Used Hyundai i20 (Mk3, 2020-date) review: a classy and appealing supermini?

Verdict

With each new generation of i20, Hyundai has raised the bar significantly in terms of safety, style, comfort and performance. When the Hyundai i20 was updated in 2023, the changes weren’t of any great significance, so there’s no point stretching yourself financially for a newer car when the pre-facelift version is so capable. However, some of the i20’s rivals are also worth a closer look, because there’s a lot of talent in this segment; the Clio in particular is a very capable all-rounder. If you’re after an exciting drive, then the i20 N is pretty much unassailable, having taken on and beaten the Ford Fiesta ST as well as the VW Polo GTI in a group test in 2022. That’s a very impressive achievement.

In 2025 it will be 50 years since Hyundai launched its first car, the Pony, which was created by a team of British engineers, designed by Italian Giorgetto Giugiaro, and supplied with engines from Mitsubishi.

It took a long time for Hyundai to create cars that could compete with the best from Europe and Japan, but it’s fair to say the threshold was crossed more than a decade ago, with cars such as the i40, Santa Fe and i30. Any such list also needs to include the original i20 which appeared in 2009, and despite being a rather soulless vehicle, appealed because it was good value, simple to live with and easy to drive.

The i20 Mk2 of 2015 offered more of the same, but the Mk3 moved up several gears to become by far Hyundai’s most accomplished supermini yet.

History

The third-generation i20 arrived in the UK at the end of 2020, with just one powertrain available: a turbocharged 1.0-litre petrol engine, which worked in tandem with a 48-volt battery to deliver 99bhp and 172Nm of torque. A six-speed automated manual transmission came as standard with all three trim levels, while a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic was offered at extra cost.

Fast forward to June 2021 and things got serious with the launch of the i20 N. This performance version had a 1.6 T-GDi engine which sent its 201bhp to the front wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox, with no automatic option. A facelifted i20 arrived in August 2023 with more colour choices, revised trims and additional standard kit, including extra driver-assistance systems.

Which one should I buy?

The i20 N is a brilliant hot hatch, but assuming you’re in the market for a regular i20, it’s just a question of picking which transmission you want, and how much standard equipment. Until the facelift, the trim levels were SE Connect, N Line, Premium then Ultimate, but from August 2023 this became Advance, Premium and Ultimate.

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Looking at the earlier line-up, the SE Connect has an eight-inch touchscreen, rear parking sensors and a rear camera, and to these the N Line adds a 10.25-inch screen, climate control, privacy glass, electrically folding door mirrors and LED tail-lights.

The i20 Premium also comes with heating for the front seats and steering wheel, while the Ultimate features a premium Bose sound system, keyless go, wireless phone charging and extra driver-assistance systems.

Alternatives to the Hyundai i20

You’re not short of choice in the supermini sector, and there are some multi-talented contenders to consider. The i20 shares some parts with the Kia Rio, which was axed last year, just like the Ford Fiesta, which had been a supermini favourite for so many buyers for so long.

Another long-standing rival that is at the top of its game is the Renault Clio, which shares parts with the Nissan Micra, a model that quietly slipped away in 2022. There are three options from the Volkswagen Group (four if you include the more costly Audi A1), and they are the VW Polo, SEAT Ibiza and Skoda Fabia, while Toyota has the Yaris, and Citroen has the C3.

Other superminis to consider include the Honda Jazz and Peugeot 208, which is closely related to the most recent Vauxhall Corsa.

What to look for

Spare wheel

Because of the battery pack in the boot floor, there’s no space to carry a spare, not even a space saver.

Stop/start

The system is very sensitive to battery charge. If it’s not working the car probably needs a good run or a fresh battery.

Safety

All i20s have lots of safety kit, but only the Ultimate comes with Blind Spot Monitoring, Lane Follow Assist and Forward Collision Assist.

Extras

Instead of offering options, Hyundai simply expected new buyers to pick whichever trim had the equipment they wanted. The only option is metallic paint.

Interior

Superminis have become a lot more expensive in recent years, and one of the reasons why is because they’re crammed with big-car kit. That’s the case here, with the i20 featuring a large touchscreen and digital dials.

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In that sense the i20 impresses, as it does with the amount of cabin space available, but some of the materials used look and feel cheap. Boot space is pretty good at 304 litres with all of the seats in use, and this rises to 1,205 if the back seats are folded down.

Prices

One in four i20s has an automatic transmission, while SE Connect is the most popular trim, followed by Premium and then N-Line, with Ultimate the most unusual of all. The i20 N is also quite scarce, although not so rare that you’ll struggle to find one.

To check prices on a specific model head over to our valuation tool.

Running costs

All i20s have to be serviced every 12 months or 10,000 miles, with services alternating between Minor and Major. The first is priced at £245, whereas the second costs £371 the first time round, then £501 and then £632, before the cycle starts again.

Once an i20 has celebrated its fifth birthday, it’s eligible for discounted maintenance with a Core service (essentially an oil change and check-over) at £129, while a Major service is priced at £219. These costs include fresh brake fluid every other year, while the sixth-year service includes replacement coolant. Because all i20 engines are chain driven, there are no cambelts to replace.

Hyundai offers one of the best warranties in the business. It runs for five years and there’s no mileage limit, which means that at the time of writing all i20 Mk3s are currently still within their warranty period.

Recalls

Hyundai has an enviable track record when it comes to the lack of recalls that it has launched. Over the past two decades it has, rather incredibly, averaged less than two per year across its entire model range. At one point (late 2005 until late 2010) it went five years between recalls, but last year it issued seven, and there were six in 2022.

There were also six in 2021, and the last one of these, launched in mid-December was for the third-generation i20. However, it was for just one example of the i20, which was built on 15 September 2021.

It left the factory with incorrect wheel-retaining bolts fitted, but all that was required was for it to be taken to a dealer where the correct bolts could be put on.

Driver Power owner satisfaction

The i20 hasn’t sold in small numbers, but it hasn’t appeared in any our new or used Driver Power surveys. Just two Hyundais made the 2023 New Car survey: the Ioniq and first-generation Kona, which came 11th and 16th respectively.

Both were great results which were down to owners liking the reliability, low running costs and value of their cars, although the infotainment scored well for both models, too.