Hey every1. Just test drove the i20 1.2 Asta (Top-end model) today.
Before we begin, may i add that i currently drive an Accent Petrol (the 1.5) and it is an awesome drive along with Yokohama rubber. Also im a driving fanatic and absolutely love driving.
So id say the below comments might be biased with regards to how the Accent feels in the following aspects - great cornering, good steering feel, overtaking is a breeze, excellent suspension and though a light car, it feels solid enough in build quality.
So here goes the i20:
First, as always, the POSITIVES + The car looks really good & has a good blend of sporty as well as classy looks.
Also, it looks solidly built due to the stance it has & also the ridges in the stlying on the sides as well as the back.
Alloys have a nice design and is good to see a different design from most OEM alloys offered on cars in the Indian market.
The tail lamps look awesome.
In the looks department, this car has it made.
+
Front seats offer good support & comfort (I think, its a trait in most Hyundai cars). Dint try the back seats.
+ The engine is not underpowered like i have been reading everywhere. It is pretty adequate for city driving and traffic.
+ Space is adequate with a boot which is pretty large. + The features it offers is upto the mark with today's cars & the 6 airbags option is great though just a tad pricy.
Now the NEGATIVES - Though the engine is not underpowered, overtaking anything would require quite an effort. Yes, it might be great in the city to potter around in but it is just plain dull on the open road. Im sure it will run out of breath on the highway. (My TD was with 3 ppl onboard and AC at the lowest setting.)
- The 6 speaker setup is a big dissappointment even after fiddling with the settings. Even the most basic aftermarket speakers will be a big step up in sound quality.
The 4 speaker setup which you got with the Verna (middle variant) as stock 2 years back are miles ahead and do a great job and it would have made sense to put those here as well.
- Dint find the quality up to the mark. By quality i mean the details which make you feel good like...
Foldable key felt plasticky, light & tacky & the hinge was loose.
Overall build was just about fine but it didnt feel solidly built like the way it looks to be.
Id say the Swift feels way more solid than the i20.
- The suspension though pretty OK, is very
very thumpy and the car
bumps & thrashes (Not bouncy like the verna but still it wasnt pleasant) on uneven road. It is
not bad at absorbing bumps but the bumping & thrashing gets to you.
- Steering feel is almost non-existent. Though the salesman told me about the dual steering setup & how it changes to hydraulic steering above 80kmph, but i dint notice any difference. In fact, i felt unsecure & scared doing 80 due to no steering feel & the car felt light and not planted very well onto the road. (Build quality also showed here).
This was a disaster as i enjoy cornering and there is no way i am going to enjoy cornering in this. Id probably be overly cautious & scared like crazy to corner even the slightest speed in this. Came to almost a standstill at every corner in order to feel safe while cornering.
[Just a thought but perhaps better rubber may add some betterment here maybe]
- Gearknob. Though a very small thing, i feel its the small niggles that make a car grow on you. The gearknob looked cheap and that chrome finish just repulsed me. A knob like the Verna would have looked great.
[P.S. the only reason i keep bringing up the Verna is to keep to offerings from the same company and also sharing of parts which could also be beneficial for the company and enhance the product appeal at the same time. Like for example Maruti Swift, SX4 & A-Star use similar components like the steering wheel, gear knob, etc.]
Time for the Grand Finale
To sum it all up, personally i was pretty disappointed. Was expecting a solidly built European build quality car with great interiors and great driving dynamics.
Though i found great European stlying, i dont think i found the rest upto the mark.
The main putoff for me was the steering and the driving dynamics. I love driving and the i20 is definately not an ethusiast's choice. The Swift is a best bet for that.
But you shouldnt write off the i20 completely. I think its aimed more for the city dweller who isnt an enthusiast and wants a city car which is light on the steering, easy to park, a boot which can take in all the weeks supplies bought during the weekend, has all the features he/she could ask for and will catch stares everywhere he/she goes.
For this type of audience, the car delivers with panache.
Light steering makes it easy to drive (women will enjoy this), it looks awesome, has adequate power for pottering around town and has an upmarket image.
All in all, what im saying is...People who love driving, stay away!
People who want a good alternative to the Swift, this is a commendable effort from Hyundai.
Hope this review is beneficial.