I instantly fell in love with the sporty gear knob and 3-spoke steering wheel, which differed from the regular Hyundai i20 steering.

BHPian bizi05 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Background

For the past two years, I've been looking for an SUV to replace our trusty 13-year-old Santro GLS. While the Santro holds a special place in my heart with its reliability and faithful performance on the road, its age has brought about increasing maintenance issues and rattling noises. Last year, during Dussera, I opted for the Seltos 1.5 Turbo Petrol DCT. However, I opted to retain the Santro for two compelling reasons:

• With the end of remote work, both my wife and I needed separate vehicles for our daily commutes. Her office commute and mine, located 35km away in the opposite direction, necessitated a practical approach.
• Despite the allure of the Seltos, I found myself dissatisfied with its DCT performance, particularly in terms of initial pickup, which led me to retain the Santro. Unlike the Seltos, the Santro requires just a gentle tap on the accelerator for a responsive drive, similar to a 2-stroke motorcycle.

However, by November, the rattling noises from the Santro had intensified, prompting serious consideration of exchanging it for a new hatchback.

Requirements

• Budget: Price range between 8 to 10 lakhs
• Transmission: Preference for manual transmission to rediscover the joy of driving a manual car, given that I already own an automatic.
• Other Requirements: Seeking reliability, decent mileage, Powerful AC and decent cabin space.

After exploring various cars, I zeroed down to the i20 N Line N6 Manual variant.

i20 N Line Test Drive Experience

All-black interior, felt premium despite of extensive use of hard plastic. I instantly fell in love with the sporty gear knob and three-spoke steering wheel, which differed from the regular i20 steering (I am not fond of the D-cut steering wheel on the regular i20). Driving the N Line Manual, I was impressed by its initial pickup and overall performance, which was better than all the other cars we tried, even though I couldn't test it extensively.

Booking and PDI Experience

We expressed our interest in purchasing an i20 N Line N6 Manual in Dark Grey, and the dealer confirmed the availability of a November 2023-manufactured N6 Manual variant in that color. Additionally, the dealer offered a 75K discount and 5K worth of accessories. Without any further delay, we booked the vehicle. The booking experience was good. We completed the pre-delivery inspection, cleared all dues, and registered the car on December 29, 2023, to avoid registration price hikes.

Delivery Experience

The delivery experience was disappointing. When I booked the vehicle, the dealer mentioned a 75K discount on the on-road price, which included insurance from the dealer. Alternatively, they offered a 50K discount if I chose not to go with the dealer-provided insurance. I opted for the dealer-provided insurance. However, upon receiving the invoice from Trident Hyundai, I noticed that they had deducted the entire 75K amount from the ex-showroom value, resulting in a lower insured declared value (IDV) for my vehicle. This deduction of the 25K insurance discount from the ex-showroom value was incorrect. Despite several discussions, the dealer refused to acknowledge their mistake or correct the invoice. Instead, they stated that this billing practice was standard for all their customers.

Ownership & Driving Experience

Here are some observations after owning the car since January 2024 and driving it for about 3000 kilometers over the last 3 months.

