Introduction

Ease of driving, convenient dimensions and good fuel economy make hatchbacks a sensible purchase for an urban dweller and we may attribute a certain percentage of hatchback sales primarily for the above mentioned requirements. But, the humble hatchback might not be on everyone’s shopping list. For people with money to spend, they might just opt for a sedan or an SUV, and now we also have to take into account the new “in things” – crossovers. Still, if a large crossover doesn’t figure on someone’s list, they might just settle for the next best segment. Now, we have another segment that has reared its head - the hatchback-based crossover. This segment is still in its nappies and currently there are only three cars in this segment – Fiat Avventura, Toyota Etios Cross and VW Cross Polo.

Hyundai is now the fourth entrant into this segment with its ninth product in India: the i20 Active. The i20 Active is a pseudo crossover based on the Elite i20 with rugged crossover looks, higher ground clearance and reworked mechanicals. We drove the i20 Active in Goa to figure out the changes it gets over its hatchback sibling and to ascertain if it can be the game changer in a niche segment.

Design and Interior

While the Elite i20 is a good looking car, Hyundai has done well with the i20 Active too. The i20 Active gets a slightly different frontal design, the pleasant smile has been traded for an aggressive grille, the large fog lamps up front lend it the macho appeal. The headlamps now get projectors and LED DRLs, a faux bash plate that meets the bumper, further compliments the frontal design. There are new 16-inch alloy wheels (looks similar to the Avventura’s), roof rails, but the subtle cladding on the sides covering the front and rear wheel arches is disappointing. Hyundai should have added more plastic here as the Etios Cross gets it in good portions and that to some extent gives it a pseudo crossover look.

As with the front there aren’t any drastic changes at the rear and there are the aluminium finish roof rails and the rear gets a sharp spoiler which works its way through the running board to the rear wheel arches. The C-pillar gets a glossy finish, the rear the bumper have integrated fog lamps and the different fuel filler cap completes the look here.

Inside the cabin it is the same story as the Elite i20, it has the same space and equipment on offer. However, to spice things up Hyundai is offering two new colourthemes – Tangerine Orange and Aqua Blue. The insides, majorly black, are then dressed in contrasting colours. The aluminium pedals are new and add to the sporty appeal inside.

Engine and Performance

Hyundai officials claim the final drive on the petrol and diesel models have been tweaked and the resultant is better drivability. The bottom-end torque has been boosted by close to 6 per cent on the petrol and 11 per cent on the diesel. I drove the petrol i20 Active and I wasn’t very impressed with it. Despite Hyundai’s claims, the petrol still has a weak bottom end and it still has the tendency to stall while starting off. I took the diesel for a short spin, while I couldn’t make out the difference in bottom-end torque in a 3 km drive, it felt so much better after driving the petrol whole day. Coming back to the 1.2 VTVT, it seems inadequate for the vehicle and while it revs all the way upto the 7000rpm redline, it doesn’t reach there enthusiastically. The first gear on the speedometer hits the limiter at a speedo indicated 45kmph, second peaks out at 85kmph. I couldn’t max out the third gear as it took time to reach there and we couldn’t find an open stretch on the set route.

The gearbox on the petrol and the diesel are easy to use and the shifts are smooth. The six-speed gearbox of the diesel has a very different feel than the five-speed unit of the petrol and feels more precise. The diesel felt sprightly and super refined and is the one to buy here; it is also the quietest diesel pseudo crossover in its segment. The petrol felt out of breath and a little underpowered with its weak bottom end.

Handling hasn’t been Hyundai’s forte, but the Elite i20 with its stiffer chassis was a decent handler. The Active i20 has a similar suspension setup as the Elite’s, but it rides on taller springs anda raise in ground clearance of 20mm is reason enough to test whether the dynamics get wonky. It does decently here. There is a fair bit of body roll, but its handling is very predictable. However, it is not as good around the corners as the Avventura which rolls too but has better body control and steering feel. The petrol came shod with 195/55/R16 Apollo Alnac 4G tyres and the diesel we drove had Bridgestone B250. The grip levels with the Apollos were nice and while I couldn’t drive the diesel too much, it did feel like it handled better. It cannot be singled out on the tyres, as it had more to do with the additional frontal weight with the diesel engine. The petrol had limited grip at the front but the diesel seemed to hold better.

The ride is also similar to the Elite i20, the low speed ride is absorbing and while finding potholes the size of Mumbai’s roads in Goa was a task, the low speed ride was good. At high speeds it maintains the line and doesn’t get unsettled very easily. Overall it has a decent ride and handling package that will keep its customers happy.

Verdict

The i20 Active packs in all the goodies that the Elite i20 has, but with the added benefit of higher ground clearance and pseudo machoness. It offers a good ride,is a decent handler, has proven engines and most importantly since it is a Hyundai, it should be easy to live with. If the i20 Active has caught your fancy, then we’d recommend the diesel variant, as it has the power to transport five passengers and the luggage and is more efficient too.

This niche segment might just be the answer for those aspirational urban buyers who want a crossover, but want it to be small enough to fit their budgets and parking spaces. And, we would like to go out on a limb and predict that Hyundai will not find it difficult to sell 3,000 units (Hyundai’s sales projection) of the i20 Active crossover.