Hyundai i20 N

from Shire Magazine July-August 2023 Cheshire

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Thei20 N has been a resounding success for Hyundai. The brand has reintroduced the ‘hot hatch’ to the marketplace – a blessing for those of us of a certain age who were saddened when it went into a decline. Let’s hope it’s back to fight another day.

Carbuyer.co.uk, for one, sees the i20 N as practical enough to be used every day, but with bags of performance and engaged handling. If you are after a hot hatch brimming with personality, it suggests, this should be at the top of your list.

The Hyundai i20 N is a superb performer. It certainly looks the part: it has huge spoilers, body kits and excessive-looking wings. You might consider it a bit OTT, akin to the Civic Type R, but for purists who like a sporty car that performs it will be a delight.

The interior has seats that hug you like that long-lost aunt. After all, this is a sporty derivative and thrives on being driven firmly, progressively, with an exhilarating feel around country lanes. Surprisingly there is quite a bit of space inside, and the passenger experience has not been overlooked either.

The suggestion that this is a sport vehicle is obvious as soon as you clap eyes on the aluminium pedals. The dashboard instrumentation is quite complex too, with various modes to choose from – Normal, Eco and Power Mode. Everything lights up in red, and performance, steering and braking are all tweaked by the onboard computer system.

Whilst the i20 N looks and feels the part, the main feature without question is the engine – a 1.6-litre, turbo-charged, four-cylinder producing 204 bhp. It has power in abundance, claims a top speed of 142mph, and the 0-60 gallop can be achieved in marginally over 6 seconds.

Whilst the vehicle is undoubtedly sporty, the driving is quite sublime. Rear parking sensors and a rear camera make it a cinch to park. The steering is on the heavy side, as you would expect, and the suspension is a bit stiff – if you are not a fan of a bouncy ride, you may want to take a longer test run. The Pirelli Zero tyres grip the road leech-like in all conditions, and on a foray along Shropshire’s twisty A and B roads on a wet day, they really did come in to their own.

There can be little doubt that the South Korean manufacturer is on a roll. The i20 N has been named the Best Top Hatch in the Carbuyer Awards 2023, writes Bob Hickman.

Hyundai has not skimped on interior features, a quite extensive list includes heated front seats, a wireless charging pad for your phone, cruise control, a 10.3-inch touchscreen with satellite navigation that was an absolute delight to operate, Apple Car Play and Android Auto as standard. Add to the equation a DAB radio and Bluetooth connectivity and you have a vehicle that’s not only very sporty but a friendly companion.

When you purchase a i20 N you will need to sit for some time and wade through the online tutorial, to understand fully the plethora of switches and buttons, but it’s a small ask. The i20 N comes with an extensive five-year unlimited mileage warranty and is priced currently at £24,995 on the road. The hot hatch is back, in the capable hands of Hyundai.

Bob Hickman is a lifelong motoring fan. After a 30-year career as a police patrol officer, latterly as a sergeant patrolling the Midlands motorways, retirement beckoned and he embarked on writing about his love of cars and motorbikes. Bob is a member of the Guild of Motor Writers and the Midland Guild of Motor Writers. He rides a Royal Enfield Continental GT and drives a 1994 MG RV8.