• Suspension - It is on the stiffer side. The stock CEAT tyres add more stiffness to the ride quality due to which all pothole jerks are felt inside the cabin. As a temporary solution, I keep my tyre pressure at 32 psi, which slightly improves the ride quality.
• Steering - Steering feedback is very good and accurate. It feels light at low speeds (though not as light as the regular i20), and it gains some weight as the speed reaches 40 KM/H.
• Braking - The brake is good but not sharp although it has 4 disc brakes. At the same time, it will never make you feel nervous. It could have been better.
• Seating Comfort - Seats are firm and may not be comfortable on long journeys. The under-thigh and lumbar support could have been better.
• Engine/Transmission Performance - This is what I was looking for in a Turbo petrol car. Pick up on 1st gear was good but the dynamics change the moment you change it 2nd followed by the 3rd gear. It pulls very aggressively and I was able to reach 90km/h in 2nd gear itself because of the tall gearing.
• Downside - The engine tends to struggle a bit in hilly areas, especially when climbing uphill with a full load of 5 passengers and the air conditioning turned on.
• Clutch - The clutch travel is longer and slightly springy. It feels a bit firmer compared to the regular i20.
• AC - The AC is very good, but unfortunately, there's no option to control or reduce the rear AC, nor there is any option to close the rear AC vents.
• Music System - The N6 music system is decent, but it tends to distort at high volumes. Additionally, the rear speaker volume is noticeably lower, approximately 40% less than the front speakers. Upon examination, I discovered that the rear speakers are smaller, with a 5.25" driver compared to the 6.5" front drivers. To improve the sound quality, I installed damping pads on all four doors, which enhanced the audio experience. However, I refrained from replacing the speakers due to concerns about voiding the warranty.
• Mileage - In Bangalore city traffic, the fuel economy ranges from 9 to 14 kmpl, depending on the traffic conditions. On the highway, with sedate driving, I'm achieving 18 to 20 kmpl.
• Wireless Android and Apple Carplay support - One reason for choosing the N6 variant was its support for Wireless Android Auto and Apple Carplay, which seamlessly connects to my Android phone.
• Head Light - N6 Headlight is not so great.

Conclusion

Certainly, it's the most enjoyable hatchback currently available in the Indian market, despite having a few shortcomings. Overall, I am very much satisfied with my purchase.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The Altroz Racer will compete with the Hyundai i20 N Line in the Indian market.

The Tata Altroz Racer, a sporty version of the Altroz hatchback, was unveiled at the 2023 Auto Expo. Latest reports suggest that the car might be launched in the coming weeks.

The Altroz Racer will be positioned at the top of the Altroz line-up and take on the Hyundai i20 N Line. It is expected to feature a few sporty bits on the exterior, including a dual-tone colour scheme with racing stripes, a revised front grille and 16-inch alloy wheels.

Inside, the Altroz Racer could get a larger touchscreen infotainment system and might also be equipped with features like ventilated front seats, a head-up display, a 360-degree camera and a sunroof.

The Altroz Racer is expected to use a 1.2-litre, 3-cylinder turbo-petrol engine from the Nexon. It produces 118 BHP and 170 Nm and is likely to be paired with a 6-speed manual gearbox.

Source: Autocar India

Mechanically as well, the 2024 Hyundai i20 N Line uses the same powertrain as before.

Hyundai has unveiled the 2024 version of its i20 N Line model globally. The 2024 iteration features minimal updates, focusing mostly on the hatchback's front end.

As part of the update, the 2024 Hyundai i20 N Line loses out on the chequered pattern on the front grille, which now comes with a duller conventional design. The 2024 model though does feature newly-designed 17-inch alloys finished in black. It does carry forward all the other N-Line-specific elements on the front and rear bumper, helping it differentiate itself from the standard model.

Hyundai is said to have introduced four new paint schemes for the 2024 i20 N Line: Vibrant Blue Pearl, Lucid Lime Metallic, Lumen Gray Pearl and Meta Blue Pearl. Inside, hardly any changes are made, apart from the introduction of enhanced LED ambient lighting all around.

Mechanically as well, the 2024 Hyundai i20 N Line uses the same powertrain as before.

Source: AutoEvolution

The fuel efficiency figures are somewhat steady after 8000 km and I feel cars like the Skoda Rapid & Tata Altroz have fewer rattles when going over bad roads.

BHPian Sportigo recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

2 Years of Ownership Experience with the Hyundai i20 N-Line N8 IMT

My previous 1-Year Ownership Experience Post

The White Pearl completed 2 years with me on December 10th, 2023. If you ask me how the experience with it was. I would say “Nothing short of bliss”. I have clocked a little over 15,000 kms on it. 3 free services completed till date and a few repairs here and there. A few more issues are still pending to be sorted. I will divide this post into a series of sub-sections for better readability and understanding.

Overall Experience

Like I said above, the experience of owning this beauty for me was nothing short of bliss. As my own first car, it had everything I could ask for. The power for my driving style, the tech gigs, the features, the comfort and more. It has been reliable beauty through these 2 years without major issues and niggles to worry about. I hope it stays the same in the long run.

