Hyundai i20 (2009 – 2015) Review

Hyundai i20 (2009 – 2015) At A Glance

4/5

+Easy to drive and refined. Very well built. Five-year warranty as standard. Neat and tidy styling. Decent room in the back seat. Good economy from entry-level 1.2-litre.

-Lacks character. Base models feel a little sparse and cheap inside. Seats lack long-distance comfort.

Insurance Groups are between 4–12
On average it achieves 82% of the official MPG figure

If you're looking for the newer model, you'll need our Hyundai i20 review.

The Hyundai i20 is the replacement for the dated Getz and it's a huge improvement in both quality and design. So much so in fact, the Hyundai i20 is a genuine rival to more established small hatchbacks like the Toyota Yaris and Vauxhall Corsa.

It majors on value for money with competitive prices and generous standard equipment levels. The i20 also comes with a five-year warranty as standard, backing up the feeling it has of a very well built and durable car. But this hasn't been at the expense of comfort or interior quality.

Inside it's neatly laid out with a comfortable cabin, intuitive controls and a classy steering wheel design. True, some of the cheaper models can feel a little sparse inside (with rather less appealing plastics used) but they still share the same robust feel. Refinement is impressive too and on the move there's little engine or road noise, so motorway cruising is pleasantly stress free.

Thanks to neat steering and well set-up suspension, the Hyundai i20 is good to drive, striking an impressive balance between handling and ride comfort. This is backed up by a small but strong choice of engines, with one CRDI diesel and two petrols available.

It's actually the entry-level 1.2-litre petrol that is the best choice. It's urgent and revs freely, making it ideal for nipping in and out of city streets plus it's more than happy at motorway speeds. Best of all, it is capable of 54.3mpg and works well with the positive five-speed gearbox.

Hyundai i20 1.2 Comfort 2009 Road Test and Video

Real MPG average for a Hyundai i20 (2009 – 2015)

RealMPG

Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.

Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.

Average performance

82%

Real MPG

32–80 mpg

MPGs submitted

575

Diesel or petrol? If you're unsure whether to go for a petrol or diesel (or even an electric model if it's available), then you need our Petrol or Diesel? calculator. It does the maths on petrols, diesels and electric cars to show which is best suited to you.

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Ask Honest John

We're buying a second hand car for £4,000 and do lots of short journeys, what would you suggest?

"We're looking to buy a car for around £4,000. Looking to do about 4,000 miles a year mainly short journeys with the odd long journey. Any suggestions of reliable models and makes that we should look at given the low budget we have?"
Given your low annual mileage and lots of short journeys we would recommend a small petrol car, such as the Hyundai i20, Suzuki Swift, Toyota Yaris or Honda Jazz.
Answered by David Ross

We need a small and cheap automatic - what do you suggest?

"We have a Ukrainian guest who would like to buy an automatic car for around £5000. We are worried about all the extra costs so a good start would be something likely to be reliable. Where to start?"
A Honda Jazz should be a fairly reliable choice. Look for one with the CVT automatic gearbox rather than the i-Shift transmission briefly offered between 2008 and 2011. A Hyundai i20 could be a good alternative, although you might struggle to find an automatic within budget.
Answered by Andrew Brady

The paint on the roof of my Hyundai i20 is peeling off - will the whole roof have to be repainted?

"The paint on the roof of my 12 plate Hyundai i20 is ‘delaminating’. I can get a fingernail under the edge of the paint and lift it off as if it were not adhered to the primer underneath. Does this mean a total strip and re spray of the whole roof?"
If you can remove the paint from the roof of your car with a fingernail, it would suggest that the paint has failed completely and will need to be repaired. It may be that it is only a section of the roof that has delaminated which would reduce the cost of the repair, but it may be that the whole roof would require a respray. We would suggest contacting some local paint specialists who can take a close look at the area and give you an estimate for the repair. We would always suggest obtaining several quotes to get the best possible price.
Answered by David Ross

Which reliable, small used car should I buy?

"I am in South Africa and for the equivalent of around £5,000 I have narrowed down my used car choices to a Honda Jazz Mark 2, Mk 7 Fiesta 1.4/1.6 and first gen Hyundai i20 (mileage in the range of 50,000 to 75,000 for all). I'm looking to get at least 5 years hassle-free use out of the car and I do about 10,000 miles a year. Would be a plus if the car is good to drive. For the equivalent mileage, the Jazz is generally a bit pricier here than the other two options, but would consider paying more if it's worth it. "
The Jazz is more expensive in the UK, too, but would generally be considered the most reliable car of the three you mention. It's fun to drive, especially if you go for the manual gearbox, which has a slick, precise feel. We have a list of all the issues we're aware of on each car. Jazz: https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/honda/jazz-2014/good Fiesta: https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/ford/fiesta-2013/good i20: https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/hyundai/i20-2009/good
Answered by Russell Campbell
More Questions

What does a Hyundai i20 (2009 – 2015) cost?