2018 Hyundai i20 & Active – Video
Three body styles will be available on the new model, including five-door, three-door coupe, and Active trims. The five-door and Active models see the most revisions, gaining the new Cascading grille, updated rear styling to both the bumpers and taillights, new 15- and 16-inch wheel options, a Phantom Black two-tone roof, and more colors. The new options include 10 different shades, with three new additions: Tomato Red, Champion, Blue, and Clean Slate. The same updated styling and unique color options can be found in the cabin, with features like a new Blue interior with blue inserts, or Red Point and Blue Point patterns with unique styling elements and stitching.
A larger 1.2-liter engine, available on the coupe and Active trims, comes paired to a five-speed manual, with an output of either 73 (55 kW) or 83 hp (62 kW). At the top of the range, a 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine, paired to a six-speed manual transmission exclusively, produces 100 hp (74 kW). All three versions of the i20 will come with a new stop-start feature as well.
With a fresh new face and some added tech, the Hyundai i20 has been thoroughly revamped for the 2018 model year. The current-generation i20 has been on the market since 2014, but the new makeover adds some much needed style, tech, and safety to an already successful formula.
For one, the i20 gets an all-new face. Whereas most mid-cycle refreshes are pretty mundane, Hyundai has opted to fit the i20 with a family-friendly Cascading grille, first previewed on a prototype in 2017. It’s a relatively dramatic departure from the outgoing styling, and gives the i20 a more upscale feel overall.
Apart from styling, technology was a big area of focus for Hyundai engineers in the redesign. The i20 now offers a new seven-inch infotainment with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity – the first time ever the tech has been offered on this vehicle. There’s also a new USB charger on the center console, and plenty of newfound safety.
The i20 now features the newest Hyudai SmartSense safety technology, including things like lane departure warning, lane keep assist, forward collision avoidance, driver attention warning, and even high-beam assist. Most of this added safety equipment comes at an extra cost, of course.
All trim levels, from coupe to Active, come with a standard 1.0-liter turbocharged engine. Paired to the standard five-speed manual transmission, that engine produces 100 horsepower (74 kilowatts). When optioned with the six-speed manual, that same engine now produces 118 horsepower (88 kilowatts). Buyers can also opt for a first-ever seven-speed dual-clutch automatic.
“The i20 is one of our DNA models and has continuously been one of our top-selling cars in Europe for a decade. The i-range is the strong foundation of our brand’s success in Europe,” says Andreas-Christoph Hofmann, Vice President Marketing and Product of Hyundai Motor Europe. “By updating the New i20 in design, safety, connectivity, and powertrain lineup, we are continuing to meet the expectations of our customers to ensure the ongoing success of this model range.”
It’s unclear when the new i20 will go on sale, or how much it might cost when it does. But expect to see the new subcompact in Hyundai dealers in Europe in just a few months. A hotted-up i20 N is also rumored to join the lineup.