Engine, Transmission & Dynamics

• Engine and the IMT transmission have served me well. The engine has retained the same smoothness as when I brought it home. I regularly clean the AC filter and the Air Filter to keep the performance of both the engine and AC in almost optimal condition and recently changed both in the 3rd Service.
• I had done a trip to Ooty this year and the engine performed well with 4 people and a boot full of luggage. There was no major lag if the engine was engaged in the correct gear. It had left me with a grin on my face throughout the trip (maybe a separate travelogue post for that).
• The transmission has given me no major issues as such. It is smooth and well-gated and no erratic behaviour from the IMT Intent sensor when engaging the clutch to change gears. In my last update, I mentioned about a glitch in the IMT in 3rd gear about sudden rev drop when shifting from 2nd gear to 3rd, that issue continues but then again it happens like 1 – 2 in 100 times. Overall the IMT has kept me happy, it's not fast-shifting like an actual manual but the real time need for it is less in everyday driving. Spirited driving, yes I do miss it sometimes but that’s just it.
• The stock Ceat SecuraDrive tyres are also ageing well. The grip of the tyres has been holding well till date. There has been no air leakage, sidewall bulging or unnecessary punctures (actually there has been no puncture till date – touch wood for that). The tyre pressure I maintain is around 33 – 35 psi Nitrogen in cold tyres. The TPMS is working well and accurately.

Build Quality, Fit & Finish

In continuation to last year's update, the experience has remained the same. Nothing major to complain about here. The car has been holding up nicely in terms of ageing in these 2 years. Not many rattles or squeaks from anything except the dashboard which I had mentioned in last year's update. It’s not as great built as the Skoda Rapid or Tata Altroz which I felt has far fewer rattles when going over bad roads, stone-paved roads (like the ones we find on some driveways to malls/offices) or somewhat bigger rumble strips when driven around the same speed.

Fuel Efficiency/Mileage

• After clocking 8,000 kms, the mileage figures have been remaining somewhat steady now at a constant 10 – 12 kmpl in the city with occasionally shooting to 14 kmpl when I throw in a bit of highway driving in it. 90% of the time, the AC was ON. I did try XP95 petrol twice or thrice but no major difference in the mileage figures but the acceleration in the first 3 gears was a bit smoother, and after that, I switched back to normal 91 Octane Regular Petrol.
• This year I did one long trip from Hyderabad – Mysore – Ooty and back clocking a little over 2000 kms, that trip the car returned an average mileage of 16.5 kmpl measured with tank-to-tank methods. That involved city, highway and hill driving also.

Here are some fuel efficiency figures that I logged a few months with tank-to-tank methods along with the estimated tank range for each if continued with the same efficiency figures. Ignore the first reading as that is the reference point at which I started to calculate the mileage, so no mileage figures for that.)

Hyundai ASC Experience

• 3 Free Services gone through. 3rd recent service witnessed Engine Oil, Oil Filter, Air Filter & AC Filter change. I also opted for Wheel Balancing and alignment/Tyre Rotation as it's 2 years now and the car has run above 10k kms. The total invoice came to 4500 INR approx. inclusive of everything with no labour charge. During the start of the service only, I had instructed the supervisor to stick to these and no other changes except general inspection.
• My go-to ASS is Kun Hyundai Gachibowli in Hyderabad. I feel that is one of the better ones out there when it comes to attending to issues. But it's not perfect also. Some of the supervisors are always in a hurry to deliver the vehicles. For example, I reported an issue of my right-side headlight fogging, he had noted the issue but did not attend to it till delivery time, I had to remind him and then he looked into it.

Issues/Niggles

• Right side headlight fogging which might require a dust cap replacement and if that doesn’t work out will have the whole assembly replaced under warranty.
• The AC Mode actuator is making a jam kind of noise every time I switch the modes or while turning off the engine. I spoke with the service supervisor, and he has agreed to replace it under warranty.

