2021 Hyundai i20 N Line review, test drive

Under the N umbrella Hyundai has full-blown N cars, which have larger powertrains, totally redone suspension methods and other race enhancements for just about each individual location like the steering, gearbox, brakes and differential. The N Line – which is what we have – are designs that generally arrive fitted with sporty styling enhancements, along with some mild efficiency upgrades to places like the brakes and suspension.   

The i20 N Line has a markup of Rs fifty,000-1,00,000 in excess of similar variants of the i20 and shares the common cars 120hp, 1.-litre turbo-petrol motor, as perfectly as the 7-velocity twin-clutch automated transmission (DCT) and the 6-velocity intelligent handbook transmission (iMT). It is priced among Rs 9.84-eleven.seventy five lakh (ex-showroom).

What is the i20 N Line like to generate?

Let us get straight to the heart of the matter. Other than the evident go faster styling bits, the i20 N Line options 3 crucial mechanical upgrades in excess of the common i20, and the superior information is that these do greatly enhance its sportiness. The initially amid these upgrades are its dampers, which are thirty percent stiffer than the common car’s and allow the N Line to deal with corners in a flatter, more athletic way and lessen body roll. What’s wonderful is that the stiffness does not acquire out a large amount from the comfort and the ride does not truly feel overtly rigid even though dealing with poor roadways and potholes. The car’s freeway manners are substantially nicer way too, and it feels even more sure-footed at high speeds.

The next alter is its steering truly feel, which is a large amount heavier than the regular vehicle. The on-centre truly feel is nicer and the vagueness from the i20’s steering has been eradicated. The included excess weight definitely ups its engagement amounts by producing it a large amount sharper to issue, thus infusing a greater degree of driver self confidence.

The third location of improvement is the addition of rear disc brakes. Not that the regular version’s brakes have been missing, but obtaining discs at all four corners feels more reassuring. On the total, all these enhancements created to the presently able chassis of the common i20, have enhanced its driving dynamics producing the i20 N Line a genuine driver’s delight and a person of the nicest driving hatchbacks about.

So superior is the N Line’s driving prowess, that it eggs you to generate more durable and consider to extract more from the motor. The turbo-petrol motor is carried in excess of from the regular vehicle, unchanged, and even though in common guise it does the work rather perfectly, in the N Line, it feels like it could have some more electric power, due to the able N Line chassis. And the place this motor lets you down is in its delayed electric power shipping underneath 2,000rpm, which can get troublesome at small speeds, main to sluggish off-the-line responses.

The rest nonetheless is good as the motor retains its healthful mid-array efficiency and is rev-satisfied. So it will simply spin earlier 6,000rpm. And when you generate with a large foot, the new twin-tipped muffler emits a raspy notice, notably on the exterior.

Paired to this motor is the similar seven-velocity twin-clutch transmission (DCT) and 6-velocity iMT (semi-automated handbook transmission) from the regular vehicle and we truly truly feel Hyundai skipped the option to provide a suitable handbook.

The DCT is sleek in its operation, and comes across as a perfectly-sorted gearbox in most situations. Straight-line efficiency is solid and Hyundai statements a -100kph time of 9.ninety seconds, equivalent to the common version, as the N Line’s 10kg excess weight attain in excess of the common vehicle is negligible.

If you have experienced the erstwhile Volkswagen Polo GT’s twin-clutch automated transmission, you would truly feel that the Hyundai’s feels slower in comparison, particularly even though having handbook manage by way of paddleshifters. There’s a Activity method that holds gears a little bit lengthier than ‘D’, but on a winding uphill climb, you can get caught among its quick next and tall third gear ratio. Simply because of its broadly-spaced (reduced) gear ratios, it frequently loses steam and breaks momentum and in this sort of situations its weak off-increase efficiency is even more amplified.

