Test Car Specifications
Model: 2022 Hyundai i20N
Price: From £25,250
Engine: 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol
Transmission: six-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Power: 204hp
Torque: 275Nm
Emissions: 158g/km
Economy/Range: 40.4mpg
0-62mph: 6.2 seconds
Top speed: 142mph
Boot space: 352 litres
Styling
Small hot hatchbacks have to tread a fine line when it comes to styling, with designers having to pick between over-zealous modification and understated indifference. Unless you choose a zany colour, the Ford Fiesta ST arguably falls into the latter camp, but there's no risk of that with the i20N. The aero kit, the ridiculous rear wing and the chequerboard design of the grille make it an unapologetic performance car, shouting as loudly as it can about its extra power and handling prowess. Maybe it looks a bit Halfords-y, but unless you're a funeral director, who cares? It's fun, and that's how a hot hatchback should be.
Interior
The i20N's interior is largely based on that of the standard i20, so you get the same touchscreen in the middle and the digital instrument display behind the steering wheel. But Hyundai has jazzed it up with pale blue trim on the air vents and door cards. There are sporty seats, too, complete with blue stitching and leather bolsters, while the steering wheel has two blue buttons on either side for controlling the driving modes. There's also a big red switch that turns the automatic rev matching function on and off.
Naturally, it's trying to feel far sportier than the standard car's cabin, and it succeeds with some wonderfully childish touches. The way the rev counter appears to catch fire in the sportiest driving mode and the massive 'Rev' button on the wheel make it feel more playful than usual, and that makes it very endearing. But it still works well, with functional and useful technology alongside the performance-orientated stuff.
Practicality
The i20N is just as practical as any other i20, which means it has exactly the same 352-litre boot. That means it’s just as spacious as a VW Polo and significantly roomier than a Ford Fiesta, so luggage carrying won’t be an issue. Rear space isn’t brilliant, but it’s fairly average for the class, and there are the seats to think about. The one-piece backrests of the front seats mean a little less light gets into the back than it otherwise would, and that makes it feel more cramped than it really is – particularly with the dark roof lining.
Performance
With a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine producing 204hp, the i20N is hardly short on power. It all goes to the front wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox and a clever (and appallingly named) N Corner Carving limited-slip differential. And the behaviour of the throttle, traction control and launch control is all altered by the N Grin Control driving mode system. Nomenclature might not be the i20N's strong suit, but performance certainly is. The sprint from 0-62mph takes 6.2 seconds and the top speed is 142mph. And although there's drag from the body and plenty of power from the engine, it'll still do more than 40mpg on a long run, which makes it reasonably economical for something so quick.
Ride & Handling
The i20N’s raspy engine suits the car really well, because it feels eager and excitable and willing at all times. That trait is reflected in the car’s suspension and steering, which give it this untouchable sense of delight whenever you ask it to push on. It’s like a small dog that’s just dying to be taken for a walk. You head for ‘N’ mode and the sound gets throatier, the throttle response is sharper and the steering gets heavier and more substantial. Then you pitch the car into a corner and it clings on tenaciously, begging you to push harder and harder until it can’t take any more. Only when you’ve exhausted the immense grip will it wash out into safe understeer, having left you, the driver, with the world’s biggest grin. It might not be the fastest on a track, but this is about as much fun as you can have on the public road.
Of course, the catch is a somewhat firm ride on the motorway, with the engine howling away at around 3,000rpm in the cruise and the suspension bouncing and jiggling over cats’ eyes, paper bags and even the lines on the road. That said, the seats are very good and it’s tolerable, if not what you’d call plush. And anyway, you’ll forgive it anything – up to and including murder – when you get out into the countryside.
Value
Prices start at just over £25,000, which makes the i20N around £3,000 cheaper than a VW Polo GTI and about £1,500 cheaper than a Ford Fiesta ST. And you don’t get much less for your money. Of course you get all the performance-orientated stuff – the trick differential, launch control and driving modes, for example – but you also get climate control, a digital instrument cluster and heated seats. The performance features are far from the only toys on board.
Verdict
The i20N is a gem. The Ford Fiesta ST has had everything its own way for years now, but the little Hyundai is by far its most capable challenger yet. It's a statement of intent from Hyundai, and it has a slightly more left-field image than the Fiesta, but most important is its sense of fun, which puts it straight to the top of the class.