Damages

• One RE Classic dashed from the rear while waiting at a signal, there was no immediate visible physical damage as such. But after some time once I drove the car for an hour or so, I noticed there was a rattling from the left rear side of the car, I checked the bumper, and it was sort of loose from the left side. I went to ASC to check; he said the clip of the bumper is broken and it would require a complete replacement of the bumper. What intrigued me is that due to this small clip from which the bumper is hanging, broke and the whole bumper needs replacement which if I have to shell out will cost me some 14k INR. I now feel the design of the bumper for fitting could have been better against small damages like this. But that would be just me then I feel.
• Another incident involved my front windshield cracking due to a flying stone from a construction truck. The small crack soon developed into a big one and I had to replace the windshield. The insurance took care of it but the cost was around 7.5k INR.

Modifications (If any)

None, I am not into any after-market modifications and like my car stock.

Here are some pics of the car from this year:

Feel free to reach out for any queries.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Sport drive mode actually makes the motor more responsive lower down; combine that with a proper M mode, you can really have some fun around twisties and B-roads.

BHPian Chetan_Rao recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I'll give you an apples to apples comparison.

Drove the i20 N-Line pre-facelift and facelift back-to-back. Pre-facelift had a Sport mode on the gearbox, but Hyundai took it off the facelift (only D & M on the gearbox now), and added Eco-Normal-Sport engine drive modes instead.

It solves two issues people had with the pre-facelift:

• When you want to potter around town and don't care about lag because you're not getting anywhere in a hurry, Eco-Normal works great to mute throttle response and remove the turbo-lag induced low-speed, mid-rev jerkiness. It's slow(er) and smooth(er), perfect for traffic and avoiding PDA with the car ahead of you.
• Sport drive mode actually makes the motor more responsive lower down; combine that with a proper M mode, you can really have some fun around twisties and B-roads. It's not a night & day difference, but you can tell the peppier drive mode is more fun that just the gearbox holding revs and delaying upshifts.

I was skeptical going in and not a fan of removing things, but I prefer the newer setup.

Friendly BHP-ian ChiragM's pre-facelift N-Line on some fantastic B-roads along the Arkavathi river near Ramanagara. Small packages can be fun with the right bits!

Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Best part is, most of these rides will keep the driver as well as the family man in you happy.

There are cars and then, there are cars. As BHPians, we aren't looking at a mere mode of transportation from point A -> point B. To us, the journey is as important as the destination...be it that simple early morning drive in the city, or the pleasurable 1000 km road trip with our families.

Good thing is, the vibrant Indian market offers petrolheads a wide variety of fun-to-drive cars. Turbo-charged petrols and EVs have spiced up the game too. And if you thought you need to spend big bucks to have fun, think again. Excellent options are available at each & every price point.

Best part is, most of these rides will keep the driver as well as the family man in you happy. After all, the car of a typical Indian household just has to be a multi-tasker (ghat cornering on Sunday, work on Monday, kids to football ground on Wednesday, late-night revving on Friday, visit in-laws on Saturday, breakfast run with BHPians on Sunday morning).

Listed below, in no particular order, are the best enthusiast cars on sale today. Only those with a price tag of ~75 lakhs & under have been included, to keep the line-up relevant to gearheads.

Each of these cars will bring a smile to your face (*guaranteed*) in their own special way, every time you head out for a drive ! What's more, if you wish to enhance the driving experience, they are modification-friendly too.

BMW M340i xDrive

What's hot: Ferocious 6-cylinder turbo-petrol motor with 382 BHP on tap! Lives for 7,000 rpm, all-wheel-drive gives the BMW M340i leech-like grip & solid stability levels, sporty and well-tuned exhaust note is addictive at high revs, ZF 8-speed AT is the best gearbox in the segment...fast & smooth, 0 – 100 in 4.4 seconds with 4-door everyday practicality...go touring with the family, lovely cabin, premium build, very supportive seats & a fab driving position, BMW’s strong track record for reliability (among the luxury marques), 5-star NCAP rating, awesome brakes & a laundry list of safety equipment

What's not: Ride is much firmer than a regular 3-Series...liveable, but you feel everything on the road, sad boot space with a spare wheel, we don’t like the radiator grille, rear floor hump is enormous! The car is better as a 4-seater than 5, your fuel costs will be a lot higher than say, a 530d, runflat tyres come with many compromises...wear out soon & are expensive to replace, we hate the all-digital instrument console...also, the rev counter is weirdly inverted, some irritants such as w-i-d-e 6-meter turning radius & annoying speed warnings

Official review

Ownership Report

Citroen C3 1.2L Turbo-Petrol (you'll be surprised!)

