The first thing I noticed about this car when it pulled into the driveway was just how adorable it looked, resembling a frog in its lime green colour. When you get in the car, having such a bubbly colour in a cute little hatch with the music playing instantly brightens your mood. The Hyundai i20 is the epitome of a cute girl teenage car.
The car I test drove this week was the bottom of the line Hyundai i20 Active and while this car lacked some of the luxuries of automatic headlights and steering wheel controls, this car certainly is value for money at $18,490 and isn’t a basic car. The i20 Active represents Hyundai’s value-for-money philosophy gaining the reputation of Australia’s most affordable 5-star ANCAP safety rated car and the Best Light Car under $20,000.
The 1.4L i20 comes in seven different colours, including my favourite vibrant green, a chrome radiator grille and the Active has 15 inch steel wheels.The first thing that strikes you when walking down the street is the compact size of the i20 and the sleek and edgy lines that create a streamlined and sophisticated design. Inside, the instrument cluster illuminates the typical Hyundai blue, something that has been added to the 2011 model. The cloth seats are very comfortable with height adjustment along with height and tilt steering wheel adjustment allows for a comfortable driving position. The Active provides adequate storage inside with a spacious center console, glovebox and a 295L boot capacity. A major feature that has been added to the 2011 i20 Active is Bluetooth as standard. The audio system also boasts MP3 compatibility, AUX input and a 4 speaker system.
Now to the safety that the new Hyundai i20 is renowned for. It boasts all the usual ABS, EBD, ESC, TCS, six airbags and all the warning lights, however that Active does not have front fog lights. To improve occupants safety in the event of a crash, the i20 has both front and rear crush/crumple zones, impact absorbing bumpers and side impact intrusion bars in the doors designed to minimise the impact of a crash on the passengers and driver. Security is as standard with central locking, engine immobiliser, keyless entry with burglar alarm and Hyundai’s Active Locking with speed sensing door locking.
The i20 is an absolute pleasure to drive. It’s compact exterior makes it the perfect car for city driving and is very easy to maneuver with a 10m turning circle. As to be expected, the i20 does lack a bit of power, however it is very comfortable and easy to drive and has excellent handling. While the i20 may be considered small, inside the cabin there is plenty of room for 4 people and a tad squishy for 5. One of the most impressive features of the i20 is the 6.4L per 100km fuel consumption that had me driving all over town picking up friends just to see if I could drain the tank in my one week of driving it and for once I am proud to say I failed at this task!
Overall, the i20 is a bundle of joy. This car oozes cool and chic and is down right fun to drive. It is a fantastic first car that is affordable for most p-platers and the i20 offers the Elite and Premium ranges that are above the already fantastic Active. The multiple awards and sky high sales of the i20 aren’t for no reason and this is a car that I would defiantly recommend.
P-Plate Positives
1. The price and value for money is at an absolute premium, especially its safety.
2. I cannot get past the green colour, it instantly lifts your mood and is the colour I would chose if I was buying this little bundle of joy!
3. Excellent fuel economy is incredibly helpful in times of rising fuel prices, especially for those young people on a budget.
P-Plate Negatives
1. The lack of steering wheel controls and automatic headlights are little creature comforts that are missed, however, can be fixed by upgrading to the Elite and Premium i20.
2. I don’t have one for a long term tester!
Rating: 3.5 out of 5