Hyundai i20N: Compact hot hatch guide

Here's everything you need to know about Hyundai's first light hot hatch, the i20N.

Hyundai i20N key statistics

What to consider when buying a Hyundai i20N

Want to buy an i20N compact hot hatch? These are some of the most interesting features.

• Engine and mechanical components

  

  With a car that's inspired by a rally car, you'd expect the i20N to have a powerful engine. And, there's nothing more fun than taking a small, lightweight car and dropping in a mighty engine.

  The Hyundai i20N gets a SmartStream G1.6 T-GDi, which is a turbocharged, 4-cylinder petrol engine. This is a huge upgrade on what a standard i20 would have.

  • Power and torque. The Hyundai i20N has an impressive 150kW, from a stirring 5,500-6,000RPM. Torque reaches a maximum of 275Nm across a thumping band from 1,750-4,500RPM. On overboost, the engine can reach up to 304Nm.
  • Flat Power tuning. Hyundai has employed Flat Power tuning – just like its bigger brother, the Hyundai i30 N. Hyundai suggests the benefits are improved responsiveness and acceleration due to better torque and power availability at lower revs.
  • N Corner Carving Diff. The Hyundai i20N front axle has a mechanical torsion gear-type Limited-Slip Differential (M-LSD). This helps the i20N transfer power to the road, maintain traction and give it dynamic handling.
  • Unique-to-the-model turbo. The SmartStream 1.6 T-GDi is found in other Kia and Hyundai models, like the Sportage and Kona. However, for the i20N, engineers installed a bespoke turbocharger, helping to take the standard power output from somewhere around 132kW and 265Nm to the levels seen in the i20N.
  • Continuously Variable Valve Duration (CVVD). The Hyundai i20N's CVVD system gives the car optimal performance while underpinning sensible fuel economy. It does this by regulating how long the valves open and close for, in short, adapting the engine's performance to better meet current demands. Hyundai claims the car is good for 6.9L/100km combined. You can see it in action below.

  • 6-speed manual gearbox. True petrolheads love a manual transmission because it gives the driver more control over the engine and power delivery. It's also more engaging to drive. The Hyundai i20N has a reinforced clutch to handle all the extra stress it experiences. There's even a rev-matching mode (which Hyundai says is better than a professional doing the same job), so you can nail your downshifts without having to worry about getting fancy with your pedal work. The development team also packaged the alloy sports pedals nice and tight – so you can do some trail braking or heel-and-toe driving if you wish.

• Chassis and handling

  

  Hyundai presents the i20N as a "corner rascal". Here's the tech and engineering that underpins that:

  • Performance suspension. The Hyundai i20N has "track-ready" suspension (to use the company's words). The geometry, including camber, has been adjusted and the car has new springs, dampers and an anti-roll bar. Apparently, the suspension was tuned at the N division's R&D facility in Namyang in South Korea and further refined at the unforgiving Nürburgring in Germany. The rear N Power Sense Axle has coupled torsion beams, which the carmaker says boosts stiffness and response – with added weight and packaging benefits. The suspension bushes have been uprated (they are made from a different material than a standard i20), again helping to make the vehicle agile and to provide the driver with positive feedback. An engineer working on the project said the i20N was playful and intuitive. They even went as far as to call it, on the right day, the fastest N model.
  • High performance, ducted brakes. The i20N has a front brake performance package. For its size, the i20N has massive brakes. The vented discs measure 320mm (1.5 inches or 40mm larger than the standard i20 discs). The rear brake discs are solid types, measuring 262mm in diameter. The car also has a larger brake master cylinder so it can clamp onto the discs with more force. Race cars have all kinds of ducts and vents to keep hard-working components cool, the i20N is no different. Air vents, built into the suspension control arms and front knuckles channel cool air over the brakes. That should help reduce brake fade, where the brakes become less effective due to overheating under demanding conditions. Drivers can optionally override the electronic stability control (ESC) system, which lets you left-foot brake, even when accelerating (to manually control traction). A manual parking brake means you can still do rally-style handbrake turns.
  • Strengthened chassis. The monocoque chassis of the Hyundai i20N has been reinforced in 12 critical places. Also, it has extra welds (just like a proper rally car) when assembled as well as bolt-on support structures that help boost rigidity and agile handling characteristics. Engineers also had to adapt the front of the bodywork to accept larger air ducts for cooling.
  • Ultra high-performance tyres by Pirelli. Variants of the Pirelli P Zero tyre are used by exotic car makers like Porsche, Lamborghini, Bentley and Ferrari. It makes sense then that Hyundai would fit the i20N with the Pirelli P-Zero HN tyre. The tyres are very much at home on the track, but still retain great water dispersion abilities, so you can comfortably drive home from the circuit on the same treads. Apparently, Hyundai developed these tyres for the car alongside Pirelli to help give the car improved grip and handling as well as ride quality.
  • Steering ratio. Engineers made the i20N more lively by reducing the steering ratio as well as tuning the power steering system to suit the car's agility.

• Performance stats

  

  Hyundai says the i20N has one of the best-in-class power-to-weight ratios, with 123kW per tonne. The car only weighs 1,213kg. The i20N actually weighs the same as the WRC rally car.