What's hot: Striking design! Very funky, yet likeable at the same time, good-looking cabin that is practical too, fast 1.2L turbo-petrol is genuinely fun-to-drive, 6-speed MT is slick and light to operate...definitely one of the better gearboxes in the segment, sorted suspension offers a very good ride & handling package, compact size and light controls are perfect for the urban environment, 10-inch touchscreen with wireless Android Auto & Apple CarPlay is excellent to use, lots of customization options and accessories to make your car truly unique

What's not: No automatic transmission on offer, quality of cabin materials doesn't feel great; cost-cutting is pretty evident in certain areas, some ergonomic issues like the placement of rear power window switches, unusable rear headrest, cabin width makes the interiors suitable for 4 adults...not 5, missing features like electric ORVM adjustment, climate control, and tachometer! long-term reliability & after-sales service quality are big unknowns; dealer network is tiny

Official Review

The Hyundai N lines

i20 N Line

What's hot: Aggressive styling with distinctive touches that set it apart from the garden-variety i20, punchy 1.0 turbo-petrol motor with 118 BHP on tap, firm yet compliant suspension coupled with a weighted steering + paddle shifters + fruity exhaust note, tasteful N Line-exclusive steering wheel, gear selector, red accents etc. liven up the interior, feature-rich equipment list includes cruise control, LED projectors, voice-activated sunroof, wireless charging & more, spacious cabin with a 311-liter boot makes this a practical yet fun-to-drive car, price premium over the regular i20 is totally justified by the additions & improvements, safety kit = ESP, 6 airbags, rear disc brakes, Blue Link SOS, Hill Assist…

What's not: Although well-priced in relation to the i20 Asta variant, it is still an expensive hatchback, 1.0L DCT variant shows initial lag...even otherwise, it’s not as explosive as VW’s 1.0 Turbo, some misses such as auto wipers, split folding rear seats, you absolutely need a tyre upgrade...the OEM rubber gives up easily, this 3rd-gen i20’s styling can be polarizing, unlike the more neutral previous generation cars, dual-clutch ATs have had a troubled reliability record in India, more of a warmed-up hatchback in terms of power & handling, rather than a “hot hatch”

Official Review

Venue N Line

What's hot: Aggressive styling and distinctive touches set it apart from the regular Venue, punchy 1.0L turbo-petrol motor with 118 BHP mated to a fast shifting dual-clutch AT, firm yet compliant suspension coupled with weighted steering + paddle shifters + fruity exhaust note that make the Venue N Line a fun little package, tasteful N Line-exclusive touches liven up the otherwise drab interior, feature-rich equipment list includes 4-way electrically adjustable driver’s seat, auto-dimming IRVM, cabin air purifier, BlueLink telematics, Home to car (H2C) with Alexa / Google Voice assistant, voice-activated sunroof, wireless charging & more, price premium over the regular Venue is totally justified by the additions & improvements, safety kit = ESP, 6 airbags, rear disc brakes, Blue Link SOS, Hill Assist, factory-fitted dual camera dash-cam, Hyundai's wide & competent after-sales network

What's not: More of a warmed-up compact crossover than a proper hot crossover, 1.0L DCT variant shows initial lag...even otherwise, it’s not as explosive as VW’s 1.0 TSI, handling is not as confidence-inspiring as one would expect from a "hot" crossover...tyre upgrade is mandatory! The OEM rubber gives up easily, diminutive street presence...looks more hatchback than SUV from some angles, especially the rear, strictly a 4-seater; the rear bench has very awkward seating for the middle occupant, no manual transmission even as an option! Long term reliability of the DCT is a concern, missing kit (auto wipers, steering reach adjustment...)

