Hyundai i20 hatchback - Interior & comfort
There are serious tech upgrades inside but some cheap-looking materials disappoint
The interior design of the i20 feels inspired by larger executive cars, including features like a large screen perched above the dashboard, adjacent to the instrument binnacle. There's a serious amount of kit, and everything feels well screwed together, but material quality appears lacking compared with the Renault Clio – our current class favourite.
Hyundai i20 dashboard
Get behind the wheel, and the i20 feels modern and functional, with two 10.25-inch screens on higher trims - one above the dashboard and one inside the instrument cluster. Both are mounted near the base of the windscreen, making them easier to check on the move compared to those of rivals. The main screen comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while the instruments change colour if you change the car's driving mode.
The driving dials are much more configurable than those of the Vauxhall Corsa, not to mention super-crisp. It’s clear that some of the features have filtered down from Hyundai’s bigger and more expensive cars. The screen shows the wiper and light settings when you change them, which means you’re never unsure if your lights are on, and the top-spec car even reminds you not to leave occupants in the rear seat when you get out.
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There are rotary dials for the climate control, which are easy and fast to use, and the dashboard has accents that extend outwards from the air vents, though the rotating temperature dials in the Vauxhall Corsa feel easier to use – still, the inclusion of any physical controls at all is a welcome feature, given many brands’ tendencies to replace these with hard-to-use touchscreen-based settings.
The deep slashes that extend across the door inserts and along the i20’s dash serve as a distinctive design flourish for the i20 and help the interior stand out in a way that Hyundai cabins of old routinely failed to do. The interior has a more interesting look as a result but it's one that may not be to everyone's taste.
The only major disappointment is the look and feel of some materials; the dashboard and lower sections of the interior are swathed in a selection of black and grey plastics that aren’t very tactile. In the Fiesta and Clio, there are grains and patterns, and some chrome and gloss-black finishes that make those cars feel more upmarket than the i20.
These cheap materials are hidden somewhat on models with black plastic; they’re very noticeable if you choose a model with the grey trim. Buyers of the top-spec Ultimate trim may have expected better materials given the price. Additionally, we'd like a little extra adjustment in the seats.
Equipment
Even the entry-level Advance trim boasts a reasonable level of equipment but costing from just under £21,000, it's no bargain basement supermini – a Renault Clio in Iconic trim costs much less. An eight-inch touchscreen and 10.25-inch digital instrument panel is standard, however (the Iconic model of the Clio has analogue gauges), and there’s cruise control, air-conditioning, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Step up to Premium (costing just under £2,000 extra over the Advance) and upgrades include LED headlights and rear lights, folding door mirrors, automatic wipers, climate control, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel and 17-inch alloy wheels. It's an impressive haul, and making Premium the trim we’d recommend for its value for money. The range-topping Ultimate trim (for around £1,500 more) gets a sunroof, blind spot collision warning, wireless smartphone charging, a premium Bose sound system and keyless entry and go.
The large screen in the i20 is certainly impressive and the large graphics for the mapping and other screens are clear for the most part, looking better than that of rivals such as the Vauxhall Corsa. Some of the touchscreen 'buttons' are quite small, however, and difficult to prod quickly when driving. We also think that the items in the home screen menus could be colour-coded to make them stand out more at a glance.
Options
Hyundai tends to shy away from offering lots of options, instead nudging customers towards the trim level with all the equipment they'll need. One of the few things you can splash out on is a metallic or pearlescent paint finish, costing £550. This is a similar price to most rivals, but the SEAT Ibiza does come with free metallic paint.
