Hyundai i20 CRDI 6 Speed Manual

On the outside the new Hyundai i20 diesel has the same basic shape with some new garnishing thrown in. Its shape is much liked by many for being very muscular and aggressive. A chrome finish radiator grill comes in on this new i20. The wing mirrors have the turn indicators plunked on them which is a very welcome touch. Body colored bumpers, mirrors and door handles are standard. The Hyundai i20 diesel is a very large hatch and has that very strong looking stance from any angle you view it. Handsome looking alloys add to the glitter on the outside while the body wrapped tail lamps do their glittery stuff at the back. We are told that there is also an option of getting the Hyundai i20 diesel with an factory fitted sun roof if one desires. Rear defogger and wash wipe are standard fitment on the top end CRDI i20.The paint quality is remarkable bearing in mind that this car is exported to major European markets as well. This car has a very unique rounded and chiseled combination look that makes it stand out of the crowd.

Hyundai i20 Diesel Asta Interiors – Equipment

When Hyundai introduced the Hyundai i20 diesel last year it was one of the most anticipated launches of the year. The cabin being one of the most advanced and safest in the entire segment.  i20 is one of the largest hatch back car that is currently available in the Indian market. Generous amount of leg room and head room is very easy to find and feel inside. Chocolate Brown colored dash is very different to see but looks neat. A touch of beige is also used for the dual colored dash and door panels. Instrumentation remains the same with the back light now changed to a very attractive and soft blue shade as also seen on the New Verna Transform that we drove some time back. The centre display is perfectly angled towards the driver and displays the Radio station/Audio Track, time, trip, temperature etc very effectively. The centre console on the dashboard now has a silver finish to it as compared to the earlier black which was kind of dull to look at.  The MP3/Radio player has an USB as well as an IPod connection which is handy. The glove box is a Super XXL sized and it can swallow an entire laptop with ease and pride. The top end Hyundai i20 diesel we drove comes with a climate control that’s very quiet and efficient. The AC vents are in a triangular sort of shape and can be shut individually when not needed. Electrically adjustable wing mirrors with auto folding option are standard as well on the top end Hyundai i20 diesel. Chrome linings are seen everywhere, on the climate control dials, gear changer etc giving a very up market feel to the cabin area. The 3 spoke leather wrapped steering wheel is the same as earlier and has a good grip. Steering mounted audio controls are also a great boon while driving. The steering is also adjustable for height and reach. The gear knob is large and chunky, similar to the earlier i20 with a dash of chrome but now has the shift pattern of 6 gears on it. The seats are in the shade of chocolate keeping with the shade of the dash. Inverted head rests look different but nice. Comfort level on the front seats is very good, supportive and the height adjusts on the driver’s side helps things further. Front seat belts are not height adjustable and the belt strap doesn’t pose a nagging problem to short or medium height drivers. On the back seats are on the firm side with support available on all places that a human back needs. Head rests are adjustable on the rear seat. Neat bottle holders in the doors and other small storage bins for small items are the order of the day inside the Hyundai i20 diesel.  The quality of the interiors in regards to the seat fabric, plastics, switchgear etc is top quality.

Hyundai i20 Diesel Asta Safety Features

The Hyundai i20 diesel is an vehicle meant for the European countries where the safety norms are very high. It has the Euro Ncap 5-star safety rating. Dual front airbags, central locking with unlock on impact, ABS with EBD and side curtain air bags (only on the 1.4 automatic Petrol) are some of the features that should make the passengers feel rather very safe and reassuring when inside the i20.

Hyundai i20 Diesel Asta Engine – Drive – Suspension

The Hyundai i20 diesel is powered by an 1.4 litre CRDI diesel engine that is an 16V DOCH 4 cylinder unit. This engine produces 90ps of power @ 4000rpm and belts out 224 Nm of torque @ between 1750rpm to 2750rpm. Hyundai is a very good maker of Diesel engines right from the days of the 3 cylinder Diesel engines on the Accent and then the CRDI gems on the Verna that was also seen on the Getz later. The engine on the Hyundai i20 diesel is a very refined unit and we are told that it is an fully imported engine coming in from the Korean headquarters. The i20 Diesel isn’t just about mad power and performance. This engine is very refined and adds a very visible touch of luxury on the car while in motion. The engine is free from vibration and doesn’t make much noise either. The in cabin sound damping also helps in this regards. This engine is very rev friendly and now has an all new 6 speed gear box for company. The Hyundai i20 diesel is one of the torqueiest diesel hatch back car currently in India. Rev the engine in the 1st gear and you notice the turbo kicking in at about 1900rpm. The burst after the kick-in is in a sane manner rather than madly and suddenly as on other CRDI hatches. The new gear box feels nice to shift thru but the slight rubbery effect still prevails. Speed buildup is quick and the car feels much planted to drive at high speeds too. Now with the inclusion of the 6th gear the ratios are short for the 1st 3 while the 4th onwards are nicely spaced out. The alloy-wheeled top end CRDI comes with the standard and meaty 14-inch alloy wheels sporting beefy 185/65 R14. The Hyundai i20 diesel has always been a great handling car and the diesel variant is no different. The common suspension setup with its petrol counters parts. In fact, with the added power and torque the i20 Diesel is an even bigger pleasure to drive than the 1.2 Kappa Petrol siblings. The car is a sharp handler and eats up miles with smile. Braking is perfect with the all disc brake setup assisted with ABS and EBD. The steering is crisp and feedback is adequate at all speeds. Suspension setup remains the same as the older i20 which was a smooth handler for our bad Indian roads. The Hyundai i20 Diesel was a very fuel efficient performer and now with the 6th gear coming in things has bettered. The 6th gear now allows the engine to run at a very relaxed and lower rpm at high speeds in return giving much better efficiency. The new Hyundai i20 diesel also comes with a shift indicator that the driver and refer to and up shift or down shift and as a result get still better efficiency.  We managed to record an overall efficiency figure of 16.80 kmpl which is very good for a car this size.

