Hyundai i20 Test Drive and Video Review

Gangsta · 31st January 2009, 01:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by krish82

I have 1.5 94 Bhp, Its a 2002 Model. Done 57000 Kms.

Accent Executive 5.4 on road
Hyundai magna 5.3 on road
which looks better in comparison of the above?

Swift, ok but the thing is without much luggage space a diesel is a waste for long drives. I hit atleast 2 major long drives a year & i dont want to rent a car for that after buying a new car.

My Accent pulls with full load ac from 1000 rpm \ 20km without any engine noise. The city drivability & suspension is too good.But the 120 didnt feel that powerful.

both the cars have their own pros and cons...
ofcourse 1.2 punny engine wont pull like 1.5L engine. If you want better drivability then go for accent executive... but if you want loads of features and if you can compromise on the boot, then go for i20.

PS: u can consider Getz CRDi if you want an adrenalin rush in you and 14 kmpl mileage is not an issue for you. Shear Pleasure of driving fastest hatchback in India and faster than many sedans too. Good A.S.S. Spare Parts not an issue. Service Bills not an issue. Build... very good. Interiors, goodies and safety you have to compromise.

or if you can wait for more like me lol then wait for i20 diesel.

Spare parts for accent wont be an issue for sure... people are buying it as VFM, and they wont discont. it and they had learnt it from maruti suzuki... lol.

I'm bored of driving sedans and for delhi traffic i need a fast hatchback. Getz CRDi was the ans. but only thing stopped me to buy it ... lack of ABS. So, waiting for i20 diesel. sources said: 1.4L diesel and 1.6L diesel will be coming soon in the future. If 1.6L VGT will be there in i20 with ABS, i will straightway go for it without having any 2nd thought.

maverickxx2006 · 2nd February 2009, 00:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by sam_boy

6.6 Lacs on road for a 1.2L engine, thats price is too high for me ... I will defnitely prefer a Ford Fiesta Or a Swift Dzire any day ...

6.6L on road is absolutely ripoff for a 1.2 L engine (that too for the same engine which is plonked in i10).

It would be better to buy a sedan like Linea, Aveo, Fiesta etc rather than buying an underpowered and extremely costly hatch.

ph03n!x · 2nd February 2009, 03:39

There was a Hyundai camp in Besant Nagar on Sunday morning. Me and Neoranjit took it for a spin (me behind the wheels). The car has the rich feel, doesn't feel under-powered at all for every day city drives (I drove it through the beach road towards the stretch, around the block to Asian hospitals, back to the beach), well equipped, the music system was acceptably good for an OEM - even showed some mid-range bass, steering and gear and good too.

Will I buy it? At 6.30L for the Asta (without the "O"), gotta be crazy to buy this one! Hyundai killed with the pricing, IMHO.

sam_boy · 2nd February 2009, 10:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by ph03n!x

There was a Hyundai camp in Besant Nagar on Sunday morning. Me and Neoranjit took it for a spin (me behind the wheels). The car has the rich feel, doesn't feel under-powered at all for every day city drives (I drove it through the beach road towards the stretch, around the block to Asian hospitals, back to the beach)

If you get a second chance cross the Kalakshetra and head towards Marandhiswaran Temple. You will find the narrow roads, move in 2nd gear and then try going to the 3rd gear, then you may realise how underpowered this car is.

I felt just like you when I was going in the highway but when I moved to the streets I realised the lack of power.

Karizma Fan · 3rd February 2009, 13:18

I had a test ride of this car, took photos and put the review in video.

You can watch it here -

YouTube - Hyundai i20 Video Review - CarAdvice.in

psn · 3rd February 2009, 23:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elito11

If you can..wait till june 09. Both the 1.4 petrol and diesel are going to be out by then, not to mention the Grande Punto Diesel.

cheers

Couldnt wait..booked a red honda city..have waited way too long for my first car...and it had to be a great car to drive...hence the choice..

Vikster · 4th February 2009, 01:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by psn

Couldnt wait..booked a red honda city..have waited way too long for my first car...and it had to be a great car to drive...hence the choice..

Congratulations - you won't regret it.

Elito11 · 4th February 2009, 09:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by psn

Couldnt wait..booked a red honda city..have waited way too long for my first car...and it had to be a great car to drive...hence the choice..

Good choice!

Congrats! Do start a new ownership thread with some pictures!

Elito

isldhn · 4th February 2009, 13:01

Congrats PSN. Any specific reasons to choose it over the forum favourite Linea.

GTO · 4th February 2009, 17:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by jkdas

Aha.

But wont an engine be working more when its in 150bhp mode which initially was doing 115bhp? Maybe then the engine would have got other mechanical mods too right?

You can tell how hard an engine is working just by looking at the rpm meter

. Atleast in most cases. We can presume that, all things being equal, the 150BHP engine will do the same work at much lesser rpm than the 1.2 which needs high revvs just to get regular stuff done.