  The top speed is recorded as 230km/h and 0 to 100km/h takes 6.7 seconds.

• Cool technology

  

  Hyundai has packed the i20N full of motorsport and performance car-inspired tech:

  • N Grin Control system. Yes, that's its actual name. The N Grin Control system is made up of 5 driving modes, from Normal and Eco to Sport, N and N Custom. The driver can flip between settings using steering-wheel-mounted keys.
  • 3-mode active variable exhaust. We see adjustable exhausts on more and more performance vehicles nowadays. First, it's super cool. Second, it means you can drive the i20N like a sleeper, by adjusting the volume of the exhaust. When you drop the car into N mode, it ramps up the exhaust sound – with proper pops and bangs erupting from the tailpipe, just like a real rally car. Check out the video below.

  • Launch control. A performance car wouldn't be complete without launch control, a system designed to minimise spin and optimise acceleration when activated. It's enabled by selecting Launch control, pressing the clutch, depressing the accelerator and slowly raising the clutch pedal. The i20N spins up the turbo and readies other vehicle systems for maximum acceleration.

  

  • Track Maps. Hyundai has implemented a cool feature called Track Maps, which detects when you're at a racing circuit. It's then able to automatically time laps, as it knows where the start/finish line is. More tracks are coming in a mid-2022 update that drivers can install themselves.
  • N Performance Driving Data. Drivers can also access a Performance Driving Data System that lets them see super techy information like g-force, power, torque, turbo boost, brake pressure and acceleration times.

• Exterior

  

  As you'd expect from a hot hatch, the i20N has a full body kit. This makes the car look more aggressive and sporty than a standard model. Of course, it has a WRC-style rear spoiler as well as a front lip spoiler (painted with Tomato Red flourishes) and enlarged grilles. Other external features include the following:

  • Matte grey 18-inch alloys
  • LED headlights, daytime running lamps (DRL) and combination tail lights
  • 10mm lower ride height
  • The rear bumper features a large single exhaust and diffuser-style aero fins
  • N-badged brake callipers
  • Heated, power-folding and adjustable side mirrors

  You can have the Hyundai i20N painted in several colours, all of which are available with an optional contrasting black roof (except the Phantom Black paint option).

• Interior

  

  You'd be forgiven for thinking the Hyundai i20N would have a spartan, WRC-style interior. Rather, it seems well equipped and features the following:

  • N-badged front bucket seats
  • 10.25-inch driver supervision display
  • Cruise control
  • 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen
  • Smart key and push-button ignition
  • Satellite navigation (with live traffic updates)
  • Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
  • Bluetooth phone connectivity
  • Premium, 8-speaker BOSE sound system with amplifier and boot subwoofer
  • Wireless QI standard smartphone charger

  

  • Single-zone climate control
  • DAB+ radio
  • Black headliner
  • Front and rear electric windows
  • Alloy sports pedals
  • Leather-appointed steering wheel and gear knob
  • 310-litres boot volume (VDA)

  All-in-all, the i20N has a heap of tech that makes it both sporty and practical for everyday use.

• Safety features

  The Hyundai i20N has a heap of safety tech and features, including the following:

  • Hyundai SmartSense:
    • Blind-spot collision warning (BCW)
    • Rear cross-traffic collision warning (RCCW)
    • Forward collision-avoidance assist (FCA - with car/pedestrian detection)
    • Driver attention warning (DAW)
    • High beam assist (HBA)
    • Lane-following assist (LFA)
    • Lane-keeping assist - line/road-edge (LKA-L/R)
    • Rear occupant alert (ROA)
  • Emergency stop signal (ESS)
  • Rear-view monitor with parking guidance (RVM w/ PG)
  • Tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) - individual tyre pressure readout
  • Parking distance warning - front/reverse (PDW-F/R) featuring 8 sensors, with guidance display
  • Intelligent speed limit assist (ISLA) - with speed sign reading function, warning and MSLA guide
  • Manual speed limit assist (MSLA)
  • Electronic stability control (ESC), with:
    • Anti-lock braking system (ABS)
    • Electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD)
    • Brake assist system (BAS)
    • Hill-start assist control (HAC)
    • Multi-collision braking (MCB)
    • Traction control system (TCS)
    • Vehicle stability management (VSM)
  • Airbags:
    • Driver and passenger front, thorax driver and front passenger and side curtains for first and second rows
  • ISOFIX child seat anchors on rear outboard seats
  • Rain-sensing wipers
  • Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
  • Space-saver spare wheel

• Warranty

  Hyundai covers the i20N with a 5-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, even when used on a track. The only catch is track use must be in line with the stipulations in the owner's manual.

Price

The Hyundai i20N's drive-away cost starts from $36,275.46 in NSW postcode 2000. Premium paint is an extra $495. The contrast roof option is priced at $1,000.

Trims

There's only 1 variant available right now, which is N.

Hyundai i20N: Summary

Hyundai calls the i20N racetrack capable and likens its handling to that of a go-kart. It looks like a super fun and lively car to drive, thanks to its engine power output and track-oriented performance adjustments. Yet, it also has heaps of interior equipment and safety tech. For the money, it's an attractive alternative to the more expensive Yaris GR.

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Picture: Supplied