Used Hyundai i20 2015-2020 review

Buyers after a well-built and handsome small car could do a lot worse than cast a glance at the Hyundai i20.

This generation was very popular and well-received and ran from 2015 until 2020. It sat in a hotly contested class, of course, one that included the iconic Ford Fiesta and the excellent Skoda Fabia, but it stood out against other used rivals due to the peace of mind of a long manufacturer's warranty. It was available in three and five-door forms, or as a rugged-looking SUV called the Active.

There's a wide range of engines to choose from, too, including four petrol and two diesel options. Petrols kick off with a 1.2-litre at either 74 or 83bhp, or you can select a turbocharged three-cylinder 1.0-litre unit with either 99 or 118bhp. An automatic gearbox was initially offered on a 99bhp 1.4-litre, until this engine was replaced with a 1.0-litre of equivalent power from 2018 onwards. If you want to go diesel, there’s a choice of a 74bhp three-cylinder 1.1-litre or an 89bhp 1.4-litre four-cylinder.

Trims start with entry-level S, which is a little basic and lacks air-con and Bluetooth, and moves up through SE, which adds alloy wheels and rear parking sensors, and Premium SE, which throws in heated seats and a sunroof, to Turbo, which gets a 7.0in infotainment screen as standard. Confusingly, the three-door i20, which carries a coupé label, calls these last two trims Sport and Sport Nav, although they offer exactly the same equipment.

On the road, the 1.0-litre petrol engine is the best performer in the range, in either of its power outputs. Both feel good, even on motorways, although only the higher-powered 120 version gets a six-speed manual gearbox. The 1.2 and 1.4 petrols feel a little sluggish, even if they are quite refined, while the diesel options are both rather tardy in their responses and occasionally a bit noisy, too. The i20’s steering is slightly slow and heavy, although it's an easy and safe car to drive, with good grip levels and predictable handling. Its ride is generally comfortable, but it can be caught out by sharp road imperfections and feels a little choppy around town.

Inside, there's a good driving position with excellent visibility, and the dashboard is logically laid out and simple to use. The i20 feels solidly built and fairly plush relative to its main rivals, with good use of soft-touch plastics, and the 7.0in touchscreen infotainment on higher spec cars is responsive.

Space in the front is truly excellent, while rear-seat passengers get plenty of leg room and a good amount of space across the car. Added to that, boot space is one of the biggest in the class, with easy access and a height-adjustable floor on higher trims.

If you're interested in finding a used i20, or any of the other small cars mentioned here, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at great prices.

You can buy a Hyundai i20 of this generation for as little as £3500, but we'd advise you to increase your budget to around £5000 for something without galactic mileage. You'll need to spend £6500 or more for a 1.0-litre car, and about £8500 for one built from 2018 onwards when the design received a facelift. Diesel examples are rare, and you'll need at least £6000 for one with an average number of miles. Spend between £8000 and £10,000 on good 2017 and 2018 cars, £10,000 to £14,000 on 2019 and the last 2020 models.

Check the value of a used Hyundai i20 with What Car? Valuations

MPG

Fuel economy is fair to middling compared with some rivals. The 1.1 diesel is credited with 70.6mpg, according to the older NEDC tests, while the more popular 1.4 gets 68.8mpg.

The 74bhp 1.2 petrol returns more than the 84bhp version at 60.1mpg and 55.4mpg respectively. The 99bhp 1.0 turbo manages 62.8mpg, while the 118bhp car does 58.9mpg. The worst offender is the 99bhp 1.4 petrol with 51.4mpg.

CO2 emissions

The two diesels post low CO2 emissions of 103 g/km for the 1.1 and 106g/km for the 1.4.

Of the petrols, the turbocharged 1.0 manages 104g/km in 99bhp form or 112g/km in its most powerful 118bhp guise. The 1.2 puts out 109g/km in 74bhp form or 119g/km as a 83bhp engine. The 99bhp 1.4 is the worst at 127g/km.

Road tax (VED)

Road tax for cars registered before April 2017 is pleasingly low for all models, but those registered after that date will all pay the current £155 per year for petrol and diesel cars. To find out more about the current road tax costs, click here for further information.

Servicing and insurance costs

Insurance costs are low, with groups ranging from just 4 up to 11 for the higher powered cars. Servicing costs are reasonable, but you'll need to wait until the car is over five years old and outside the manufacturer's warranty period to take advantage of cheaper servicing costs. These are split into three tiers: basic (£99), interim (£169) and full (£229). All come with a two year parts warranty and 12 months of roadside assistance included in the cost.

Engine

Because it offers a little more puff than the lower-powered variant, we’d try and seek out the 118bhp version of the 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine. It’s smooth and refined and offers good economy too.

Specification

The equipment level in SE trim is enough to persuade us to look for one of these as S is too basic and the higher trims are more expensive on the used car forecourt.

Our favourite Hyundai i20: 1.0T GDI 120 SE

The Ford Fiesta has been the pick of the small car class for many years, even though newer rivals have come along to challenge it for its crown. On the used market, though, it’s still a solid and reliable buy, and it’s a car that’s both good to drive and comfortable to be in.

The Skoda Fabia has plenty of space inside, handles well and has a top-notch infotainment system. The interior and boot are spacious, especially for something so small of dimension. On the used market it appears even better value than when new.

Find a used Hyundai i20 in the What Car? Classifieds here

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