VSG12777 · 5th February 2009, 21:02

Originally Posted by Elito11

If you can..wait till june 09. Both the 1.4 petrol and diesel are going to be out by then, not to mention the Grande Punto Diesel.

Hi Elito11
How sure are you that the i20 would be launched with a 1.4L petrol and CRDi engines by June 2009 ? I've been reading about the 1.4L CRDi for plans on release by mid 2009 but are you sure about the 1.4L petrol ? That 100 bhp 1.4L petrol engine would be nice under the hood of the i20. Hyundai even sells the i20 with a 1.6L petrol engine in some markets. That engine, with 15 or 16 inch alloys, 195 or 205 section tyres, leather interior, body kit etc would make it a true hot hatch. Wow. But this is only a dream. Hyundai would never dare to do this, especially in the Indian market.

Warm regards,
Venkat

raul · 7th February 2009, 12:16

I had a pretty long test drive of the i20 again this morning. The Hyundai folks had got it home in Viman Nagar, Pune and I took it to the new and relatively empty airport road. I was mainly interested in testing the 1.2 engine since I have doubts about its ability.

First the interiors I wanted to recheck the legroom at the back since there has been lots of comment here about its limitations since I last saw it, I had found it decent for a car of its size. So on revisiting this IMHO I have to reiterate its ok for a hatch of this size and is roomy and offers enough space unless there are 2 six footers back to back. Its certainly more spacious than other hatches, I haven't seen Fabia. For those in doubt please have a look yourself, the pics can be misleading and you will probably agree it is not an issue. There is sufficient room.

But the main thing is the engine and after a lot of thought I have to conclude for those of us who enjoy driving this car can be a huge compromise. The 1.2 struggles in nearly all gears with 4 occupants, reaching hundred takes eternity, so I offloaded 2 passengers and tried again, same thing, to move the car with any degree of speed you need to be pedal to the metal. 2nd gear especially is frustrating. I am sure it will eventually reach speeds of 140 but that could take a lot of time and effort. So for the city runabout this is ok - just about because you do need pickup in the city which the i20 doesn't have - but for anything more we have an excellent, well built, feature rich modern hatch basically crippled and ruined by Hyundai. I think at 6.36 lakhs we deserve a bit more excitement and responsiveness from our cars.

raul · 7th February 2009, 17:53

I was really hoping to like the i20 and perhaps book it today itself because I have relocated to Bombay for the last 4 months and need a car, at the same time not in the mood to commit 17k plus for new city in this economic environment which is my next choice. Petrol Linea also lurks in the background.

I like everything else about ii20, interiors, build quality, features, safety, ride quality, brakes and a price I can take on in this climate yet the engine is pissing me off now, because I just don't feel like spending money on something I am not convinced about.

On reflection I am mystified about the i20 engine, on paper its 80bhp which is 3 bhp more than my usual drive which City idsi and 18bhp more than my Zen (2003) which I also use regularly, yet both these cars are more responsive and peppy to drive, when I need power in the Zen I just have to step on the accelerator and its there, in the i20 you press and nothing, in 3 and 4th you get some activity but you can literally count the seconds while it picks up speed.

What do the experts here think of this engine because ideally 80bhp should at least be adequate and responive on the i20 given 77 in idsi was pretty perky.

Gangsta · 7th February 2009, 19:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by raul

I was really hoping to like the i20 and perhaps book it today itself because I have relocated to Bombay for the last 4 months and need a car, at the same time not in the mood to commit 17k plus for new city in this economic environment which is my next choice. Petrol Linea also lurks in the background.

I like everything else about ii20, interiors, build quality, features, safety, ride quality, brakes and a price I can take on in this climate yet the engine is pissing me off now, because I just don't feel like spending money on something I am not convinced about.

On reflection I am mystified about the i20 engine, on paper its 80bhp which is 3 bhp more than my usual drive which City idsi and 18bhp more than my Zen (2003) which I also use regularly, yet both these cars are more responsive and peppy to drive, when I need power in the Zen I just have to step on the accelerator and its there, in the i20 you press and nothing, in 3 and 4th you get some activity but you can literally count the seconds while it picks up speed.

What do the experts here think of this engine because ideally 80bhp should at least be adequate and responive on the i20 given 77 in idsi was pretty perky.

Agreed on Honda City part. but zen was a very light car if compared with i20's weight. correct me if i'm wrong.

raul · 7th February 2009, 20:46

Zen is definitely lighter and far from powerful, put the ac on and the car immediately drags, yet at low speeds in city traffic and open stretches it can pull with urgency with just 62 bhp. I just didn't feel this urgency in the i20, it simply has its own pace and pedal to metal does not change that.

We need more expert reviews to understand whether its an expectation mismatch on my end or if the car is actually unbearably slow.

