Upcoming 2020 Hyundai i20: What to expect

Hyundai first introduced the i20 premium hatchback back in 2008 and it has been a hot-seller since. The Hyundai i20 upped the premium-ness quotient with a host of segment-first features a high-quality fit and finish. It came with a refined yet torquey 1.4-litre diesel engine which is now discontinued. The other engine option was a 1.2 liter, naturally aspirated petrol. With the competition now increasing Hyundai will be soon releasing the third generation of the i20 for the Indian market.

The 2020 Hyundai i20 will be sharper, angular and may use new engines also. Due to the outbreak of coronavirus, the launch of the third iteration of i20 has been delayed. However, here are some things that we can expect from the all-new 2020 Hyundai i20.

Petrol and Diesel engines

Unlike its main rival Maruti Suzuki Baleno, the i20 will continue to offer petrol and diesel engines. Maruti Suzuki Baleno and Toyota Glanza do not offer a diesel engine while the i20 will offer a detuned version of the 1.5-litre diesel engine found in the Seltos. There will also be a current BS6 compliant 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine and 1.0-litre turbo petrol which we have seen on the Venue. The wide range of engine options will ensure that there is an option for everyone.

Styling revamp

The upcoming i20 looks nothing like the outgoing one. Hyundai has revamped the styling extensively. The 2020 i20 looks sportier than the current one due to its lowered roofline, increased width and aggressive styling. The front still continues to get Hyundai’s cascading grille but there are new sportier bumpers in the front and at the rear.

At the front, you will get LED headlamps with LED Daytime Running Lamps and the foglamp housing has been borrowed from the Elantra. The side profile will consist of a dual-tone paint scheme and diamond-cut 16-inch alloy wheels. The rear of the hatchback has been redesigned heavily with Z-shaped wrap around LED taillamps with a lightbar in the middle of the boot. There is also rear diffuser which is flanked by rear foglights.

More features

Hyundai cars have always been feature-loaded and the upcoming i20 is expected to continue the trend. Just like the recently launched Creta, the top-spec variant of the i20 may offer a semi-digital or a fully digital instrument cluster instead of traditional dials. The touchscreen infotainment system will also be upgraded with a larger size unit and BlueLink connected technology. The BlueLink connected tech will help you with location tracking, remote controls for the Air-conditioning and vehicle telematics. It will continue to offer Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and a wireless phone charger.

Peppier 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine

The Venue sourced 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine will come with a 7-speed Dual-Clutch Transmission and as Volkswagen has discontinued the Polo 1.2 with DSG, the 2020 i20 will be the most powerful premium hatchback with a Dual-Clutch gearbox. It is not yet known if the engine will be producing 100PS or 120PS. But what we do know that this engine will be more enthusiastic in nature and will have fun to drive characteristic when compared to the competitors.

The new i20 will be launching in the upcoming months with an expected starting price of Rs 5.7-6 lakh. It will be interesting to see how the upcoming Tata Altroz with a turbo petrol engine will go against the i20. The 2020 Hyundai Elite i20 will be competing against the likes of Toyota Glanza, Maruti Suzuki Baleno, Honda Jazz, Tata Altroz and the Volkswagen Polo.