Hyundai Elite i20 has recently won Indian Car of the Year 2015(ICOTY) award. The judges for this award include senior editors of top auto publishing magazines in India which is considered as oscars for car and bikes.
In August 2014, Hyundai Motor India Limited launched Elite i20 in Bhopal. This car aims to attract car lovers looking for a sedan that looks like sporty hatchback. Car maker suggests that this car with fluidic design 2.0 is loaded with latest technology combined with premium and sporty style.
The Power
This car is available with petrol and diesel engine options that offer impressive fuel efficiency along with great performance. The diesel version is equipped with U2 1.4-litre CRDi engine. Petrol version is fitted with 1.2-litre Dual VTVT engine. Hyundai claims that the petrol version can offer mileage of 18.2 KMPL, and diesel version offers mileage of around 22 KMPL.
McPherson Strut suspension along with coil spring manages front suspension; while coil spring combined with coupled torsion beam axle manage rear suspension. Disk brake in the front and drum brake in the rear are good enough to offer balance and control over speed.
Its diesel version consists of 6-speed gearbox that is responsive and quick enough to make highway driving comfortable. Petrol engine is matted with 5-speed manual gearbox. With ground clearance of 170mm, driving on geometrically faulty and poor Indian roads is not a problem. Both, petrol and diesel versions have 45 liter fuel tank.
Asta, Sportz, Magna and Era are four variants of Elite i20. These variants are differentiated on the basis of certain features. Diesel version is available with price tag of around Rs 6.24 lakh and 7.85 lakh, while petrol version variants are priced between Rs 5.014 lakh and Rs 6.62 lakh. Price may change as per variants, and local taxes.
Exterior
The hatchback’s front looks impressive due to the hexagonal shaped grille, sleek fog lamps, and wraparound head-lamps. Hyundai has removed those day time running lights that looked great on the car’s previous model. The car maker offers 16-inch alloys with i20’s Asta and Sportz variants. It is the best looking car in the hatchback segment miles ahead of its nearest rivals.
Interiors
Black and biege interior theme along with high quality plastic used in various components give pleasant feeling to this car’s cabin. The tilt and telescopic steering wheel is also impressive, as there are many switches mounted on it. The dashboard looks more like premium BMW which is over the top for a hatch. Rear parking camera, impressive audio system, front centre arm rest, smooth and firm seats, combined with decent headroom and leg room, are good enough to assure comfortable journey.
Lighting in the boot area, glove box with cooling system, cup holders and height adjustable headrests are some of the small features that one definitely notices while inside the cabin.
Passengers sitting on rear seats won’t sweat during summer, thanks to AC vents near rear row. Boot size is good enough to take care of few midsized suitcases. Rear seat 60:40 split option can help you to make additional storage space if required.
Volkswagen Polo had the best interiors in the hatchback segment but things changes since August 2014. Now we have the new winner with elite i20 with its classy interiors is at par with the German premium hatchbacks.
Safety Features
Hyundai Elite i20 offers safety features like anti-lock braking system, central locking, smart key push button start, and dual air bags. It also offers some other safety features like rear parking assist, headlamp escort function, rear windshield defogger, one touch lane change signal system, auto foldable electric mirror, and auto light control.
Competition
i20’s first model was launched in 2008. The recently launched new Hyundai Elite i20 competes with other hatchbacks like Fiat Punto Evo, Maruti Suzuki Swift, and Volkswagen Polo. People prefer these cars as they are easy to park, they offer high fuel efficiency, and are cheaper to own.
When it comes to comparing these four cars, most of the reviews suggest that Elite i20 appears more ‘Bold’ than ‘Youthful.’ Reviews also suggest that Elite i20 looks better, offers great suspension and cabin features compared to other hatchbacks.
After few days from Elite i20’s launch, Hyundai reported rise in sales figures during August 2014. Company’s senior vice president for sales and marketing, Rakesh Srivastava shared the information that they received great response to Grand, Xcent and Elite i20. He also pointed out that more and more customers are opting for petrol cars due to changes in fuel prices.
i20 Cross
The cross version of the most successful car from Hyundai is getting ready for the market. It will be in line with Volkswagen Polo Cross. Ground clearance would be increased in the cross, new roof rails and bigger wheels. Under the hood the engine would be same but would be fine tuned to give higher power. The cross version is expected to cost somewhere between Rs. 50,000 to 70,000 more than standard version.