Hyundai i20 is one of those cars which create hype and maintain that hype for a long long time to come.
Back in 2008, when the car was launched it was meant to replace the Hyundai Getz. Since the car came into the market, it has created a benchmark for hatchbacks in the country.
So much so, that it made all major manufacturers call an emergency board meeting to make their own hatchbacks. Baleno, Altroz, Jazz, Glanza, the list is now long and the segment is hotter than ever.
The Hyundai i20 is a different league, certainly. It turned the events of fate for Hyundai. So, what worked well for Hyundai i20 that is well known to everyone, and quite obvious.
Let’s look into the what, how and when of Hyundai’s one of the most successful cars yet. Also, we’ll find out about the past, present and the future of the Hyundai i20.
You Might Also Like: 2020 Hyundai i20 – 5 Interesting Facts You Didn’t Know
The First Gen | Hyundai i20 (2008)
Getz was there but didn’t get Hyundai what it exactly wanted. Then comes in the Hyundai i20, and voila!
Initially, Hyundai had projected 1,000 units annually for the i20. In fact, the domestic sales target didn’t even matter much for the carmaker, as the production line was set up for exports to European countries. However, then came the year 2010 and the i20 became ‘the thing’. There were a plethora of factors which might have helped in the boom for the car’s sales.
First one being, Honda. Yes, Honda. The Japanese carmaker launched the Jazz and priced it ₹1,20,000 above the Hyundai i20. This eventually killed the Honda Jazz, making the i20 a value for money proposition for many. The car had a longer feature and equipment list than it’s Japanese counterpart and was priced way below.
Hyundai launched the car with two engine options – 1.2-litre petrol and 1.4-litre diesel. Both the engines were adequate enough for a hatch on the Indian roads. The petrol engine generated 79 bhp and 112 Nm of torque. On the diesel front, the car generated a good 90 bhp and 220 Nm of torque. Addin on to all the good stuff was the safety. The car was awarded a 5-star rating by the European NCAP, which worked like the cherry on the top.
The Facelift: A Blockbuster
Hyundai did sense the resistance and worked on it well. The 2008 Hyundai i20 had some issues which made people go against it. Many users complained of the rattling steering. So, Hyundai added a new steering rack and steering bush. The first-gen facelift of the i20 was the first car in its segment to have daytime running LEDs, which added to its ‘cool’ element.
The fluidic design made the car look sharper and much more worth it. However, some issues still prevailed in the car. The service cost of the vehicle was a tad higher than the others. Moreover, the highway drives seemed a bit under power, according to some users.
So, keeping these smaller issues in mind, Hyundai planned something bigger.
Elite For The Masses: The Elite i20 (2014)
This was where the Hyundai i20 did actually set a mark. The Elite i20 was the car which made Maruti bring out the Baleno and did actually gain quite a lot out of it.
The Elite i20 was made by Hyundai with an aim to actually stay here and make an impact It had completely new design elements, gave the car a look worth drooling upon. It’s elongated headlamps at the front and the hexagonal grille, made the car look wider at the front.
The car’s suspension had been re tuned a bit, making it more comfortable on low-speeds. Apart from that, the car saw the major changes only on the outside.
Keeping the trend in mind, Hyundai launched the facelift version of the same at Auto Expo 2018. The car saw a slew of changes on the exterior while the interior saw some minor customisations.
Suggested For You: 2020 Hyundai i20 will now LAUNCH in September. Here’s why!
The Future: 2020 Hyundai i20
With the BS6 transformation round the corner, Hyundai is well prepared. The car did give a skip to the Auto Expo 2020, but it is all set to come to India. Earlier, Hyundai planned on bringing in the car in June 2020, but postponed it, seeing the Coronavirus pandemic.
The newer car is set to come with a set of upgrades. However, when it comes to styling the car might not have a lot to present in contrast to its predecessor. The engine in the car will be the same as in the Grand i1o NiOs and will be BS6 compliant.
What lies ahead for the Hyundai i20 is certainly good. All we have to see now is, how good than the last one.
Also read: 2020 Hyundai Elite i20: Official Images Leaked Before Launch
