Hyundai i20 on sale for £10,695 12 | 11 | 2014
THE SECOND GENERATION Hyundai i20 has gone on sale across Scotland with prices starting at £10,695 as it targets grabbing sales from the Ford Fiesta.
With the new Skoda Fabia and Mazda 2 also in its vision, first customers will take delivery of their all-new Hyundai hatchback early next year.
Prices for the new model — first unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in October — start at £10,695 for the 1.2-litre S model, rising to £16,725 for the top-spec 1.4-litre CRDi diesel in Premium SE trim.
Offered initially as a five-door, the new i20 — whose key revisions include new exterior and interior styling, an improved range of equipment, more interior space and, thankfully, notable improvements in refinement and finish — is available with a choice of petrol or diesel engines. A three-door will follow later in 2015.
Underpinning the i20 is a new platform that features a 45mm longer wheelbase than the previous model, helping boost interior space.
Since being launched into the UK in 2009, the i20 has become the second-largest selling model in the Hyundai range with more than 73,000 sold.
This second generation i20 offers the choice of two petrol units from the 'Kappa' family and two diesels from Hyundai's 'U-II' range.
There are two versions — a 74bhp and 83bhp — of the all-aluminium four-cylinder 1.2-litre petrol, which comes with five-speed manual transmission as standard. According to Hyundai, both are capable of 60mpg and emit 109g/km of CO2.
The larger and newly developed 'Kappa' four-cylinder 1.4 petrol delivers 99bhp, returns 53mpg and emits 122g/km of CO2. It's available with either a six-speed manual or four-speed automatic gearbox.
Related: First glimpse of new Hyunda i20
Diesel lovers can opt for either a 74bhp 1.1- or 89bhp 1.4-litre powerplant, both fitted with a six-speed manual gearbox. The lower-powered unit can achieve up to 86mpg and emits 86g/km of CO2, while the more powerful diesel returns 76mpg and emits 97g/km.
Botb the exterior and interior of the new i20 make use of Hyundai's 'Fluidic Sculpture 2.0' styling language, and take cues from more recent models like the i10. The result, not surprisingly, is a more modern and distinctive look.
Up front there's a low-slung version of Hyundai's now-familiar hexagonal grille and a gloss black C-pillar which creates the impression of a semi-floating roof.
Allied to its new platform, the reworked interior — at least according to Hyundai — means the new i20 is capable of seating five adults in comfort.
Significantly, the new hatch also get a 326-litre boot, meaning it can carry 36-litres more than the Fiesta.
The new i20 will also be available with the option of a full panoramic sunroof which can both tilt and fully open. Other options include an integrated rear-view camera and front and rear LED lighting.
Buyers get the choice of five trim levels. The Standard S gets front electric windows, remote central locking, tinted windows and a USB port. S Air models also get air conditioning as standard. The likely biggest-seller in the range, the SE, gets 16in alloys, Bluetooth, cruise control, a lane-departure warning system, reversing sensors and front fog lights.
Higher-specification Premium cars get automatic headlights and wipers, climate control, LED DRLs and a mobile phone docking station, while top-spec Premium SE cars come with a panoramic roof, front parking sensors, and a heated seat and steering wheel.
All Hyundai i20s come with the company's five-year unlimited mileage warranty package — which additionally includes five years' worth of roadside assistance and vehicle health checks — as standard.
Related: Hyundai unveils new i10
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Jim McGill