SA Road Tests

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This is the home of automobile road tests in South Africa. I drive South African cars, SUVs and LCVs under real-world South African conditions. Many of the vehicles driven are world cars as well, so what you read here possibly applies to the models you get where you live.

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This is a launch report. In other words, it's simply a new model announcement. The driving experience was limited to a short drive over a preselected course. We can therefore not tell you what it will be like to live with over an extended period, how economical it is, or how reliable it will be. A very brief first impression is all we can give you until such time as we get a test unit for trial. Thank you for understanding.

Nobody’s Housebland: 2021 Hyundai i20 released

No subtlety either

Posted: May 28, 2021

Pricing
1.2 Motion manual:                          R275 900
1.4 Motion automatic:                      R305 900
1.2 Fluid manual:                             R289 900
1.2 Fluid manual – 2-Tone:                R294 900
1.0 TGDI Fluid manual:                     R330 900
1.0 TGDI Fluid manual – 2-Tone:         R335 900
1.0 TGDI Fluid DCT:                          R355 900
1.0 TGDI Fluid DCT – 2-Tone:             R360 900
Warranty: 7 years, 200 000 km
Roadside assistance: 7 years, 150 000 km
Service plan: 4 years, 60 000 km

(Siren, repeating at one-second intervals) All crew to action points! This is not a facelift! Repeat: This is not a facelift!

And it isn’t: It’s a new generation of i20 called BC3 or BI3, depending on where it came from, Turkey or India. Ours is the 45mm-shorter Chennai version built to take advantage of that country’s tax laws; but still a centimetre longer, on a wheelbase stretched by the same amount, and 41mm wider than the last one.

So what? Eighty-eight millimetres more rear seat legroom, more shoulder space – 30mm in front and 40mm in the back – and an extra 26 litres of cargo volume is “what”. And, for those of us bravely enduring a world filled with speed humps and potholes, Hyundai increased its ground clearance from 150mm to 170mm.

It looks different too - front, back and inside – no subtlety here, this is in-your-face boldness, sexiness, whatever. Designer Thomas Bürkle calls it “Sensuous Sportiness” and it shows; new upper and lower grille, new headlamps, new fog light surrounds, new mirrors, rather similar side view but a completely reworked derrière – smoother, trimmer, wilder taillights - the kind you want to follow. As for the interior everything except possibly the pedals has changed; vents, instruments, minor controls, playpoint (eight-inch infotainment centre with wireless link for screen mirroring), everything.
 
And it’s more aerodynamic, with Cd reduced from 0.35 to 0.33. That means improved fuel economy and less wind noise. In case you wondered, steering, ride and handling have been improved too.

Hopefully not about to change is Hyundai SA’s average “burn rate”, or cost of honouring warranty claims, on i20 models since introduction in 2009 of just R32 per car per month.

New kit:
•    Electric folding mirrors for Fluid variants,
•    Rear-view monitor with guidelines,
•    Rear passenger air-vents in Fluid versions,
•    USB charging socket and cell phone storage for rear passengers,
•    Multi-function steering wheel with radio and telephone controls,
•    Cruise-control on steering wheel, and wireless charging pad in centre console, for Fluid models.

New colours: Titan Grey, Polar White, Starry Night, Fiery Red, Typhoon Silver and Phantom Black. Black over White and Black over Red are available as two-tone options on Fluid models.

The range has been rationalised. Active level is history, 1197cc Motion and Fluid versions with five-speed manual remain, the 1.4 Motion automatic upgrades to six speeds and everything else is powered by the 1.0-litre TGDI turbo from Kona and Venue. Transmissions are six-speed manual or seven-speed DCT.

The familiarisation drive took place through North Coast cane country with its unmarked - and hidden by bagasse - narrow, high, and nasty speed humps. Despite the new i20’s increased ground clearance, we were extremely cautious over those; they’re potential sump- and wheel breakers.

Apart from that our launch rides, 1.0 TGDI Fluid manual and DCT, were brisk, responsive, spacious, comfortable and quiet; to the extent that co-pilot and I yakked so contentedly we missed a turn or two. We weren’t alone in doing that.

These new i20s are really new, not just facelifts. Take a look.

Information gathered at a manufacturer-sponsored launch event

What We Do

This is a one-man show, which means that every car reviewed is given my personal evaluation and receives my own seat of the pants judgement - no second hand input here.

Every test car goes through real world driving; on city streets littered with potholes, speed bumps and rumble strips, on freeways and if its profile demands, dirt roads or goat tracks as well. As a result, my test cars do occasionally get dirty. It's all part of the reviewing process.

I do my best to include relevant information like real life fuel economy or a close mathematical calculation, boot size or luggage space, whether the space is both usable and accessible, whether life-sized people can use the back seat (where that applies), basic specs of the vehicle and performance figures if they are published. In the case of clearly identified launch reports, fuel figures are of necessity the laboratory numbers provided with the release material.

If ever I place an article that doesn't cover most things, it's probably because I have dealt with a very similar vehicle already, so you will be able to find what you want in another report under the same manufacturer's heading in the menu on the left.

Hope you like what you see, because there are no commercial interests at work here. There are no advertisers and no “editorial policy” rules. I add bylines to acknowledge sponsored launch functions and the manufacturers or dealerships that provide the test vehicles.  And, as quite a few readers have found, I answer every serious enquiry from my home email address, with my phone numbers attached, so you can see I do actually exist.

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