Official Review

Fast Sedans

BMW 330Li

What's hot: Just the right size for a luxury sedan in India, punchy rev-happy engine & well-tuned gearbox deliver superb performance, a great combination of ride and handling; just how a 3 Series should be, big step up in interior quality & design (from the F30), loaded with tech, stylish speedometer & more...iDrive 7 is nice to use

What's not: Sad boot space with the spare wheel underneath, pricing is stiff for some variants, fake engine noise piped in; tad too fake for our tastes

Official Review

Mercedes C300d AMG Line

What's hot: Powerful engine with a 0 - 100 time of ~6 seconds, lovely 9-speed gearbox, AMG Line body kit looks hot, suspension offers the perfect ride & handling balance for India

What's not: Very expensive, spare tyre placed on the boot floor chews into cargo space, some missing features

Test drive report

Continue reading this thread for more insights and information.

Maybe it is the most fun-to-drive car under Rs 15 lakh. Yes, I am including the likes of the VW Virtus and Skoda Slavia when saying that.

BHPian rajushank84 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I drove this car (N8 DCT) for over 150 km today, a few observations:

• Surprisingly good ride. I was expecting a jarringly stiff suspension, it is not that. But still, not rolly-polly, seems "just right" between sporty and friendly.

• Steering feel is exaggerated on YouTube reviews, in my opinion. Sure, it is better than most other cars being made today this side of BMWs and Mercs, but it is not THAT feelsome. Just a tad heavier than a regular i20. Maybe I was expecting too much based on the online reviews I had read/watched. But I don't think it's more feelsome than Polo/Vento/Rapid steering.
• As a car overall it is excellent, especially the interiors and infotainment. Feels "premium".
• Certainly lots of fun to drive on an open highway.
• The audio system quality is much better than even some luxury sedans I have driven! Punches way above its weight class.
• Feature-wise it lacks nearly nothing. From auto headlamps, smart keyless, Bose stereo, 10-inch nav, sunroof, and a whole bunch of other things - it feels like a premium car one would be proud to own.

Overall - one of the most fun to drive cars available on the market today, maybe THE most fun to drive car this side of 15 lakhs. Yes, I am including the likes of Virtus and Slavia when saying that.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

I found it to be unacceptable. I am writing to Hyundai customer service to see if they will ensure that such practices aren't repeated.

BHPian neil.jericho recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I dropped into a Hyundai showroom as I was interested in checking the I20 N Line and Verna. Prior to leaving for the test drive, the sales consultant asked me if I wanted my Honda Jazz to be evaluated for its exchange value. He called the person in charge to come and check the vehicle condition, while the test drive was conducted. Assuming that the evaluation will happen within the showroom premises (as was the case with a Honda showroom earlier), I agreed to the same and handed over the keys.

The test drive of the i20 N Line was around 15 minutes in duration. The TPMS system showed that one of the tires of the car was under inflated at 21 PSI. The sales person said that it was fine and I could go ahead with the test drive.

Coming from the Jazz CVT, the punch from the turbo petrol was quite something else. It took me some time to get used to the response from the turbo petrol block. The dashboard was a welcome departure from that on my functional if unexciting, Honda Jazz.

The steering was a touch light for such a sporty car. What surprised me was the lack of engine braking while downshifting with the paddle shifters. I'm used to a good amount of engine braking in the Jazz CVT setup but on the i20 N Line, each time I downshifted, it felt as though no retardation was happening. The brake pedal feel was also really off the mark. I suspect that the showroom hasn't done much in terms of maintenance for the brakes but the lack of engine braking is certainly new to me.

I also liked the large display and appreciated the fact that the maps shows a warning sign in a corner for upcoming hospitals (no honking sign), schools, no parking zones etc. The sales person was able to show me in real time how it was updating as we were passing different buildings. I never even knew that such a nifty feature existed.

There are some discounts running on the i20 N Line this month. Last month, the discount was Rs 20,000. This month the discount is Rs 50,000. For anyone interested in the car, this seems to be a good time to pick it up.

I didn't expect to like the i20 N Line as much as I did. It's time to read through this thread from page 1 and learn more about it.

