at Russelsheim (where Opel is based), the car has been tailored to deliver a Eurospec dynamic ability and tuned for handling and ride quality which appeals to European drivers.
The highly rigid new structure is key to this with MacPherson strut suspension up front and a torsion beam rear end along with rack and pinion power assisted steering to deliver precise handling with a firmly damped ride.
The styling of the i20 is clearly heavily influenced by the existing i-series models. Looking at the little chrome grille, teardrop headlights and elliptical glassarea anyone can tell that its an i-series car. Thanks to the use of strong crease over the plain surface i20 is more masculine unlike the feminine i10 . Inside Hyundai is promising clever packaging and generous equipment levels.
To have such a strong engine offering is further proof of how intense the small car battle has enmeshed manufacturers into making those tiny but critical incremental offerings count as they bid to woo customers in a world steadily shunning large cars.
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