SA Road Tests

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This is the home of automobile road tests in South Africa. We drive South African cars, SUVs and LCVs under South African conditions. It also just happens that most of the vehicles we drive are world cars as well, so what you read here probably applies to the models you can get at home.

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*Please remember too, that prices quoted were those ruling on the days I wrote the stories.

2009 Hyundai i20

Supersized Supermini

Published in Weekend Witness Motoring on Saturday August 29th 2009

Hyundai calls its i20 a B-segment supermini, but all this nomenclature is confusing, so let’s just call it a nice roomy little family car and leave it at that.

Designed in Europe to win market share from not only its Oriental rivals but Europeans as well, Hyundai’s i20 is solid, well built, nicely finished and spec’ed well above its natural fighting weight. It goes pretty well too.

Priced just below the psychological R150 000 barrier, the 1,4 litre version we tested develops 74 kW at 5 500 rpm and 137 Nm at 4 200 rpm. Being one of the Hyundai/Kia conglomerate’s Gamma range of engines, it is thoroughly up to date with the usual numbers of camshafts and valves and CVVT technology one expects of today’s offerings.

Doing zero to 100 km/h in 12,4 seconds (Car magazine) and topping out at 180 km/h, the i20 is among the top performers in the naturally aspirated 1400 cc class. What this means to John and Joanne Public and their two children, or even two adult friends, is that this little Hyundai keeps up with city traffic and acquits itself well on the highway too.

Previous generations of cars from Korea had an image problem, being brushed off as “not quite as good as Japanese or European.” My reply is that people should remember that just as Toyota, Honda and others went on to become world-beaters, Kia, Hyundai and others have upped the ante to become worthy contenders in today’s market.

Get past the badge and look at the car, hop inside to study fit and finish critically and look at specifications and fittings. OK, so the plastic is hard to the touch and there’s quite a big patch of brightwork in the middle, but it’s actually fairly conservative overall and not what you might have expected.

Seats are about averagely sized for this class of car but comfortable, while the driver’s chair adjusts for height as well as fore and aft. Covering is in a sturdy cloth that looks readily washable and three-point belts are fitted to all rear seats.

Steering adjusts for reach and height, doors lock automatically, outside mirrors are adjustable electrically and can be folded away to afford a measure of protection from parking lot buffoons. All four windows are powered, with the driver’s unit boasting single touch operation.

A single-disc CD player and radio combination with six speakers and auxiliary music box compatibility is fitted. A special cable enabling full iPod connectivity is available from the Hyundai spares department at a fee far less onerous than those demanded by certain other manufacturers.

Rear seat leg- and headroom is sufficient for six-footers, it has a decently sized glove box and the 295-litre boot is big for this class of car. The only obvious cost saving is in the wheels – they are plain black steel units fitted with stylish silver plastic covers. If you really want alloys though, any number of outlets would be happy to oblige.

On the road, the i20 impresses with its feeling of sturdy build quality, responsive steering and solid road manners. It feels bigger and more expensive than it is. Given a choice, I’m not sure I would spend the extra ten grand on the 1600 cc version; the 1400 does everything so well.

The numbers

Price: R149 900

Engine: 1 396 cc DOHC 16 valve four cylinder CVVT

Power: 74 kW at 5 500 rpm

Torque: 137 Nm at 4 200 rpm

Zero to 100 km/h: 12,4 seconds

Maximum speed: 180 km/h

Real world fuel consumption over 375 km of testing: 7,6 l/100 km

Tank: 45 litres

Warranty: 5 years/150 000 km

Service plan: 3 years/60 000 km

 

What We Do

This is a one-man show, which means that road test cars entrusted to me are driven only by me. Some reviewers hand test cars over to their partners to use as day-to-day transport and barely experience them for themselves.

What this means to you is that every car reviewed is given my own personal evaluation and receives my own seat of the pants judgement - no second hand input here.

Every car goes through real world testing; on city streets littered with potholes, speed bumps and rumble strips, on freeways and if its profile demands, dirt roads as well.

I am based in Pietermaritzburg, KZN, South Africa. This is the central hub of the KZN Midlands farming community; the place farmers go to to buy their supplies and equipment, truck their goods to market, send their kids to school and go to kick back and relax. 

So occasionally a cow, a goat or a horse may add a little local colour by finding its way into the story or one of the pictures. It's all part of the ambience!

 

Comments?

Want to ask a question, comment or just tell me you thoroughly disagree with what I say? That's your privilege, because if everybody agreed on everything, the world would be a boring place. All I ask is that you remain calm, so please blow off a little steam before venting too vigorously. Contact me here

 

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