Nowadays, nobody is surprised by the quality of Korean car interiors, and design with automatic transmissions has long ceased to be a reason for jokes. It's just that they usually have no more emotion than a can of canned corn.
The body has become 115 mm longer and 45 mm wider, while the height has not changed. At the same time, the curb weight has remained almost the same.
Take the Getz, for example — it was not a "couch potato" at all. It was the first Hyundai created for Europe and in Europe itself, at the technical center in Rüsselsheim. And it turned out to be very interesting! Sure, the design was plain, and the interior resembled a geometry textbook with its straightforwardness, but its driving manners could give many competitors a run for their money. And it cost less than a Corsa or Fiesta.
But the Getz is a thing of the past. It has been replaced by a model with the strange name i20, although the proportions remain familiar. Continuity in appearance — that's unexpected for a Korean brand, isn't it?
The exterior of the i20 has Korean origins, but it doesn't feel entirely "native." It's like looking into an Asian restaurant in Europe: they'll serve perfectly edible noodles. But in a real Korean establishment, half the dishes would seem like torture. The i20 is just such an adapted dish: it's nice-looking and doesn't cause unpleasant consequences.
Unfortunately, this time we'll have to make do with official photos. At the test in the Czech Republic, I was given a car so dirty, and also covered in films, that carrying cameras with me made no sense — all efforts would have been in vain!
- Compared to the Opel Corsa or Ford Fiesta, the interior is very modest. But there's nothing to get used to — everything is intuitive!
- The instrument panel looks elegant and is easy to read.
- No complaints about the gear lever. A four-speed "automatic" is available for the 1.4 and 1.6-liter petrol engines.
- Visibility is good, but the side mirrors get dirty quickly.
But inside, there was no dirt or stickers. And most importantly — the interior is really not bad! Yes, it's plain: the silver center console looks cheap, and you can find fault with the details. But if you compare the i20's interior to an apartment furnished with IKEA furniture, the Getz's cabin would seem like a prison cell with flowery mats and a spiked gear lever. So here it's simple but neat. And quite pleasant.
The Hyundai i20 is a cheeky one! It's even more interesting than the older i30. There's no annoying blue backlighting, but the driver's window lifter works automatically, and the gear lever doesn't look like a crutch. And the equipment is almost as good: climate control, six airbags, active headrests, keyless entry... No respect for the older model!
- The front seats are comfortable, but there could be more lateral support.
- There's enough room in the back, but knees press against the hard plastic of the front seatbacks.
The driving position has become more car-like and is quite comfortable: there are enough adjustments for any driver, and the steering column also adjusts for reach. But the seats in the i30 are still better, and the seating position is more snug.
Thanks to the wheelbase, increased by 75 mm compared to the Getz, the i20 is quite spacious. Only tall passengers in the back will feel cramped — their knees will press against the front seatbacks.
Thanks to the wheelbase, increased by 75 mm compared to the Getz, the i20 is quite spacious. Only tall passengers in the back will feel cramped — their knees will press against the front seatbacks.
What else did we love about the Getz? The usual design: MacPherson struts at the front, a torsion beam at the rear, noticeable body roll, and not the most powerful engines. A candidate for "Mr. Ordinary"? But in reality — quite a rascal!
The i20 is closely related to other models of the concern: it has features of both the Kia Soul and the Ceed with the i30.
And the i20 did not disappoint. The car grabs you from the first meters. The clutch pedal is informative, the pedal box is comfortable, the steering effort is adequate, and the reactions are sharp. In general, it's not perfect. But the Hyundai drives simply, like three won, and that's the beauty of it — you find a common language with the car instantly.
And active driving is not contraindicated: you can squeeze everything out of the 100-horsepower 1.4 engine without feeling like a squeezed lemon. The engine pulls briskly, and the short gearbox doesn't force you to constantly rev it to the redline. Thanks to the informative and quite sharp steering, you can feel exactly where the antics end and the road to the ditch begins. Again: the imperfect i20 doesn't require special skills from the driver, forgives mistakes, and willingly changes trajectory in response to steering and throttle inputs. And comfort? The suspension is energy-intensive, doesn't rock on waves, and doesn't bother on small bumps. Not bad! After spending several hours behind the wheel of the "twenty," I parted with it like with an old friend. The one with whom I've been on "you" terms all my life.
There's also a very calm version — with a 1.2-liter engine. This is a completely new unit that produces 78 hp despite its modest displacement. Perhaps it will be enough for the city. Also available are a 1.6-liter engine (126 hp), refined from the Hyundai i30, and a 1.4-liter diesel. Depending on the version, the diesel develops 90 or 128 hp. With the latter, the city i20 should turn into a real hooligan. After all, the torque is 280 N•m!
The beauty of this car's flaws is that none of them crosses the line where they start to truly annoy. Yes, there are complaints about sound insulation. The engine howls, and the rattling of stones on the rear wheel arches sounds like a machine-gun burst — no quieter than in the i30. But for a city car like the "twenty," this is forgivable, especially since it costs noticeably less...
But how much less? Prices will be announced closer to spring, just before sales start. That's the question!
But how much less? Prices will be announced closer to spring, just before sales start. That's the question!
The Ford Fiesta and Mazda2 are very bright cars. And if you compare them with the i20, they will turn out to be more interesting in terms of engines, equipment, and design. And a large share of the Getz's charisma lay in its affordability. After all, price is the car's main competitive advantage.
And it's precisely the price that remains the unknown element of the equation. The price list will be shown closer to March, when sales start in Russia. Did the i20 hook me? I can't answer yet — it all depends on the price tag. Overall, the car has remained true to itself — an excellent successor! Just hope the pricing policy doesn't let us down.
I begged a local Hyundai dealer for the i20 right on the day I arrived at the company's factory in Brno, Czech Republic. The car, like the i30 hatchbacks parked there, was all dirty and covered with advertising stickers. I was luckier with the "thirty": I managed to shoot it at the test track at the factory, but with the i20 it was a complete bust — I never managed to get a single decent shot. A pity.