Tackling the largest segment of the market with top names such as Renault Clio, Peugeot 208, Citroen C3 and other Ford Fiesta is a daunting task. But offering superior space, particularly equipment supplied while tightening its rates, the Hyundai i20 may allow the Korean manufacturer to continue conquering markets.
The version tested. Hyundai i20 1.2 84 hp finish Creative and costs € 17,700. We probably have a vision of the Hyundai-Kia group completely out of step with their position at the global level. The conglomerate of the Land of the Morning Calm is indeed the fifth largest automakers, just behind the Renault-Nissan Alliance. But in France, Hyundai made figure of Tom Thumb. With 0.9% market share, it is well below its penetration in Europe reached 3.3%. Worse, after an almost uninterrupted growth for several years, sales show a gadin in France by 33.3% in 2013. But South Korea has strong targeted growth in our country since it expects to reach 2% market share in three years. In this progression, the i20 is key. Second best selling model after the ix35, sales of this entirely new city to rise from 4000 to 8000 units per year. As she has the ability and the middle?
That gone are the days of the Korean deeply insipid models. “Today, design has become the primary reason for buying a Hyundai” welcomes Stéphane Godefroy, Chief Range. I do not say that i20 is a canon of beauty but it is true that, like the i40 , progress in this area are phenomenal and after hazardous attempts, the Korean giant has found a style that characterizes it. And rooster, the lines of this new Hyundai i20 Fluidic Sculpture 2.0 resuming the language are the work of a French Olivier Denamur.
As the overwhelming majority of branded Hyundai vehicles sold in the country, the i20 is designed specifically for the European market Rüsselsheim, Germany. She even put his wheels on the Nürburgring. Not to beat speed records but to undergo testing engine, steering and suspension.
This design “the Germanic” feels even more than on the previous version in the care given to the finish. On this last point, the Renault Clio which is leading sales at home could also take the seed.But I’ve also found the perfect ergonomics of the models of the Volkswagen group immediately found my bearings and various commands.
Among the oddities, the lack of built-in GPS is ahead. Meanwhile a navigation system with a screen 7 ” next spring, it will do with a simple support for smartphone.
This is probably the only false note in equipment because, true to their strategy, this i20 is richly endowed. Driving the Creative highest finish, I discovered one by one: automatic air conditioning, cruise control, automatic lights, lane departure warning, front and rear lights LED, front parking aid and even a sunroof very valuable pan.
In the evocation of the interior ambience Cappuccino, one of the four available, I instantly relationship with another model of the same segment, the Skoda Fabia. The body color is indeed in the Czech manufacturer’s catalog and it shares with the Korean lot in common. Thus, the rear space is generous while the boot capacity double bottom, almost identical to the Fabia (326 against the 330 l) outperforms shameless competition.
In addition to the common characteristics, these two outsiders also share a parallel rise. Parties from the depths in quality, finish and technology, they managed to get rid of this past unflattering where unbeatable rates were the only criterion for purchase to reach the level of the global automotive industry standards . And wring the neck of questionable reliability, Hyundai offers a 5 year warranty reassuring.
However, Skoda can legitimately claim a much older and unjustly little-known story that tries to restore honor as in the Retromobile shows. What has not Korean. “We still suffers from low awareness level and we must build a brand image,” admits Vincent Bernard, marketing director. If you evacuate these two parameters that tries to improve the Korean manufacturer through its involvement in WRC and leveraging sponsorship of the most popular sport in the world, football, i20 is at the slew of competing models. Failing to identify a particular emotion at the wheel, it is however quite rational. That’s the last thing in common with the Skoda Fabia. Unlike the Czech city that draws in the Volkswagen Group’s organ bank, however i20 sin by its engines in the background. This is also in my opinion, the group’s Achilles heel Hyundai-Kia, whether on the Hyundai i40 SW or Kia Cee’d .
Taken from the older generation, they now meet all the Euro 6 standard. Evidence of renewed interest in gasoline engines, Hyundai plans to sell a majority of vehicles stuffed SP95. So it is with the 1.2-liter I traveled the Bordeaux vineyards in the pouring rain. Humidity totally opposite of drought suspensions.
In chasing the slightest gram of CO2, reduction of pollutant emissions has become an obsession for manufacturers that alleviate their vehicles and equip Stop & Start. Hyundai however, has not seen fit to equip the i20 it. Should we regret it? Not really, because all versions are still in the neutral zone while consumption at a leisurely pace was more than respectable 6.3 l. Therefore, what is the point of this system that cuts the engine when it involves extra costs without having the effect of changing slice in the environmental bonus?
Contrary to the current trend of smaller engines boosted by a turbo, this block of 84 hp air remains. And that rhymes with lymphatic and asthenic at low speeds. Without doubt it is better to wait a few months with the arrival of a more modern three-cylinder available in two power levels (100 hp and 120 hp) which will advantageously replace the 1.4 100 hp and enjoy at the same time a true GPS. At that time, it can really play in the big leagues.
Well done
– Habitability
– Cargo
– 5 year warranty
– Finally style
– Perceived quality in great progress
– Equipment Not Top – Engine betrays an old design – No built-in GPS for now – Dry DepreciationRates: 12 500 € to € 20,300