As I type this, theres a headline on my newsfeed which suggests another massive petrol price increase is on the cards. How is the consumer expected to cope with an ever-increasing fuel price and still be in the market for a new vehicle? The answer is a small B-segment diesel, one of which I recently drove – the Hyundai i20 CRDi Glide.
Form follows function
Hyundai gave the little i20 a nip-and-tuck in the looks department and while it looks a little better, I still think its no beauty queen. That said, its not the ugliest thing around and winning pageants is not what the Hyundai i20 is about. The Korean car manufacturer is answering the call for comfortable, practical and sensible motoring, and if the numerous Car of the Year nominations are anything to go by, its doing a damn fine job.
Economical diesel engine
The little 1.4-litre turbocharged diesel engine powers the i20 and what an ingenious piece of tech it is. With 66kW and 220Nm at hand, its pretty powerful for such a small vehicle and in-gear acceleration is particularly potent. Theres a slight pause before the power comes surging in and the car (and I) will suggest changing down a gear to cancel out the turbo lag.
Like all modern diesel engines, fuel economy is a priority and here the Hyundai i20 excels. In the week I had this vehicle the trip computer read 5.7L/100km, which is excellent given the current rate of exorbitant petrol price increases.
How does the i20 drive?
The Hyundai i20 is quite pleasant to drive. Theres plenty of oomph for overtaking and it gets from 80km/h-120km/h surprisingly quickly However the engine has a rather on/off nature as mentioned above, but you can get round that by keeping it in the power with gear changes. Speaking of gearbox, its smooth and direct meaning changes are effortless. What impressed me was the quality of the ride where despite deliberately driving on poor tarmac, the i20 still felt fine. Its a rather comfortable car, which is an important factor if youre doing the daily grind. Theres no mistaking the fact youre in a diesel though as the distinct truck-like clatter is quite obvious. It would be great if there was some form of noise shielding that could be fitted to diesel engines as some, like this one, sound very unrefined.
Hyundai i20 specs
It has been awhile since I had last driven one of Hyundais smaller cars and I was blown away by how much you get for your R200 000. Theres a comprehensive trip computer, 16-inch alloy wheels, rear park assist, automatic climate control, Bluetooth connection for mobile devices, glovebox cooling, one touch indicators and the radio finally has RDS which means it actually shows you the name of the selected station. The only thing which Id like to see fitted is cruise control, but other than that the Hyundai i20 has the essentials box well covered.
Theres also a full set of safety features like driver, passenger, side, curtain airbags as well as anti-lock brakes.
Hyundai i20 CRDi Glide price in South Africa
Pricing for the Hyundai i20 CRDi starts from R199 900
Hyundai i20 CRDi Glide conclusion
In the highly competitive B-segment where nearly every manufacturer is having a go at making a thrifty runabout, the Hyundai i20 makes a good name for itself especially with this diesel engine. The diesel motors shortcomings are easily overshadowed by the generous power and torque, while the fuel consumption is outstanding.
I drove my i20 test unit for a week and it was returned to Hyundai with ¾ of a tank still remaining. In fact, the fuel needle only moved off the Full mark after five days of driving. The price tag may scare off some potential buyers though, but I think youd recoup that cost in saved fuel quite easily. I wouldnt be put off by the distinct diesel engine noise either.
- Why you should: Excellent specification, small yet powerful engine, light on fuel, sensible, excellent Hyundai warranty.
- Why you shouldnt: This is a car purchased using head not heart, like all diesel cars its expensive, sounds a bit like a bakkie.
- It would be better if: slightly cheaper perhaps?
- View the vehicle: New Hyundai i20 / Used Hyundai i20
- Competitors worth checking out: Volkswagen Polo, Ford Fiesta, Renault Clio, Toyota Yaris, Chevrolet Sonic
