Hyundai Elite i20

The Hyundai Elite i20 was recently unveiled in India. Hyundai shifted from the previous i20's Fluidic design, to European-esque Fluidic 2.0 design philosophy with the aim of changing the image of the car from "youthful" to "bold".

EXTERIOR
The front fascia of the i20 looks bold with the new Fluidic 2.0 design philosophy, and the presence of a hexagonal grille adds to the bold look. It also features sweptback headlamps and sleek fog-lamps on the bumper. But, the day-time running lights (DRLs) are missing.
The side profile of the i20 looks sporty due to the new 16-inch alloys, though it only comes with the Asta and Sportz models; the remaining trims come with 14-inch alloys. The rear of this car is the most appealing to the eye due to the 'Alfa-Romeo meets Veloster' tail-lights, and the blacked out C-pillar blends in equally well.

INTERIOR
Stepping-in the new i20 is a pleasant feeling, mainly because of the dual tone, beige and black interiors, the neatly laid out dash and the fit-finish and very good quality plastic is used.
And being a Hyundai product, this car comes loaded with features like ? a nice 3 spoke steering wheel with controls mounted on it, a front central armrest with storage, a steering-sensitive rear parking camera, cooled glove-box, keyless entry, 8-speaker stereo, and a 2-DIN audio system with 1GB storage.
The seats are firm and comfortable, with good under-thigh support. You will be comfortable travelling in the new i20's rear row as there is adequate leg room and AC vents in the rear row. But taller passengers might find the headroom a little less.
The boot has adequate space for a couple of medium sized suitcases.

ENGINE, PERFORMANCE, FUEL ECONOMY, RIDE & HANDLING
The 2017 Hyundai Elite i20 is available with three options each for engines and transmissions.
The 1.2L petrol engine produces 83PS of power & 115Nm torque and comes mated to a five-speed manual gearbox;
The 1.4L U2 CRDi diesel unit generates 90PS power & 220Nm of torque and comes paired with a six-speed manual transmission; and
The third option is the 1.4L petrol mill that comes mated to a four-speed automatic gear-box and produces 100PS of power and 132Nm of torque.
The Elite i20 AT is only available in the Magna variant.
The updated 2017 Elite i20 competes with the Maruti Suzuki Baleno, Honda Jazz and the Volkswagen Polo.
The fuel efficiency figures have improved are quite impressive - the petrol engine offers 18.5kmpl, and the diesel promises 22kmpl.
The suspension in the new i20 is softer as compared to its predecessor, which makes the car tackle bad roads - well. The high ground clearance of 170 mm makes driving on poorly-built roads less challenging.
The steering is precise around the corners and the car is handled well at high speeds though you might feel a little body roll.

CONCLUSION
The Elite i20 has changed the perception of hatchbacks. With its improved driving dynamics, added features, more space, modern and futuristic design, the Elite i20 leaves a positive impact. In terms of features, Hyundai has loaded the Elite sufficiently.