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-   -   Rumour: Hyundai to tweak Elite i20 variants (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/indian-car-scene/184853-rumour-hyundai-tweak-elite-i20-variants.html)

Thank you to the Team-BHP fan (he prefers to remain anonymous) who sent this information in. Heartfelt gratitude for sharing it with other enthusiasts!

Hyundai is reportedly making a few changes to the variant-wise feature distribution of the Elite i20. The company will also likely introduce a new dual-tone variant of the premium hatchback in the near future.

As per the surfaced image, the entry-level Era variant will remain unchanged. The Magna trim will likely be renamed as Magna Executive and will get some feature reductions. It will lose keyless entry, headlamp escort function and rear parcel tray. Similarly, the Sportz trim will lose reverse parking sensors and camera. The Asta variant will miss automatic headlamps, chrome outside door handles and diamond cut alloy wheels. However, Hyundai will be adding a new 7-inch infotainment system to the Elite i20 Asta, which will support Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Mirror Link and rear camera. No changes will be made to the top-end Asta (O) variant.

Additionally, Hyundai is also expected to introduce a new dual tone variant based on the Asta trim. This new variant will come with a 'Style Package', which will include a blacked out roof with white and red body colours, black interiors with orange inserts and 16-inch diamond cut alloy wheels.

Link to Team-BHP News

Is it going to make a significant difference in the price if the new AVN is included in Asta(O)?

So if I read this correctly, if somebody wanted to buy an i20 Sportz petrol costing 7.86L INR OTR Madras, which in MY 2016 would have got them Dual airbags+ABS+Reverse sensor and camera. Now has to shell out for an 8.43L for the Asta to get the same + 7" AVN? I don't see a 60K worth here.

The way I see it, Hyundai is trying to make maximum profits by trying to bump some of the mid variant customers to a higher variant without too much cost to themselves and are capitalizing on the AVN rage. The ones going to the lowest and highest variants aren't the ones to convince/confuse also the lower end and upper end price limits remain the same this way.

Does this mean that the current 1.4 A/T Elite i20 in 'Magna' trim shall be upgraded to the new 'Sportz' trim?

In that case, the power folding mirrors and the driver seat height adjustment would be very welcome additions indeed.

Tweak is putting it very, very mildly. Hyundai is at it again, well most manufacturers are at it except for maybe VW which started out as offering almost a bare car stripped of everything but today is the complete opposite, but for the severe lack of space in the Polo and in some part, the Vento (compared to i20, Baleno City, etc) they would've sold almost twice as much today.

Hyundai started out as a true all-rounder and those who rubbished the brand have no idea how good they were, I remember every practical feature they offered and let me put it into a list here, these are models that existed a decade ago :

Santro Xing -
- ABS
- Sliding storage tray under seat
- All 4 power windows (for the segment a true luxury)
- Reading lamp in the back
- Rear defogger, wiper, washer
- 60:40 split folding as default
- Spring-loaded roof handles
- Keyless entry standard

Getz -
- Lit glovebox
- 2-way tilt rear seats (only car in any segment to have so)
- Groceries hanger in the back of the front passenger seat
- 60:40 split folding as default across the variants
- First in class centre armrest
- Soft-folding spring loaded roof handles
- Keyless entry standard

I had immense respect for the company which gave so much for the money that brands like Honda and Toyota were frightened out of their wits, Hyundai single handedly tore into the competition and changed the entire landscape, forcing manufacturers to offer more and more to prevent being forgotten completely. Not only did their older generation cars handle superbly (I have personal ownership experience of Santro & Getz and have driven the first gen Verna too), but their engines were extremely powerful as well in each segment, example the ERLx of Santro, the 1.3 Alpha of Getz and 1.5 of Verna, and had simple, practical features which made them such polished and valuable assets to own.

Today the apples have fallen far from the tree, its almost like everything about Hyundai has changed, but for the name itself. Denying parcel tray, keyless entry, split folding rear seats in entry variants and spring folding roof handles abset as default for a car that crosses the 6L barrier and tops out at 10L, really? I hope whosoever is deciding these things in the name of profitability, arm-twisting and overconfidence, reads this and lowers their face in shame. This when their engines aren't as good (read breathable/torquey) as before nor is their handling. The 1.2 Kappa petrol engine sure wasn't helping i20's cause, many chose it still for the comfort, features and conveniences, now Hyundai is shaving them off too.

Not good.

Ridiculous! So, the i20 is being Creta'd.

Remove some goodies, retain some evident features which will stand out in a brochure and command the premium of a higher variant!

Hyundai is becoming really stingy nowadays! But, the larger public isn't going to care I guess. Guess this is 'coming of age' for brand Hyundai.

Very true. Hyundai is cutting costs where the average customer can't see. Case in point, check the Tucson's wipers. Almost all cars >20L get flat blade wipers, but the Tucson makes do with ordinary wipers that stand out in a not so good way.

