Premium Hatchback

The verdict,

A good-looking, spacious car that gives you a big-car feel for small-car money.

The new i20 has a bigger wheelbase, is marginally wider, but has actually lost a few millimetres in length. Cabin space is generous in terms of legroom. The seats are reasonably big, and give enough overall support. At the rear, three people can sit without feeling hemmed-in. The angle to which the seat back can be reclined is sufficient, and there is good under-thigh support, although the bench could've offered more under-thigh cushioning. Rear air-con vents also make their debut in the Elite i20.

It's a well-laid out cabin, the Elite's, with a host of features like a dashboard-integrated music system, climate control, and USB and Bluetooth connectivity. The steering is big but easy to grip, and the twin-dial instrument cluster is neat. Quality of plastics, fabric and trim is high, as are the levels of fit and finish, all of which are enough to give you the upmarket feel you need from a premium hatchback.