Korean automobile manufacturer Hyundai recently launched the facelift Elite i20 at the Auto Expo 2018. This comes after the release of Maruti Suzuki Baleno as a competitor. The Elite i20 was one of the bestselling cars in the premium hatchback category for Hyundai Motor India until the launch of Baleno. With the short lifespans of cars in this segment, a makeover is necessary to stay alive in the market and that is exactly what Hyundai has done.
The Elite i20 does not just get a general makeover to the design, but its maker has gone the extra mile to make some major changes and enhance the value offering. The key change in the exterior is the cascade grille first seen in the new Verna. The renewed i20 looks a bit wider and stylish than its predecessor. The headlamps feature LED daylight running lights and projector units. Positioning and cornering lamps add to driving convenience and safety. A blacked out C-pillar, 16 inch cut diamond alloy wheels, new tail lamps and tailgate design are the other changes on the exterior.
The changes on the inside are more subtle, retaining the success formula of the i20. The infotainment system has a 17.77 cm touchscreen, navigation is supported through SD card along with Bluetooth, USB and Aux-in connectivity. The fully automatic climate control, a sliding front armrest and a wide armrest at the rear makes the cabin more comfortable.
The facelift Elite i20 utilizes the same engines as before: a 1.2 liter Kappa Dual VTVT unit, producing about 81 hp and 115 Nm of torque at 4000 RPM for the petrol variant and a U2 CRDi unit with a power output of 88 hp and 220 Nm of torque between 1500 to 2750 RPM. But there is a pleasant twist-in-the-tale as Hyundai claims to have improved the engine efficiency by 9 % through engine tuning and sleek aerodynamics.
All these updates, though subtle, are well-planned and improve the overall value of the vehicle. At a price between 5.35 lakh and 9.15 lakh, the Elite i20 offers impressive features, safety equipment and its good looks may well make i20 sell like hot cakes in this segment.