In 2008, at the Paris Motor Show, Hyundai revealed the i20. It was the right vehicle to replace the outdated Getz small MPV. Their design center from Russelsheim, Germany, had decided that the vehicle had to be a hatchback. It was a time when that market was growing, although it soon collapsed due to the world economic crisis.
The all-new platform was based on a McPherson strut suspension and a rear torsion beam suspension. The long 2525 mm (99.4”) wheelbase gave more legroom for the rear passengers. The tall bodywork gave them enough headroom. It was a good car for city and around, the typical car for a commuter.
Inside the vehicle, there were plenty of options to make the car pleasant and efficient. While most of the trim levels came with manual air-conditioning, the top trim levels had automatic climate control. The fabric materials on the seats were in segment standard.
Under the hood, the i20 came equipped with decent powertrains. For commuters, the i20 offered four turbodiesel units, ranging from a frugal 1.4-liter that offered 75 hp and 90 hp, respectively, to a more potent 1.6-liter unit with either 115 hp or 128 hp. For the gasoline lovers, Hyundai offered three engine choices of 1.2-liter, 1.4-liter and 1.6-liter displacements, respectively. Only the 1.4-liter and the 1.6-liter could be mated to an automatic transmission.
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