2nd February 2009, 03:39	#63
ph03n!x Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Coimbatore Posts: 2,604 Thanked: 6,165 Times	There was a Hyundai camp in Besant Nagar on Sunday morning. Me and Neoranjit took it for a spin (me behind the wheels). The car has the rich feel, doesn't feel under-powered at all for every day city drives (I drove it through the beach road towards the stretch, around the block to Asian hospitals, back to the beach), well equipped, the music system was acceptably good for an OEM - even showed some mid-range bass, steering and gear and good too. Will I buy it? At 6.30L for the Asta (without the "O"), gotta be crazy to buy this one! Hyundai killed with the pricing, IMHO.
	() Thanks

4th February 2009, 13:01	#69
isldhn BHPian Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Ludhiana Posts: 285 Thanked: 148 Times	Congrats PSN. Any specific reasons to choose it over the forum favourite Linea.
	() Thanks

5th February 2009, 21:02	#71
VSG12777 BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: CHENNAI Posts: 208 Thanked: 41 Times	Originally Posted by Elito11 If you can..wait till june 09. Both the 1.4 petrol and diesel are going to be out by then, not to mention the Grande Punto Diesel. Hi Elito11 How sure are you that the i20 would be launched with a 1.4L petrol and CRDi engines by June 2009 ? I've been reading about the 1.4L CRDi for plans on release by mid 2009 but are you sure about the 1.4L petrol ? That 100 bhp 1.4L petrol engine would be nice under the hood of the i20. Hyundai even sells the i20 with a 1.6L petrol engine in some markets. That engine, with 15 or 16 inch alloys, 195 or 205 section tyres, leather interior, body kit etc would make it a true hot hatch. Wow. But this is only a dream. Hyundai would never dare to do this, especially in the Indian market. Warm regards, Venkat
	() Thanks

7th February 2009, 12:16	#72
raul BHPian Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Pune Posts: 920 Thanked: 374 Times	I had a pretty long test drive of the i20 again this morning. The Hyundai folks had got it home in Viman Nagar, Pune and I took it to the new and relatively empty airport road. I was mainly interested in testing the 1.2 engine since I have doubts about its ability. First the interiors I wanted to recheck the legroom at the back since there has been lots of comment here about its limitations since I last saw it, I had found it decent for a car of its size. So on revisiting this IMHO I have to reiterate its ok for a hatch of this size and is roomy and offers enough space unless there are 2 six footers back to back. Its certainly more spacious than other hatches, I haven't seen Fabia. For those in doubt please have a look yourself, the pics can be misleading and you will probably agree it is not an issue. There is sufficient room. But the main thing is the engine and after a lot of thought I have to conclude for those of us who enjoy driving this car can be a huge compromise. The 1.2 struggles in nearly all gears with 4 occupants, reaching hundred takes eternity, so I offloaded 2 passengers and tried again, same thing, to move the car with any degree of speed you need to be pedal to the metal. 2nd gear especially is frustrating. I am sure it will eventually reach speeds of 140 but that could take a lot of time and effort. So for the city runabout this is ok - just about because you do need pickup in the city which the i20 doesn't have - but for anything more we have an excellent, well built, feature rich modern hatch basically crippled and ruined by Hyundai. I think at 6.36 lakhs we deserve a bit more excitement and responsiveness from our cars.
	() Thanks

7th February 2009, 17:53	#73
raul BHPian Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Pune Posts: 920 Thanked: 374 Times	I was really hoping to like the i20 and perhaps book it today itself because I have relocated to Bombay for the last 4 months and need a car, at the same time not in the mood to commit 17k plus for new city in this economic environment which is my next choice. Petrol Linea also lurks in the background. I like everything else about ii20, interiors, build quality, features, safety, ride quality, brakes and a price I can take on in this climate yet the engine is pissing me off now, because I just don't feel like spending money on something I am not convinced about. On reflection I am mystified about the i20 engine, on paper its 80bhp which is 3 bhp more than my usual drive which City idsi and 18bhp more than my Zen (2003) which I also use regularly, yet both these cars are more responsive and peppy to drive, when I need power in the Zen I just have to step on the accelerator and its there, in the i20 you press and nothing, in 3 and 4th you get some activity but you can literally count the seconds while it picks up speed. What do the experts here think of this engine because ideally 80bhp should at least be adequate and responive on the i20 given 77 in idsi was pretty perky.
	() Thanks

7th February 2009, 20:46	#75
raul BHPian Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Pune Posts: 920 Thanked: 374 Times	Zen is definitely lighter and far from powerful, put the ac on and the car immediately drags, yet at low speeds in city traffic and open stretches it can pull with urgency with just 62 bhp. I just didn't feel this urgency in the i20, it simply has its own pace and pedal to metal does not change that. We need more expert reviews to understand whether its an expectation mismatch on my end or if the car is actually unbearably slow.
	() Thanks