Hyundai's i20 model is a strong contender with the popular Toyota Yaris, Ford Fiesta, and Volkswagen Polo models, making this a highly competitive segment.
With loads of standard luxuries and features, the Hyundai i20 is yet another great offering from the South Korean automotive manufacturer. Like their other vehicles, such as the Grand i10 and Accent models, the i20 quickly climbed the ranks to become one of South Africa's best-selling cars in recent years, according to NAAMSA's sales reports.
The nippy i20 has also shown its strength in the World Rally Championship. It has been a serious podium contender in several races, challenging the likes of the ever-dominant VW Polo and Ford Fiesta teams.
Launched in 2008, the hatchback entered a highly competitive segment of affordable, value-for-money cars.
Oddly, the South Korean manufacturer sells the i20 to markets across the world but not their own country. However, they do have the Accent hatchback, a model not available elsewhere currently.
Also known as the Inokom i20, the subcompact car was first revealed at the 2008 Paris Motor Show and was immediately available in both three-door and five-door versions. It was viewed as the replacement for the Getz model, although, at the time, the Getz was still being sold in other countries including South Africa.
In 2014, the second-generation i20 was again unveiled at the Paris Motor Show. It featured a redesigned look and added specifications, such as Bluetooth, internal 1GB storage, and increased boot space. The redesigned version went on to receive the India Car of the Year award in 2015.
Featuring a modern and trendy design with sharp edges and details, the Hyundai i20 is certainly unique. The interior is a wash of matt and polished black plastic with neat colour accents. Bluetooth capability comes standard and connects to the 4" speaker infotainment system.
Standard safety features include the anti-lock braking system (ABS) and electronic brake-force distribution (EBD). Front and rear airbags ensure increased levels of protection during an impact.
The 1.2 Motion model is powered by a four-cylinder engine with 61kW and 115Nm of torque. The combined fuel cycle is 5.9 L/100 km with 140 g/km of CO2 emitted.
Hyundai South Africa offers the i20 at all of their 30 dealerships across the country, and customers can structure a finance deal through Hyundai Financial Services.
The Hyundai i20 1.2 Motion MT retails from R241,900.
The Hyundai i20 is backed by Hyundai's five-year/150,000 km warranty with an additional two-year/160,000 km warranty on the powertrain. Roadside assistance is offered until five-years/150,000 km have been reached.
Each Hyundai i20 service plan is valid for two-years/30,000 km, with service intervals every 15,000 km. You can learn more about Hyundai's warranties on their website or by visiting your local Hyundai dealership.
Hyundai South Africa offers their RenewTech, a service that repairs minor dents and scratches to help keep your car in great condition. Hyundai also offers AdCover, a service that pays the deficit between your car insurance payout and the actual value should your vehicle be stolen or written-off.
Similarly, if your Hyundai is written off or stolen and not recovered within 31 days, Hyundai's optional Deposit Cover pays a portion towards the deposit on your next Hyundai vehicle.
According to the Ctrack, the South African car tracking and stolen vehicle recovery service, Hyundai vehicles are deemed a high risk for theft and hi-jacking. Keep this in mind when you're looking for car insurance quotes, as you may need several to find the best deal. Luckily, there's the hippo.co.za car insurance comparison tool, which gives you multiple insurance quotes in minutes, making it easy to compare them side by side.
Sources: Hyundai South Africa, Wikipedia, NAAMSA, Vehicle Theft Report
Information provided for informational purposes. Prices quoted correct at the time of publishing this article.
