Skip advert
Advertisement

Hyundai i20 Blue

Blue Drive model of popular hatch offers great efficiency – but is it stylish enough?

The Hyundai i20 has established itself as a competitively priced and solidly built supermini, and will be one of the new Aveo’s biggest rivals.

Designed with significant input from Hyundai’s European development centre in Germany, it looks pretty anonymous next to the Chevy, but its neutral styling will likely appeal to a broader spread of customers. However, there’s a counter argument that the exterior could do with more character.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The same can be said of the cabin, where the plastic steering wheel and gearlever make a pretty poor first impression. Overall, there’s not much to get excited about.

Take a little more time to get to know the i20, though, and you’ll see it gets the basics right. Like its rival, it’s well built and the driving position is comfortable, while the standard multifunction wheel adjusts for height and reach. The dash design is simple and inoffensive, with a straightforward layout that’s easy to get on with. Plus, while some of the plastics in out-of-the-way spots look and feel slightly low-rent, the older car is still on par with its brand-new rival.

The Hyundai has plenty of cabin space, too – rear legroom is almost identical to the Chevy’s and its 295-litre boot is five litres bigger. The latter is a surprise, as the car has a space-saver spare wheel, while the Aveo

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

2

2023 Polestar

2

39,697 milesAutomaticElectric

Cash £19,800
View 2
1 Series

2020 BMW

1 Series

14,734 milesAutomaticPetrol1.5L

Cash £20,000
View 1 Series
3-Door Hatch

2018 MINI

3-Door Hatch

57,113 milesAutomaticDiesel1.5L

Cash £11,100
View 3-Door Hatch
Corsa

2022 Vauxhall

Corsa

36,223 milesManualPetrol1.2L

Cash £11,750
View Corsa

makes do with a puncture repair kit.

The i20 scores well for kit, too. Unlike its rival here, you get front and rear electric windows and power-folding mirrors. As on the Chevy, Bluetooth and alloy wheels are standard, but cruise control isn’t.

The bizarrely oversized Blue Drive badges on the flanks of our 1.4-litre CRDi Blue test car indicate it has eco credentials to match the new Aveo’s. It emits 3g/km more CO2, at 98g/km, but that still means the car is exempt from road tax.

The engine has better pick-up low down, but like the Chevrolet’s, it’s a bit harsh above 3,500rpm. With the extra flexibility of a six- speed gearbox and an additional 20Nm of torque, the Hyundai overcomes its heavier kerbweight to record similar performance figures. Despite its slightly keener throttle response, there’s little difference in on-the-road performance between these two cars.

Head into a corner, though, and there’s a noticeable gap. The i20 has more body roll and less front-end grip. On the plus side, while the steering is artificially weighted, it has a fraction more feel than the Chevy’s. More importantly, the Hyundai’s softer set-up delivers a more composed ride than the Aveo’s chassis. So while it’s not very engaging to drive, it’s a good deal more comfortable than its rival.

Add this to the fantastic five-year warranty and recovery deal, and the i20 is sure to give the new Aveo a real run for its money.

Details

Chart position: 1
WHY: The i20 is an Auto Express favourite, so provides a formidable test for the new Aveo, especially in Hyundai’s eco-friendly Blue trim.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Omoda 5

Omoda 5

RRP £25,915Avg. savings £2,241 off RRP*Used from £20,921
Toyota Yaris Cross

Toyota Yaris Cross

RRP £26,495Avg. savings £1,672 off RRP*Used from £12,200
Nissan Qashqai

Nissan Qashqai

RRP £27,415Avg. savings £5,924 off RRP*Used from £11,948
Audi A3

Audi A3

RRP £26,295Avg. savings £2,549 off RRP*Used from £11,890
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New Volvo EM90 2025 review: the ultimate SUV killer
Volvo EM90 - front

New Volvo EM90 2025 review: the ultimate SUV killer

Volvo has made an ultra-luxurious van. Intrigued? You should be, but sadly it’s for China only
Road tests
16 Jun 2025
Smart Roadster could return as an electric Mazda MX-5 rival
Smart Roadster exclusive image

Smart Roadster could return as an electric Mazda MX-5 rival

The Smart Roadster could be set for a comeback and our exclusive image previews how it could look
News
16 Jun 2025
New Audi Q3 reinvents the indicator stalk, but there’s a whole lot more too
Audi Q3 - front

New Audi Q3 reinvents the indicator stalk, but there’s a whole lot more too

Audi’s not taking any risks with its all-new Q3; watch it sell like crazy
News
16 Jun 2025