Verdict

If we compare the i20 to other diesel powered hatchbacks like the Suzuki Swift DDiS, Tata Indica Vista, Skoda Fabia and the Fiat Punto and the VW Polo, we find the Hyundai i20 diesel seems to offer more value for money. It looks great, is spacious enough to fit in a family of five, handles precisely, is very drivable and now with the 6 speed gear box and refreshed interiors and exteriors is still more attractive. It may be a bit more pricey as compared to its rivals but considering the equipment it comes with as standard, it actually is very good value for money. The Hyundai i20 diesel now offers the widest range of options for customers to choose from, right from petrol and diesel engines to cubic capacities to manual and automatic gearboxes. The Suzuki Swift now seems to be under great threat with the advent of the i20 Diesel. The Diesel i20 CRDI is one of the best luxury hatches that one could choose from the current breed of cars.

Hyundai i20 Diesel Price

Hyundai i20 Asta Specifications

Hyundai i20 Diesel Engine

Engine Type - Diesel
Engine Description - 1.4 litre 90PS Diesel Engine
Engine Displacement(cc)    1396
No. of Cylinders - 4
Maximum Power - 90PS at 4000rpm
Maximum Torque - 22.4 kgm at 1750-2750rpm
Valves Per Cylinder - 4
Valve Configuration - DOHC 16V
Fuel Supply System - CRDI

Transmission

Transmission Type - Manual
Gear box - 6-Speed

Suspension System

Front Suspension - Mc Pherson Strut with Gas shock absorber
Rear Suspension    - Couple Torsion Beam Axle with Gas shock absorber
ShockAbsorbers Type - Gas-filled, Telescopic Dual acting type

Steering

Steering Type - Power
Steering Column    Tilt & Telescopic
Turning Radius (wheel base) - 5.20 mtrs.

Brake System

Front Brake Type - Disc
Rear Brake Type - Disc
Fuel Type - Diesel
Fuel Tank Capacity (litres) - 45
Emission Norm Compliance - BS III, BS IV (For Metro Cities)

Tyres

Tyre Size - 185/65 R14
Tyre Type - Tubeless tyres
Alloy Wheel Size - 14 inches

Hyundai i20 Diesel Features

1. CD MP3 player with steering mounted controls.
2. AUX and USB ports.
3. Climate controlled AC.
4. Power windows front and rear.
5. Power mirrors and Retractable mirrors with blinkers
6. Two Airbags.
7. Seat height adjusters on driver side.
8. Steering wheel adjuster for reach and height.
9. ABS + EBD.
10. All wheel disc brake.
11. Rear defogger with washer.
12. Broad tires with nice alloys.
13. Remote locking/unlocking and boot opener.
14. Trendy key remote.

Things we dislike in Hyundai i20 Diesel

1. Absence of a live fuel mileage meter.
2. Rear seats offering less thigh support.
3. Single Horn provided is inappropriate for India.
4. Seats could have been leather at least in the top-end variant.
5. Gear shifting could be better, the Hyundai Verna diesel has one of the best gear shift feel in the Hyundai line-up.
6. Rear headroom is less due to the swooping roofline for tall passengers.
7. Absence of the front quarter glass like the which could come in handy during turning.
8. Price. Due to the level of export content, Hyundai is unable to offer this car at a lower price. If they did, it would mean even more VFM.
9. Absence of bottle holders or map pockets on the rear door pads.
10. Seat belt height adjuster absent.

Things we liked in Hyundai i20 Diesel

1. Awesome engine with up market feel and refinement (easily the best CRDI in the hatch segment).
2. Loaded with gadgets which are only found on the top end variants of the mid-size sedans.
3. Belongs to a breed of Euro 5 Star safety rating cars .
4. Meaty tires with alloys helping a big way in improving the ride quality and handling.
5. Awesome mileage figures.
6. Braking ability of this hatch, remember this has all wheel discs aided by ABS .
7. Very stylish design from outside, very trendy and a sure head turner.
8. Superb interior design, very different design element used.
9. Super comfortable driver and co driver seats, they just wrap around you.
10. Huge huge glove box, not seen on may Luxury cars too, can sallow a laptop, its also cooled.
11. The windshield washer spray literally thrusts water on the glass, the cleaning is exceptional and very different from any other car.
12. Audio controls on the steering – not many hatches have it.
13. Retractable mirrors with turn indicators, noteworthy here is the function even works when you have removed the keys out of the ignition slot.