Hyundai i20 2018 review
This is the revised-for-2018 Hyundai i20. It’s been around in its current iteration since 2014, but a mid-life refresh has introduced a few improvements. It's an important car for the brand, and only the Tucson SUV sells in bigger numbers. So what’s new?
From a styling point of view, nothing radical. Hyundai’s signature ‘cascading’ front grille takes the place of the similarly-shaped old one, while the bumper is subtly revised to boost aerodynamic efficiency. Around the back there’s a new rear bumper as a result of the number plate migrating upwards onto the boot lid, and the tail light graphics have changed.
Save for some new seat fabric and a panoamic glass roof for top-spec Premium SE Nav models, little has changed inside. It’s a dowdy cabin, but on the plus side it’s logically laid out, well built, and one of the most spacious in its class.
The most welcome introductions inside are the addition of both air conditioning and a seven-inch touchscreen on the basic S trim. Though lacking sat-nav (it’s standard on Premium Nav and above) every i20 now gets Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, allowing easy access to third party mapping via your chosen smart phone.
Hyundai’s infotainment setup is one of the better systems in the segment, however - not as slick or pretty the Volkswagen Polo’s, but clear graphics and a mix of simple menus and physical shortcut buttons make it a doddle to use.
