Hyundai’s successor to their i20 hatchback is here, and they call it the ‘Elite i20’. Does it live up to its aristocratic moniker? We get behind the wheel to find out
Story: Harket Suchde
Photography: Sanjay Raikar
When the Hyundai i20 was first launched in India, it was a breakaway success. Not just because it was a head-turner either (which it was), but because it brought something else that was unique to the table. The i20 broke convention when it married competitive prices to top-of-the-line features. Hyundai will have been mindful of the legacy that the i20 badge comes with then, and will have been weighed down by the weight of expectation that goes with it. It’s only human nature, after all, to compare the successor and the predecessor, and based on initial impressions, Hyundai just might have done it again.
When you take in the exterior of the Elite, it’s attention-grabbing qualities are quite apparent. The original i20 was quite a looker in its own right, but the i20 Elite is even better. The wider body and longer wheelbase coupled with the Fluidic 2.0 design cues give the car a mean, aggressive look. This is further accentuated by the in-your-face hexagonal honeycomb grille. The sharp, flowing headlamps give the car’s visage an added touch of the mischief, something further emphasised by the twin rivets running across the length of the hood and those trapezoid fog-lamps. Look at it from side on and you’ll find a blackened out C-pillar, which in confluence with that protective ‘moulding’ strip across the bottom half of the doors and indicator mounted rear-view mirrors, and chrome handles further add to that sporty look. Round the back, too, the Elite doesn’t lose its posture or its sharpness, with the three-piece wraparound tail-lamp a particular stand-out. Its kicks, wrapped as they are around some snazzy 16-inch alloys, also do their bit in contributing to the car’s predatory aesthetics.
On to the inside, where you’ll be spending all your time in this car anyway. The interior has been infused with artistic swashes of black, accentuating the beige and giving the car a more sophisticated flavour. The gadgetry, as with the first iteration of the i20, is on another level for this class of car. The headlines include sensor-infused auto-lamps, rear a-c vent, sunglasses holder, and front console armrest with storage. All this along with the others we’ve come to expect from Hyundai by now too, such as push-button start, tilt and telescopic adjustable steering wheel, height adjustable driver’s seat, a cooled glove-box and the like.
The seats are comfortable, no matter the length of journey, with adequate thigh and back support and a forgiving suspension working together to provide a soothing ride. Space, too, isn’t an issue; the rear seat is wide enough to fit three, and a maximum knee-room of 840 mm means you won’t have to worry about cramping up even in the back. The fit-and-finish, and the plastics used on the interior are of a high quality, and the leather-wrapped steering provides a firm grip. Boot space of 326 litres means there’s room for a fair bit of luggage, too, more so than a lot of other options in the Elite’s segment.
