13 months and 25k kms - i20 crdi magna

Exterior I own the 2011 August model not the iGen. I like the looks of the exterior, front, side and rear. looks chunky and posh with the right curves. Sleek silver is nice when clean and polished. Though I wanted the berry red/blue.

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort) The dashbrd blue lights look great in the night. Looks like sitting in an airplane cockpit. After 25k all the switches and knobs are still sturdy and work well. Right power window makes a light thud noise when operated. One touch power window for driver.  I like the fit and finsh of the intergrate ICE and AC vents. Design is unique and very nice.  Quality of fabric and plastics is good . Big glove box with cooling. Useful to keep that cool drink cool on long drives. so far no accessories other than stock. Have to change the floor mats though. Have never used the USB and Aux. Hope they work. I like soft spiritual music so the stock ICE is great for me.

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox Diesel clatter is evident but quite controlled even though no insulation under the bonnet. Noisy tyres (apollo acelers). I think this tyre is very soft since I have got at least two punctures in all tyres.

1st gear is not peppy but if you rev upto 2500 rpm and upshift it is ok. MAx speed achieved so far is 150kms. Still had more juice but the road traffic did not allow higher speed. FE from 14 kms/L in B2B traffic to 21 kms/L on highway at 90-100 kms speed. RPM is just above 2000 rpm at 100kms speed. In the 6 speed it is just below 2000 rpm. Generally I get 15 to 17 kms/L since I keep the rpm at or above 2000. I drive on the NH7 from Hosur to Jigani in Bangalore to work.

Gear is accurate and smooth. First gear sometimes gets notchy. Clutch & accelerator are so smooth and soft. Clutch travel is long which I had to get used to. AC is adequate. Tested once in Chennai at 40 degC. Front cools faster but the rear takes few minutes. Considering the big cabin space it is ok. Three adults can sit more comfortably in the rear compared to the competition (swift, fiesta classic and vista, others not checked). Rear floor is flat which is convenient for the third passenger. All four power windows. No option to lower the windows if the ignition is off. No harm to have provided manual winding handles.

Ride Quality & Handling Very good to drive above 2000 rpm. You get a tug close to 2000 rpm felt more in 3, 4 & 5th gears when you floor it from 1500 rpm. Not very bad to drive in traffic either. Just not as peppy as my pulsar 180 in 1st gear.

Steering is not sharp and in my case it is not very light as expected. So far no issues so am keeping quite. No rattles so far. Third service completed at 20k kms. Diesel cartridge was not changed so bill came to Rs3000. I think they didnot have the spare.

Final Words Spacious, powerful, sturdy with good after sales service availability. Reasons why I went for this car in Hosur compared to the Swift, vista and Figo.

Areas of improvement Left front suspension noise, soft suspension makes highspeed ride uncomfortable when the road is uneven. Boat on rough sea kindda feel. Horn and lights are too weak. Planning to upgrade horn with Klaxon which I think is in the polo. Spares should not cost much since Hyundai has been in India for so long. Should have localised more.

IMO, the i20 diesel is the perfect combination of space, ASC, FE and power available for now.

Space, fit and finish, clutch, looks, powerSuspension, steering feedback, weak horn and lights