Hyundai i20 N Line First Drive Review

As mentioned earlier, this is an 'N Line' and not an 'N' car. Hence, it was unlikely to get any major change in terms of performance compared to its regular sibling. So, don't be surprised that there's no power boost on this Hyundai i20 turbo. Nonetheless, this one continues to draw power from a 1.0-litre T-GDi petrol engine that puts out 118bhp and 172Nm of torque. This powerplant can be had with a six-speed iMT unit or a seven-speed DCT gearbox. The latter is what we're driving.

The i20 N Line might not be a performance-packed hot hatch that some of us expected it to be. But, it gets a couple of functional changes for a more spirited driving experience. As you might have got an idea, it's not a riot to drive, but still keeps you engaged. Starting with its ride, the low-speed ride continues to be stiff and now with Hyundai tuning the damping force by 30 per cent, the ride gets even firmer. However, on the positive side, its road-holding capacity has increased and it stays pretty planted without too much up and down movement. It feels even more stable at high speeds. It's still no corner-carver and will understeer if you Go too fast around a sharp bend. Another drawback is that the rear passengers will not be too comfortable with jerks from the suspension. Yet, ground clearance isn't a major concern as we managed to clear all speed-breakers and potholes on the way without any hassle.

Inside, the i20 N Line has an all-black interior which might not be as inviting as cars with a lighter interior feel. Still, I'd say it’s one less worry in its upkeep. And reasonably so, as you wouldn't hesitate to spend a lot of time in this comfortable and spacious cabin. It gets the same interior as the standard i20 with good quality fit and finish. Now things have been livened up with red accents and red ambient lighting instead of blue. Then, a chequered flag design for the leather seats, a new gear knob, and a three-spoke steering wheel, all with an N logo add up to the visual appeal. Otherwise, there are no major changes in the design, layout, space, and comfy seats. It remains to be the same as the standard i20 which we have detailed in our previous review here.

Now, the i20 has always been known for having a feature-packed cabin and nothing has been skimped in the Hyundai i20 N Line. In fact, its top-spec N8 version boasts of a few additional updates apart from all the bells and whistles offered. For example, Hyundai is offering the 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with BlueLink suit for connected technology and 16 OTA map updates for eight years. Then, there are new voice commands for the sunroof, location finding, and even driver window control. What's more, the usual noteworthy features that are carried over include a Bose sound system, TFT digital display, automatic headlamps, TPMS, wireless charger with a cooling pad, push-button stop/start, cruise control, and many more.