Shifting concentrate to the iMT, this 6-speeder will get a suitable handbook shifter minus a clutch pedal. This sleek-slotting transmission is a hassle-free compromise for people searching for independence from a clutch pedal in crawling targeted visitors, even though continue to wanting to row by means of gears manually. What’s wonderful is that the motor feels more responsive with the iMT and due to the fact of the far better-spaced gear ratios and the fact that you can keep onto gears, it is a large amount more enjoyable on winding hilly roadways. For all its merits, nonetheless, the iMT is not a transmission that’ll allow for speedy shifts, and due to the fact it lacks a clutch, it does not allow for for exhilarating off-the-line launches. But among the two, this is certainly a far better possibility. Assume -100kph dash times in the area of eleven seconds for each, DCT and iMT, comparable to what we attained in our exams with the regular vehicle.

What are the other N Line particular adjustments?

As for the exterior, the i20 N Line will get enough enhancements. The entrance bumper will get minor tweaks which glimpse a little bit more intense and its chin, completed in red, appears to be like distinct, as does the subtle red strip on the sideskirts. On the vehicle with the Fiery Crimson paint shade, silver highlights change the red therapy. Other adjustments contain a new all-black entrance grille which sporting activities an exciting chequered flag-encouraged layout. Spicing up its aspect profile are black mirror housings, new diamond-slash sixteen-inch alloys and red entrance brake calipers. The rear will get a new bumper, twin muffler tips, as perfectly as a roof spoiler with aspect wings completed in black. And just to make sure you don’t oversight it for the common i20, Hyundai has slapped ‘N Line’ badges on the entrance grille, aspect fenders and tailgate.

On the inside there are a handful of small-hire plastics but the N Line tweaks do uplift the cabin. It options splashes of red, irrespective of the body shade. The seats feature a really sporty red piping and the ‘N Line’ branding, as does the new steering which feels fantastic to grip. Then there are some red highlights on the air vents, door handles and gear lever. Talking of which, the iMT’s shift lever is so superior, it will simply move muster in a substantially more high-priced sportscar. Continuing the red theme on the inside are new red ambient lights way too. On the total, the seats are snug and room, storage and practicality are aplenty,

Is the N Line far better equipped than the regular i20?

What truly grabs headlines is the base N6 iMT variant which is very perfectly equipped and priced competitively at 9.84 lakh ex-showroom. This variant simply justifies the Rs 1 lakh premium in excess of the Sportz variant i20 turbo iMT. The N6 will get you a large amount which includes the body package, diamond-slash alloys, entrance and rear disc brakes, ESP and a sunroof. Apparently, even however this variant will get a smaller sized eight-inch touchscreen (in contrast to the ten-inch device in the prime-spec N8 variant), this new-technology device will get wireless Android Car and Apple CarPlay even though the prime-spec will get a wired connectivity.

The prime-spec N8 variant is loaded to the gills with 6 airbags, Bose audio system, LED headlamps and a large amount more. It also will get new connectivity options by way of the Bluelink smartphone application having the depend to fifty eight. Between other features, it options voice command to run the sunroof and driver’s aspect window, as perfectly as in excess of-the-air map updates (sixteen updates in eight a long time). The N8 variant priced at Rs fifty,000 more for the DCT and Rs 95,000 for the iMT than the Asta O variant of the regular vehicle, is not as superior value as the N6 variant in conditions of options, due to less additions in excess of similar i20 variants.

Ought to you purchase a person?

While the i20 is high-priced to start off with, the superior information is that the move-up for the N Line is only marginal and is an honest try to renovate a regular hatchback, into an interesting sporty proposition. Absolutely sure, a 3-pedal handbook gearbox set up would have included a greater degree of driver engagement, and the engine’s efficiency need to have been improved to match its dynamic skill, which is a person of the ideal about. But the compact cosmetic and mechanical tweaks have upped this hatchback’s desirability and sportiness numerous notches. And with a racy persona complementing the i20’s strengths like a roomy inside and course-main options, what you get is a really interesting deal. One particular that can fulfill each driving enthusiasts and loved ones hatchback buyers alike.