And now coming to the 2nd part of my showroom experience…

When I returned to the showroom, I found that my Honda Jazz was missing. The sales person casually told me that the evaluators had taken it for a test drive without my permission. I asked him to call the evaluators back to the showroom, immediately. In addition to this, I asked to speak to the sales manager.

10 minutes later, there was no sign of either party.

15 minutes after I was done with my test drive, the evaluators nonchalantly returned with my car. Magically, the sales manager also appeared on cue. Where he was for so long when the showroom didn't have a single other customer till then, was a mystery to me. The evaluators claimed that they called the sales executive who was in the car with me but he didn't pick up the phone. Hence, they decided to go on a joy ride themselves.

While reviewing the dashcam footage, I found that the Hyundai showroom employees left at 12:05 PM and returned only at 12:33 PM. Their test drive was twice as long as the one which I took.

While this seems to be a common practice at the showroom, I found it to be unacceptable. I am writing to Hyundai's customer service to see if they will ensure that such practices aren't repeated.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The i20 N-Line is now available with a 6-speed manual gearbox in addition to the 7-speed DCT.

Hyundai has launched the i20 N-Line facelift. The hatchback is available in two variants: N6 and N8, with prices starting at Rs. 9.99 lakh (ex-showroom).

The sporty N-Line version of the i20 has been given a slight makeover for the 2023 model year. The cosmetic changes made to the exterior are similar to that of the standard i20. The car gets a redesigned front grille with sharper-looking LED headlamps on either side, new front and rear bumpers and tail lights with a dark chrome garnish in the centre. The N-Line gets red accents all around, twin exhausts, a spoiler and new design 16-inch alloy wheels.

The interior of the updated i20 N-Line looks similar to the standard model. There are N-Line badges on the seat and steering wheel, aluminium pedals and red ambient lighting. The dashboard houses a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system that offers Android Auto and Apple Carplay connectivity. Other features include a digital instrument cluster, automatic climate control, a wireless charger, a 7-speaker Bose audio system, cruise control, and a sunroof.

The i20 N-Line is powered by a 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engine that makes 118 BHP and 172 Nm. The engine is mated with either a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox.

2023 Hyundai i20 N-Line ex-showroom prices:

• N6 MT – Rs. 9,99,490
• N6 DCT – Rs. 11,09,900
• N8 MT – Rs. 11,21,900
• N8 DCT – Rs. 12,31,900

Yes, it is expensive but it's the most practical, sporty and feature-packed hatchback that you can get today.

BHPian rAijin_ recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Introduction

We recently brought home a Hyundai i20 N8 DCT and we are loving it.

My brother’s Maruti Swift VDI (Diesel) 2015 model was nearing its 9th anniversary (due in Dec 2023) and we were worried due to the 10-year rule on Diesel vehicles in Delhi NCR. So, we started our hunt for the new car.

Requirements:

• Budget - Around 10 Lac - 11 Lac.
• Should be an Automatic.
• Hatchback with better mileage.
• Good ground clearance.
• Should be comfortable for 4 (occasionally 5) people.

This car would be mainly driven by my brother who is a bachelor and doesn’t need a bigger car at this point.

Options considered:

Maruti Fronx

We loved the exterior look of Fronx and had almost finalised it. The crossover looks from the front and the coupe-like rear had us sold. It is arguably the best-looking Maruti and its 1.2l NA Delta plus fell right into our budget. We were so sure about it that we almost booked it without any test drive.

But, then we wanted to test the AMT gearbox as we’ve driven CVT and DCT but not AMT. So we requested a test drive of the Delta Plus variant which was happily provided. They had Fronx Delta plus AMT readily available for a test drive.

As soon as we sat inside the Fronx Delta Plus variant, everything changed. The interior does not do justice to the rather attractive styled exterior. The dashboard plastic quality felt inferior even to our 8-year-old Swift. The dark brown and black dual-tone interior did not appeal to us at all. In fact Baleno’s Black and Blue felt a lot better compared to it.

Then we took a test drive, and we realised why everyone hates AMT. The gear shift was clearly felt and the lag was frustrating. Me and my brother looked at each other and we knew Fronx was cancelled.

