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- Priced at R405 900, the i20 N-line is packed with features that make it compelling.
- There's no extra power or torque from the 1.0-litre turbo engine, but they've done some handling upgrades.
- Seven-speed DCT auto gearbox takes some time to get used to and it works best in Sports mode.
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Hyundai recently unleashed its powerhouse pair - the refreshed i30 N and the new Kona N - in South Africa. We won't be receiving the i20 N. However, the i20 N-Line has been launched in South Africa, and it aims to strike a delicate balance between performance and affordability.
It's not cheap, let's get that out of the way, coming in at R405 900, but it's packed with comfort and convenience features, and they've just done enough to alter the shape of it to make it unique on the road.
After my brief sojourn with the lesser-spotted i20 N-Line, I was highly impressed - not because of the looks, the technology kit or the safety features - but because it packs one of the most engaging front-wheel-drive platforms I've driven in a while. It also has a lovely exhaust note thanks to a modified sports exhaust with twin tailpipes - but more on this later.
What's the i20 N-Line all about?
This car comes to market to cater to drivers who want something new, compact, easy-to-operate, and with built-in street-cred. But you don't want to break the bank to finance it. A proper Hyundai N car will set you back around R750 000 these days if you can find one that dealers haven't marked up already. So for around R405 000, this i20 N-Line enables you to jump into the life of N with a taste of handling and performance prowess.
It's based on the range-topping 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol model. Still, Hyundai has added a unique body kit, special 16-inch alloy wheels, that aforementioned sports exhaust and a range of interior updates. You get an N badge on the steering wheel and throughout the cabin and firm sporty seats, but they grip you in the right places. All the features you expect at this pricepoint are here, including electrically operated windows and mirrors, reversing camera, traction control, etc.
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Compared to the drive experience in the i20 I tested last year, this one rode a little firmer, but I was happy for the compromise as the handling was on point. Hyundai hasn't sent me any specific material to show that the suspension's been tweaked for South Africa, but I know that the car receives a bespoke ride and handling setup in some markets such as Asia, according to a colleague at Autocar India.
The steering is just the right weight, and the vehicle changes direction quickly with very little to upset body control. If you're used to driving front-wheelers with decent handling and agility, you will appreciate how this i20 N-line goes around corners, considering it's a mildly hot hatch and not an extra hot hatch like its N siblings.
Feisty engine and drivetrain
The three-pot engine that's fitted to the i20 N-Line hasn't been fiddled with, although you can tell that it has the potential to pull harder and stronger than Hyundai's currently tuned it to be. There's enough poke at 90kW and 172Nm, and if you keep the revs on the boil, it provides good pick up for corner to corner blasts. They say it will take 9.9 seconds to go from zero to 100km/h, which will not set your heart racing, but it's plenty for getting around the city and having fun now and then without being reckless.
The gearbox was a bit of a quirky bugger, as it sometimes shifted quickly through the gears, and sometimes it would drag the shift from cog to cog. In Drive, the seven-speed DCT prefers to pull away in second gear most of the time, but you access first gear from pull-away if you tip the shifter to the S mode.
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I drove in S mode most of the time as this mode also raises the engine's idle speed for increased responsiveness. I found that if you are quick with your accelerator input and hold the pedal halfway through its travel, the car would not punch into the next gear with sportiness, but if you stab the throttle and pin it to the floor, it revs up and dives into second, and third with much more ferocity. Look, it's not going to give you a kick in the back like an Aventador SVJ, but it's got this lovely Jekyll and Hyde feel to it, depending on how you treat the throttle and what drive mode you're in.
Sure, at this price point, it would have been nice to have some more power and torque from the factory to play with in the i20 N-Line, but I think you'll be happy with its performance if you like driving and you prefer handling as opposed to outright speed.
It's a car anyone can enjoy
Thanks to its easy to live with five-door layout, a useable trunk, a plethora of features and a stellar warranty, it's hard to find fault with the i20 N-Line. The drive experience was fantastic, and it provided loads of fun for getting around town. Whether you're a young executive looking for your first sporty new car, or an empty-nester looking to scale back to something more efficient, you'll be pleased with what the i20 offers.
I had no issues loading and unloading the child seat thanks to wide door apertures, and its feature set will be more than enough to satisfy your need for gizmos and gadgets. Heck, you even get wireless charging for your phone in the centre console as standard, something you have to pay extra for in most premium cars.
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I ended my test drive period after five days with an average fuel consumption of 9.8 litres per 100km, but that's only because I made far too much use of the Sport mode and drove it like the Hyundai N Rally1 hybrid World Rally Championship car. You will be able to use much less fuel than that when taking longer highway journeys, and you can use less energy around town if you just go easier on the accelerator. But good luck with that, as the car sounds so sweet that you will love hearing it rev.
Please take one for a test drive at your local Hyundai dealer, and let me know if you think it's as feisty and fun to drive. Or, let me know if you think there's a better option for us in SA that can compare to the i20 N-Line at this price.
The Hyundai i20 N-Line comes with a seven-year or 150 000km mechanical warranty.
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