Dressed up and ready to impress

The Hyundai i20 hatchback ... going after its competitors in the B segment.

Its smart new exterior lines and cosmetics, created at the brand's design centre in Rüsselsheim, Germany are also reflected in the cabin, which has been given more space and extra classy finishes and fittings, along with comfortable seating for five and a more practical boot space of 294 litres.

Plenty of choice

The all-new i20 comes to the market with two engines in three derivative choices - a i20 1.2-litre Motion, which kicks out 61kW and 115Nm and a 1.4 Fluid manual and automatic, which produces 74kW and 133Nm. The smaller version is only available with manual transmission, while the two Fluid models are equipped with a six-speed manual box or six-speed automatic transmission.

There are some nice improvements to the living quarters.

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At the media launch, we only got to drive the 1.4 Fluid equipped with manual transmission and although the snazzy-looking i20 trots on quite gamely, it does need quite a bit of enthusiastic soup-spooning and cog-swopping to get the revs up and to keep the enthusiasm going. The car does feel a tad lethargic at times, particularly at lower speeds in higher gears, which is the price that usually has to be paid for the sake of economy and the environment.

Some welcome improvements...

I reckon a five-speed would have been a better option. It would have affected the fuel usage and emissions by slight margins but the car would have felt a tad livelier, particularly in the energy-sapping thin air of the Reef where the auto version is the most likely to suffer.

We quickly pick up the noticeable improvement in the steering and handling of the car. The suspension feels firmer and the car sits better through the corners, for which credit must go to a stiffer body-shell and slightly longer wheelbase. The motor-driven power steering is better weighted and we were generally impressed by the car's good behaviour on the corner-rich run between Gordon's Bay and Rooi Els.

You have a shade under 300-litres of storage space in the boot.

I liked the cleaner look and feel of the cabin and the dashboard that is now angled towards the driver. Automatic folding door mirrors and smart phone docking integration are useful new features that complement USB and aux connectivity, linked to the audio system along with hands-free Bluetooth phone function and the ability to stream music.

... And even more

The cabin is now smartly decked out in soft-touch material with eye-pleasing piano black and chrome finishes. Together with much better cabin insulation, the combined feel is much improved over the previous model and even some of the other models in the Hyundai stable.

Five will fit comfortably in the cleaner cabin, nicely decked out in eye-pleasing piano black and chrome finishes.

The more elegant European looks of the latest i20, the up-to-date connectivity in the living quarters and the improved handling could be the successful formula to attract younger buyers - which was probably Hyundai's main intention when they created this new hatchback.

Other magnets will probably also be:
• The flexible seating (the rear seat folds flat)
• Bigger boot, likely to appeal to young families
• Safety features, such as ABS and EBD
• Price-inclusive comforts of a five-year/150,000km warranty and roadside assistance scheme
• Two-year/30,000km service plan (1.2 Motion)
• Three-year/60,000km service plan for the two 1.4 derivatives

Specifications

2015 Hyundai i20 - Which? first drive

2015 Hyundai i20 review

Hyundai i20 New Generation 2015 Full Review | Wessex Garages

2015 Hyundai i20 - What Car? Reader Test Team review