The sporty i20 N Line has been up to date, with a gentle facelift and the much-needed handbook gearbox.
A number of years in the past, should you had been available in the market for a sporty however but mass-market hatchback, you had loads of choices – the VW Polo GT TSI, Abarth Punto, Maruti Baleno RS, Ford Figo S and even the Tata Tiago JTP. All of them, nevertheless, failed to stay round, so it is heartening to see Hyundai’s i20 N Line obtain an replace.
Facelift consists of refined beauty adjustments and one massive mechanical change.
There’s, after all, beauty adjustments and a few function adjustments, however the largest change of all of them, one thing which we’d hope Hyundai would have supplied proper from the beginning – a correct, 6-speed handbook gearbox with three pedals. Naturally, we dived proper in.
Hyundai i20 N Line MT engine, gearbox and efficiency
Let’s start with the gearbox then: the brand new 6-speed handbook transmission. Gone is the two-pedal clutchless handbook – iMT or clever handbook transmission, as Hyundai calls it – however the dual-clutch auto (DCT) has been retained.
The clutch pedal is gentle however springy .
What instantly turns into obvious from the second you set off is that this clutch pedal is springy and the chew level is increased than you’d anticipate, so that you’ll take a while getting used to its nature. However when you do familiarize yourself with it, the entire expertise turns into pleasant. The handbook does a very good job of masking this turbo-petrol engine’s preliminary lag. The shifts themselves are clean and the gates are properly outlined. On the entire, it positively feels extra involving to drive than the DCT or the iMT it replaces.
6-speed handbook ‘field has clean shifts.
The engine is carried over as is – it’s a 120hp, 1.0-litre, three-cylinder turbo-petrol – however crucially, that is now supplied solely with the N Line and never with the common i20, creating an additional distinction for the N Line. It retains its robust mid-range punch and rev-happy nature, and it’ll pull cleanly until the 6,500rpm redline.
120hp, 1.0-litre turbo petrol has been carried over unchanged from the older automotive.
As for efficiency, the N Line handbook did the 0-100kph dash in 10.66 secs, in comparison with the DCT’s 11.31 secs. The rationale the handbook is faster is that it allows you to launch it more durable than the DCT, which feels relatively conservative in its launch. At 1,071kg, the MT can be 15kg lighter, which can have a minor impact on efficiency too.
* Figures not as per Autocar check requirements
What’s additionally good is that it has a pleasant raspy exhaust be aware, but it surely’s barely audible contained in the cabin although.
Hyundai i20 N Line MT trip and dealing with
What actually units the N Line aside from the common automotive is the trip and dealing with character. Just like the pre-facelift, the N Line continues to get 30 % stiffer damping for the suspension and a retuned steering too.
The upgraded suspension enhances the N Line’s sporty character, reduces physique roll within the bends and permits it to nook flatter. And this doesn’t include an enormous deterioration in trip consolation. Certain, it does really feel stiffer on unhealthy roads, but it surely’s by no means unsettling and it improves high-speed stability too. The steering, in the meantime, has a very good heft to it and it’s feelsome. It takes away the vagueness from the traditional i20 and makes it really feel sharper round corners, which solely enhances the engagement. Backside line is, the i20 N Line is clearly a fun-to-drive hatch.
Stiffer suspension damping improves the N Line’s excessive pace manners.
It additionally continues to get disc brakes in any respect corners, in contrast to the common i20, which makes use of drums on the rear, and this provides the N Line a extra surefooted really feel underneath arduous braking.
Hyundai i20 N Line MT inside and options
When it comes to inside adjustments, aside from the plain addition of a 3rd pedal, the N Line facelift now will get Hyundai’s new 10.25-inch touchscreen with a bodily knob for the quantity management, but it surely nonetheless misses out on wi-fi smartphone integration. The opposite change is a brand new USB Sort C port within the centre console.
N-specific steering and kit lever really feel nice to carry.
The all-black theme with the contrasting pink parts do a very good job of conveying this hatch’s sporty intent. I significantly just like the steering wheel, which has been lifted straight off the full-fat i20 N Line – it’s nice to carry and to take a look at with its N badging and pink stitching – and the gear lever which feels actually top quality. Certain, there are some arduous and scratchy plastics round however high quality on the entire is nice. The seats are comfortable and spacious however extra facet bolstering on the entrance seats would have been welcome in step with its sporty theme. It additionally stays as sensible as earlier than, with loads of cubby areas, sizeable door pockets and a 311-litre boot. Area on the again is ample too, and may match six-footers with ease.
Area greater than ample on the again however all-black upholstery robs the sense of area.
As for options, the i20 N Line facelift stays the best-equipped hatchback available on the market. This top-spec N8 variant we examined got here with six airbags, a sunroof, a big touchscreen, a digital instrument cluster, a wi-fi cellphone charger, pink ambient lighting, LED lights, a Bose audio system and linked automotive tech.
Hyundai i20 N Line MT exterior
Like on the within, the adjustments to the N Line’s exterior are very refined and also you’ll be hard-pressed to inform it aside from the older automotive. The simplest technique to determine the facelift is the alloys – it now will get a a lot sportier design and polished edges. Different adjustments embrace full LED headlamps and the entrance grille – which loses the chequered flag-pattern inserts – and, after all, the brand new 2D Hyundai brand.
New, diamond-cut 16-inch alloys slot in with the N Line’s character.
There’s sportier bumpers, twin exhaust ideas, a rear spoiler ingredient with facet flaps, pink detailing on the entrance bumper and facet skirts, pink brake calipers and N Line badging on the boot, entrance fender and entrance grille. General, the N Line has the seems to be you’d anticipate from a sporty hatch and sufficient to set it aside from the remainder of the i20 vary.
Adjustments up entrance embrace a restyled entrance grille and new LED headlamps.
Hyundai i20 N Line MT value and verdict
The Hyundai i20 N Line facelift is priced from Rs 9.99 lakh to Rs 12.47 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). Compared, the N Line’s solely closest rival is, maybe, the Tata Altroz iTurbo, which prices between Rs 9.10 lakh-10 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi), however the Altroz shouldn’t be almost as properly geared up nor as participating to drive, and doesn’t have an automated choice.
The i20 N Line facelift will enchantment to household automotive patrons and fanatics alike.
The N Line was at all times a nice-to-drive, sporty hatchback and changing the iMT with a daily three-pedal handbook is in retaining the character and takes the expertise up a notch. It nonetheless gives the core strengths of the i20 like area, practicality and prolonged options checklist, which household patrons will respect, with the added dose of sportiness and driver involvement, which fanatics will respect. So whereas the i20 N Line could also be your solely selection of a performance-oriented and sensible hatch, with this replace, it is also an excellent selection.
