Hyundai i20 2012-2015 Era 1.2

i20 2012-2015 Era 1.2 Review

The Hyundai i20 is the subcompact car launched by the South Korean car maker. This model of the company made its way in the Indian market in the year 2008. In the company's line the i20 models stands above the Hyundai's best selling hatchback i10. It is a front wheel drive car, and is available in three and five door versions in the international market but in India only the five door version is launched. A slightly upgraded version of the i20, called the  i-Gen i20 went on sales in the country on 28th March 2012. This new gen i20 not only has Fluidic design but also a slightly retuned engine. This fluidic design is seen in all the latest versions of the Hyundai cars, be it new Hyundai Sonata or the new Hyundai Verna. This new generation car is fitted with large headlamps and fog lamps. Latest version of the i20 is packed with many advanced features that are complementing the style and sophistication it carries. A variety of premium features like Smart Key with Push Button Start, Leather Wrapped Steering Wheel and Gear Shift Knob, Electric Adjustable Folding and Heated Outside Mirrors, Tilt and Telescopic Steering, 60:40 Split Seat with cushion pop-up for optimum passenger and luggage space utilization, premium 2-DIN CD/MP3 Audio System with 4 speakers and 2 tweeters , USB, Aux-in and Bluetooth connectivity along with Steering Mounted Audio and Bluetooth controls are also present in the new version of this car.This next gen i20 is available in the market in 12 different variants with both petrol and diesel engine options. Hyundai i20 Era 1.2 is the base variant of this hatchback. The car is powered by a 1.2L, 16V Kappa Dual VTVT Petrol engine that produces a power of 82.9bhp and a torque of 113.7Nm. The mileage delivered by this car is around 16kmpl which is pretty good. The engine comes mated with a 5 speed manual transmission to further improve the efficiency. Belonging to the Hyundai family this model ensures comfort, safety and reliability at an affordable price.

Exterior

The new 2012 has the company's trademark fluidic design which gives the car an elegant and stylish exterior looks that is sure to catch one’s eye. The front is enriched with the high gloss grille while at the rear we have a spoiler with integrated stop lamps. The front bumper has diamond shaped multi reflector front fog lamps that are built in the lower section of the bumper and the 8 spoke alloy wheels which give the car a very sporty looks. The flush mounted headlamps near the front grille give a very clear vision for a better driving comfort. The car is available in the market in 6 amazing colors these are Black, Silky Silver, Silky Beige, Sparkle Blue, Berry Red and Dark Grey Metallic. The exterior dimension of the car are 3995mm x 1710mm x 1505mm ( length x width x height ). It has a ground clearance of 165mm and a wheelbase of 2525mm. The front tread which is the distance between the center of the right front wheel and the left front wheel is 1505mm while the rear tread which is the distance between the left rear wheel and the right rear wheel is 1503mm.

Interior

Along with the exterior the interior of the car is also chic and classy. Spacious interior, two tone beige and black dashboard and metal finished center fascia give this hatchback a luxurious feel. Cool Blue LED illumination provides a lustrous feel. The car has features like air conditioner with heater option, Clean air cluster ionizer and Glove Compartment. The instrument cluster includes the Multi Tripmeter, Digital Clock, Digital Odometer and a Tachometer which is used to indicate the speed of the engine in RPM. Hyundai has put in all efforts to lure the Indian buyers by tagging this car with an affordable price and making sure that every drive is a experience in itself.

Engine and Performance

The hatch under its hood carries a Kappa Dual VTVT Petrol engine that provides a displacement of 1197cc and 4 cylinders with 4 valves each . The valve configuration is DOHC and the engine has a MPFI fuel injection system . The engine is capable of generating a power of 82.9bhp at the rate of 6000rpm and a torque of 113.7Nm at the rate of 4000rpm. This petrol engine takes this car to a top speed of 170kmph and can accelerate it from 0-100kmph in 15.4 seconds. Keeping the mind the Indian market Hyundai has made this car highly fuel efficient. It delivers a mileage of 13.3kmpl in the city driving conditions and 18.5kmpl on the highways. The fuel tank has a capacity of 45 liters so that you can cover a distance of 675kms once full tank without refueling.

Braking and Handling

The brake mechanism of the car includes the disc brakes in the front and drum brakes at the rear. As this is the base variant of the car so it lacks advanced features like ABS, brake assist etc. In the suspension we have McPherson Strut with coil spring and stabilizer bar while at the rear end we have Coupled Torsion Beam Axle with Coil Spring, the suspension system in the car avoids any inconvenience caused due to the bumps, shocks and vibrations and provide a comfortable ride. The transmission has the five speed manual transmission gearbox that readily falls into hand .

Safety Features

As this is the base variant of the car so it lacks the advanced safety features but still this comes with the standard safety features. These are central locking, day and night rear view mirror which are the mirrors with two reflecting surfaces, high one for the day and the lower one for the night which dims the glare of the vehicle behind it, passenger side rear view mirror, halogen headlamps, rear seat belts, Door ajar Warning, impact beams and adjustable seats. The car also has a engine immobilizer and a centrally mounted fuel tank.

Comfort Features

The comfort features in the car include the Power steering wheel which provides low turning radius, front power windows to open or the close the windows with one touch of the button, Low fuel warning light, accessory power outlet, Vanity mirror, Rear reading lamp and headrest. It also has function of seat lumbar support that allows you to control the pressure at the back of your seat to get more comfort.

Pros

More spacious, stylish, high seat position, eye catchy interior

Cons

Safety features, comfort features