Thus began the search for the next car.

Maruti Baleno

We looked at the Baleno at the same Nexa dealership. Its interior quality felt similar to Fronx except for the black and blue theme which actually felt a lot better. Rejected it due to AMT.

Other compact SUVs

All compact SUVs were way above our budget. The base Automatic variant is around 14L - 15L on road in Gurugram. We didn’t look at Nissan Magnite and Renault Kiger due to the low footprint of these brands.

Hyundai i20

We were not sure which car to try next. Just when we were driving back home, we saw a dark blue Hyundai i20 with red accents and twin exhausts crossing us. We really liked it. Quick Google results showed us the Hyundai i20 N line with starry nightshade.

So, the very next day, we called Hyundai showrooms for a test drive of the i20 N line. Surprisingly, only Himgiri Hyundai had the i20 N line available for test drive. So, the next day, we left for the test drive. We wanted to drive both the iMT and DCT. We were really curious about the iMT gear (A manual gear without a clutch!).

Dealer visit, test drive and booking experience

The salesperson at Himgiri Hyundai was very courteous and resolved our queries regarding the iMT. They had good knowledge about the working of the iMT gearbox. However, they didn’t have any iMT i20 N line for a test drive. In their defence, they said that the sales of i20 iMT are very low and even Hyundai recommends moving to DCT rather than iMT. I’m not sure if that’s a sales tactic to sell DCT ( higher priced ) or some issues with iMT that Hyundai is trying to mask. But iMT is removed even from the normal i20 line up.

We still insisted on an iMT driving experience and they arranged for an iMT Venue N line. We first took a test drive of iMT Venue N line. As soon as we got in, I immediately fell in love with the gear knob of iMT. iMT felt like a good combination of a manual gearbox without a clutch. I’m not sure why Hyundai is reluctant to sell it.

After Hyundai Venue iMT, we took a test drive of i20 N8 DCT. My brother loved the DCT performance. But we still insisted on i20 N8 iMT due to ~1L lower cost ( we were already 1.5L above our budget ).

The salesperson promised us that the car would be available in around a month and we were happy to book it.

Now, something interesting happened. We thought of getting our old Swift Diesel valued by the Hyundai exchange program and they evaluated it to be 3.3L + 10k exchange bonus. We were happy with the evaluation and wanted to close this deal. But we also didn’t want to be without a car for almost a month. So, we discussed with the salesperson and he mentioned that there is an i20 N8 DCT available 3 days later. The person it was allocated to has some finance issues and hence his delivery may get delayed. There was also a 30k discount on the N8 DCT ( but no discount on the iMT variant ). So, the N8 DCT would cost us around 70k more.

After a lot of discussion, we decided to take the plunge and booked i20 N8 DCT. We also got the value of Swift marginally increased to 3.5L ( including 10k exchange bonus ).

Delivery experience

The car was available in just 2 days. We did a quick PDI on the spot and everything seemed right except for the driver door that didn’t close properly. But I remembered from the forum that this was a problem with most i20s, so we ignored it.

As usual, the complete process took 4-5 hours. We received an extra 5k discount. The insurance quote was matched. We received carpets, mud flaps as complimentary accessories and bought rain visors and cushions separately. We took the 5-year warranty and 5-year SOT.

The i20 N line experience

It’s been almost a month and we are really loving it. The i20 N line is the most practical, sporty and feature-packed hatchback that you can get today.

Yes, it is expensive. In fact the most expensive hatchback. But even the Maruti Swift ZXI AMT costs 10.5L in Gurugram! At approx 3 lac extra, we get rear disk brakes, better-tuned suspension, that twin exhaust, a ton of features, a sunroof, a lot better interior, 120 bhp power and 172 NM torque, better suspension and steering setting and the interior space of a Honda City ( almost ). Frankly, we believe it actually gives a lot of value for the money.

The DCT is rather reluctant below 30kmph - 40kmph. But above that speed, if you want a rush, just press the pedal and enjoy that grin.

Few pictures

The front and the rear view:

With the Honda City:

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.