Is the Hyundai i20 reliable?

The Hyundai i20 certainly should be reliable — there are no horror stories circulating about major issues with it — and if you want to be extra-careful about reliability, go for the 1.2-litre engine, which is an older, more proven design than the 1.0 turbo.

What insurance group is the Hyundai i20 in?

Excluding the i20 N hot hatch, the i20 is in insurance groups 12 to 16.

Can a Hyundai i20 tow a caravan or trailer?

Yes, but only a relatively small one. The i20’s towing weight, on a braked trailer, varies from 910kg to 1,110kg, depending on the model.

Does the Hyundai i20 come with an automatic gearbox?

Yes, the Hyundai i20 has an optional seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, but a manual gearbox is standard.

Does the Hyundai i20 have ISOFIX?

Yes, the Hyundai i20 has two ISOFIX mounts, both in the back seat.

Is the Hyundai i20 a safe car?

Mostly, yes. The i20 got a four-star rating from Euro NCAP when it was crash-tested in 2021, which is not full-marks, but it had decent — if not exceptional — scores for adult occupant protection (76%) and child occupant protection (82%).

Is the Hyundai i20 front-wheel drive?

Yes, all variants of the Hyundai i20 are front-wheel drive.

Is the Hyundai i20 fuel efficient?

Yes — the Hyundai i20 has official fuel economy of 53mpg, and you should get at least 45mpg in everyday driving.

What is the road tax on the Hyundai i20?

The Hyundai i20 costs a relatively steep £220 in road tax in its first year, but after that it’s on the standard £190 rate.

How big is the Hyundai i20?

The Hyundai i20 is 4,040mm long, 1,775mm wide, and 1,450mm tall. It has a 352-litre boot.

What size engine does the Hyundai i20 have?

Since 2023, the Hyundai i20 has had only a 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine. Prior to that, it was also available with an 84hp 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrol engine.

Where is the Hyundai i20 made?

Global production of the i20 is split between two factories; Ismit in Turkey for European markets, and Chennai in India for the rest of the world.

What is the top spec Hyundai i20?

Aside from the high-performance i20 N model, the top spec for the i20 is Ultimate spec, which includes a wireless phone charger, a premium Bose sound system, and ‘smart key’ entry and locking.

Used Hyundai i20 cars for sale

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Used Hyundai i20 pros and cons

Well-equipped interior
Feels firm over bumps
Easy to drive around town
Only one engine option after 2023
Decent-sized, practical boot
Interior feels cheap

Is a second-hand Hyundai i20 a good car?

The Hyundai i20 is a small hatchback that’s good looking, but not so stylish that people think you might have actually spent a lot of money on it. Equally, it’s roomy without being massive, and it’s decent to drive, but not thrilling.

First launched in 2020, and given a round of mild updates in 2023, the i20 looks smart, with its low-set nose, angular lines, and sharp-looking brake lights. It’s not a shocking looking car, but in the right colour — dark blue seems to work well — it looks more than smart enough.

The interior looks nice too, with air vents that look as if they run the full width of the dashboard and a neat four-spoke steering wheel. The only problem is that the plastics used in the cabin are rather hard and shiny, so there’s not the same soft-touch niceness that you’d find in a VW Polo or Skoda Fabia, both of which have nicer cabins.

However, the i20 is very roomy. There’s lots of space up front, and those in the back have reasonable legroom and headroom for a car of this size. The boot is good too — at 352 litres it’s just one single litre roomier than a VW Polo’s boot, and it’s much bigger than what you get in a Ford Fiesta, but it’s worth remembering that the Skoda Fabia has an even bigger 380-litre boot.

If you’re doing lots of motorway miles, definitely go for the 1.0-litre engine as it feels much livelier than the 1.2, and that’s actually just as true around town where the smaller engine is better for nipping in and out of gaps in traffic. That said, a VW Polo is comfier for long-hauls, as the i20 has too much road and wind noise in the cabin.

What to look for when buying a used Hyundai i20

The Hyundai i20 has been recalled twice. Once was for a potential problem with the automatic gearbox, but the other was for possibly incorrect VIN numbers on the car, which is hardly what you’d call a reliability issue. There have been some reports of minor problems, such as glitchy infotainment systems, but that’s about it.

Hyundai has a good reputation for reliability (and its five-year warranty still covers cars with their second and even potentially third owners) but the company finished only a mid-table 17th out of 32 brands in the Driver Power customer satisfaction survey, with a relatively poor showing for quality and finish.