Hyundai pins its hopes on the refreshed i20 hatchback to regain market share

The N Line has automatic climate control and plenty of charging ports. (Photo: Hyundai SA)

By Melinda Ferguson

15 Jul 2024

The enhanced Hyundai i20 has just landed, giving hatch fans more choice in this hotly contested segment.

It’s hardly a secret that the motoring industry in 2024 is showing a significant decline in year-on-year sales. By midyear, the cumulative numbers for the first six months of 2024 were 7.6% down, compared with the same period in 2023.

The light commercial vehicle (LCV) segment was particularly hard hit in June, with a massive 24.3% decline in year-on-year sales. While the passenger market suffered a 9% dip last month, its overall decline, between January and June 2024, is at a more respectable 6.9%.

It’s also no secret that certain manufacturers are doing extremely well for themselves. Toyota South Africa (TSA) hasn’t blinked a headlamp as it continues to retain its mantle as the bestselling manufacturer in the country.

Last month saw TSA sell a whopping 9,490 vehicles, accounting for 25.3% of market share. The company had four products in the Top 10: the top-selling Hilux (2,435 units); the Toyota Corolla Cross at number five (1,578); the Toyota Starlet at number seven (1,171); and the Fortuner, which came in at number 10 (972).

Volkswagen SA, with its locally manufactured volume-selling Polo Vivo (and Polo), is still holding firm at number two, claiming 14.6% of the market. Coming in at number three, Suzuki continues its dominant trail with its 11.5% market share.

The big headache for manufacturers like Renault and Kia, who have both dropped out of the Top 10 over the past few months, are the Chinese brands, Chery and GWM (which includes Haval). They’ve both staged a massive onslaught on the local market over the last few years, eating up significant market share in the SUV and crossover market, where the likes of Renault, Kia and Hyundai primarily play. Last month, Chery came in at number eight, selling 1,653 units, and GWM clinched the number nine position, with 1,307 units sold.

Kia and Renault regularly featured in the Top 10 in 2023, but 2024 has seen a steady decline in sales for both players, with June numbers in the passenger car market tracking Renault (1,030 units) and Kia (956 units) at number 12 and 13, respectively.

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N recently won ‘World Car of the Year’. (Photo: Hyundai SA)

The refreshed i20

A couple of weeks ago I attended the launch of the refreshed Hyundai i20 hatchback which has traditionally been one of Hyundai’s most successful volume sellers. The mood at the media briefing was somewhat subdued when it came to going through the 2024 numbers for the brand.

While Hyundai managed to come in at number five last month (2,367 units), in recent years, it’s regularly played at number four and is clearly seeing the “Chinese effect” on sales in the SUV and crossover market.

The mood was a lot more upbeat when it came to talking about the brand’s Ioniq 5 N, a super-fast all-electric hatchback that was recently named “2024 World Performance Car” at the World Car Awards.

It’s garnered huge accolades since its launch in 2023, winning Top Gear’s “Car of the Year” last year. It has been celebrated as “the best electric driver’s car yet made”, by the UK print and online publication, Autocar.

While the i20 hatchback comes nowhere near its all-electric Ioniq brother’s 0-100km in just 3.4 seconds race time, the local arm of the South Korean giant will be hedging its bets on their trusty ICE volume seller to regain some overall market share.

Thankfully for Hyundai, this B-segment hatchback space is not one in which there is too much Chinese play. The entry- and mid-level i20’s main rivals are hatches like the Suzuki Baleno, Toyota Starlet, Suzuki Swift and the VW Polo Vivo, while the top-of-the-range i20 N Line draws guns with the likes of the VW Polo, Opel Corsa, Peugeot 208 and the Suzuki Swift Sport.

So what’s new in the refreshed i20? The present third generation is a good-looking hatch and the exterior and interior styling upgrades are pretty subtle. You’ve got the usual stuff like improvements to the lights, some upgrades in trim in the cabin, better tech and an overall sportier look and feel.

The top-of-the-range N Line has red stitching for a sporty appeal. (Photo: Hyundai SA)

Engines

The line-up is appealing in terms of pricing in that it caters for a broad customer base. It ranges from the early R300Ks, right up to the flagship model which comes in at just over R450K.

This top-of-the-range derivative, the i20 N Line, with its turbocharged 1.0-litre, 3-cylinder petrol engine, is the one that will appeal to those with a need for speed. It offers 90kW of power and 172Nm torque and is paired with a solid 7-speed, dual-clutch, automatic transmission.

In terms of engines, the rest of the lineup consists of a naturally aspirated 1.2-litre Kappa engine, good for 61kW and 114Nm of torque, found in the entry-level i20 Premium model, as well as a more powerful 1.4-litre Kappa engine (73kW /133Nm), seen in the i20 Executive.

The drive

On a rare sunny day in the rain-soaked Western Cape, we got to put the flagship i20 N Line through its paces. On a 200km drive, between Stellenbosch and Riebeek-Kasteel, I was immediately taken up with its fun and sporty feel, thanks to its turbo-charged engine and some decent torque.

On acceleration, it emits a rather lovely growly sound which made me think I was driving faster than I actually was.

Look, it ain’t no hot hatch like its speedy i30 N cousin or all-electric Ioniq 5 N badass sibling, but the drive is surprisingly satisfying and taking tight corners is a hoot.

The 7-speed auto transmission was smooth, and while some might find the suspension a little firm, I liked it because it added to its wanna-be hot hatch appeal. The claimed fuel consumption of 6.9L/100km was pretty on target as mine came in at 7L/100km.

The N Line has automatic climate control and plenty of charging ports. (Photo: Hyundai SA)

N Line interior

The N Line has a whole lot of bells and whistles to justify its price, by way of a Bose sound system, a sunroof, automatic aircon and cruise control. On the safety front it’s got ESC (electronic stability control), six airbags, hill start assist and the red stitching on its leatherette seats gives it some sporty appeal. The cabin is spacious and comfy. A bonus is plenty of charging points by way of USB and USB-C ports as well as a 12V socket.

Last month the i20 was the 19th bestseller in the overall local car market. Hyundai will be hoping that enough hatch fans gravitate to the refreshed model in order to restore the brand to 4th place.

After all, last year, the i20 was Hyundai’s second-bestselling model, beaten only by the popular Grand i10, and this segment occupies a sizeable 35% of the local passenger car market.

Pricing

Hyundai i20 1.2 Premium 5MT – R309,900

Hyundai i20 1.2 Executive 5MT – R329,900

Hyundai i20 1.4 Premium 6AT – R329,900

Hyundai i20 1.4 Executive 6AT – R349,900

Hyundai i20 1.0T N Line 7DCT – R467,500. DM

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Business Maverick

The refreshed i20

Engines

The drive

N Line interior

Pricing