Hyundai is making hay, while the sun shines at their camp. Honda had these days too, and it took the customers a few years to understand they were being overcharged, and now Honda is not in a position to charge a premium over a Hyundai or even Maruti today. Agree that their vehicle quality was also dipping to reach this point, which is not the case with Hyundai (at least for now)

On the features, why move a simple, but very useful feature like rear wash wipe to the top most model? and Asta gets 16 inch steel wheels? Why? I would prefer 15 inch alloys over that any day :Frustrati So it is not easy like it used to be, so one would have to take the Dualtone for additional cost to get the alloys, and would still miss out on rear wash wipe. Quite complicated.

I think we need to accept the fact that Hyundai as a brand has 'evolved' and is no longer the brand which offers the most bang for your buck in terms of features. They are now capitalising on the fact that for many Indians, Hyundai is almost at par with Maruti when it comes to reliability and dependability. Yes, they do offer better quality interiors when compared to the competition for a given price point. Unless a few of their mainstream products don't do so well, I don't see them 'reverting' back to their old self.

As many people have pointed out, 'Hyundai is indeed the new Honda'.

As dark.knight has mentioned earlier, tweak is a very mild word to use for this re shuffling and feature reduction.
What Hyundai is doing is cashing on the trust of people and removing features to increase profit margin.
Also - what are they gonna do with that runt of the litter - the Magna AT? Kill it and be done with it?

I think the pressure on specific sale margin is something that has bitten Hyundai also. This is not the first time, they have also played badly at compromising with safety in past.

Removal of rear disc brakes in Verna ! I was amazed that the facelift carried certain cosmetic additions but the all round discs (USP for a C2 segment car) has been pulled out. On talking to dealers - "sir the brakes in the facelift are better and thus only drum brakes have been provided in rear" - who can buy such arguments.

i20 is a competent car and there are no doubts about it, but just in the name of changing AVN, the company starts shaving off other useful features was unheard off until recently when Ford did the same with EcoSport - change AVN, add cost, remove other features and fool the customers !

What an amazing trend !

This is the last thing I expected from Hyundai, when Baleno is giving close competition to Elite i20. In fact, with the launch of Baleno RS, Maruti have shown the intent in the right direction while Hyundai wants to go down not such a few steps, but an entire flight of stairs.
The variant line up of recent Hyundai cars is absolutely ridiculous.
Firstly, ABS and Dual Airbags should be available in all variants. This is a 'Premium Hatchback'
Secondly, utility features like rear washer/wiper should not be limited to Top End Options variant.
Third, speed sensing door locks should be made available in the lower variants as well.

I have come up with a list of features, divided by variant which I think would be better if offered by Hyundai.

Well, I would say I bought the Asta VTVT at the right time, with some 50k in discounts.
Newer Asta's are going to be missing quite some useful features like Auto Headlamps & Alloys.
I would any day prefer these two over the AVN. The alloys, especially, add a lot of character to the car.

Unless they now decrease the prices of Asta by a good 40k, they are going to see a lot of buyers look elsewhere because Asta (O) petrol at 8.5+ isn't going to look very tempting (assuming Asta (O) prices remain unchanged.

PS: Will they continue to equip Asta with the start/stop feature?
Ideally they should have moved this from Asta to the Asta (O) and maintain status quo over other things.

This is nothing short of greed taking over utility.
When Hyundai started off, they were honest and keen to capture the market.

I am talking of a time before they had the newer breed of products. Santro was their bread, butter and jam. It was the money spinner. We were contemplating a new car in 2003-2004. The options were limited and it was a direct rip off between Zen and Santro.

Santro, without doubt was the more refined and leagues apart. It had all the creaturely comforts, the fit and finish was better and eventually lost!! Why, because father was keen on MSIL and a Zen came home.

Cut to 2014-15. Verna had already lost the case to City. SX4 was also doing moderately then. The new Verna was launched and guess what? The 4 discs miraculously get replaced by two drums!! Add to that, number of critical features goes missing.

Fast forward to 2017. i20 is a ruler in the premium hatch segment and was enjoying a free run till someone by the name of Baleno dethroned it. i20 got angry at that. And to vent out its anger, it targets gullible prospective customers. And gives them all variants higher at features of the lower variant.
Greed is paramount. Prospective customers--
This is the most opportune time to get the i20. You are already getting the OTR at a discount. Grab it!!

I want to know is there any similar update for Hyundai older generation music systems or infotainment systems. To be specific, I have an i20 Active S November 2017 model, it does not come with touch screen navigation, but has bluetooth connectivity, I struggle often when i need to dial numbers, and feel the desperation of missing android auto, which was available on maruti cars at that time. In fact the more expensive model of i20 Active SX or Elite i20 Asta(O) too just got the touch screen navigation panel and no options for android auto or apple car play. I heard the new generation ones do come with android auto. Also I would be very glad if anyone can guide me if I can somehow upgrade to those systems.