The Hyundai i20 has been around in the Indian market for almost 15 years, and it has enjoyed a fairly successful run so far. And still continues to do so. The first generation of the i20 was showcased for the first time in 2008, and it went on sale in India in 2009. This first generation of the Hyundai i20 stayed in production till 2014, with a minor upgrade it got in 2012. The second generation of the i20, which was christened as Elite i20, was visibly different both on the outside as well as on the inside.
In 2016, Hyundai launched the i20 Active and gave it a more rugged and adventurous appeal with some design tweaks and an improved ground clearance without increasing the price much. The Elite i20 got a few upgrades in 2018, but it was more of an attempt to keep it fresh for another couple of years before the third-gen i20 could arrive. The Elite i20 stayed in production till 2020 after which it made way for the third generation of the i20. With the arrival of the third-gen i20, Hyundai decided to drop the Elite moniker from the i20 line-up.
Pre-owned Hyundai Elite i20 Generations
The fact that the Hyundai Elite i20 was itself the second generation of the i20, it doesn’t make sense to categorise it based on the generations. However, if you consider the facelift Elite i20 that came out in 2018, just two years before it was finally discontinued in 2020, then the Elite i20 can be said to have two generations – 1st from 2014-2017, and 2nd from 2018-2020. The second generation was very similar to the first generation with some extra features, and more importantly, a new transmission. Considering the timeline of the events regarding the Elite i20, the first lot of the Elite i20 to be launched in India will be 10-year-old by 2024. So, check the rules under the new Motor Vehicle Act that apply to your area, and if it makes any sense to buy a used Hyundai Elite i20 (especially diesel) for yourself.
Generation 1: 2014-2017 Hyundai Elite i20
The first Hyundai Elite i20 that came out in 2014 looked visibly new and refreshed as compared to the first generation, and immediately caught people’s attention. It was offered initially with two engine options – a 1.2-litre petrol, and a 1.4-litre diesel – and in five trims. It was priced slightly higher than the competition, but also looked the best among them. The looks also had a lot to do with the new Fluidic Design sculpture Hyundai had adopted around that time. It missed DRLs (Daytime Running Lights) as compared to the first generation, but had a 45mm longer wheelbase despite being shorter than its predecessor by 10mm. It was an ideal car for everyday use that also delivered decent enough fun and comfort both in terms of performance and interiors.
Generation 2: 2018-2020 Hyundai Elite i20
The second generation of the Elite i20 was more of a midlife facelift that was aimed at keeping the car relevant to its audience. The design tweaks were subtle on the outside but were very visible on the inside. For the facelifted Elite i20, Hyundai didn’t play much with the powertrains of the vehicle, but did introduce a CVT for the petrol variants. Sadly, the diesel variants had to manage with the already existing six-speed manual transmission. Hyundai also launched an edition of the Elite i20 around this time that had a 1.4-litre petrol engine that was available only with a four-speed automatic gearbox. This combination was available only in the Magna variant and did cost more than the usual variants.
What to check for on a used Hyundai Elite i20 before buying?
Check if the steering wheel is rattling while driving
One of the most common problems heard among Elite i20 owners was the steering behaving ‘vaguely’. Where some called it too soft, others found it rattling on a regular basis. In some instances, the steering lost power completely and became too hard to turn the vehicle. So, make sure you take enough U-turns to ensure that it doesn’t lack feedback before reaching a verdict. Another thing to check is the tilt and telescopic adjustments of the steering wheel. Adjust the steering wheel a few times for different heights and body types to see if it gets stuck somewhere.
Ensure that the suspension of the Elite i20 isn’t too soft
Another common problem reported by a number of Hyundai i20 buyers was of a soft suspension. This resulted in bumpy rides and feeling unplanted at high speeds. Even though it is not a bad thing on a daily basis while commuting within the city, it might be unsettling on longer stretches and on bad roads. Apart from the things that can go wrong over an elongated period of time like leaky suspensions, make sure you drive it enough on different types of road conditions you can possibly find within your vicinity. The suspension was tweaked a little in the facelifted version that was launched in 2018. The damping was changed and that made the 2018 Hyundai i20 a bit more planted than before on the corners and high speeds.
Check if the clutch is slipping or is too hard
This is one of the problems commonly found in used cars, but the Hyundai i20s were peculiarly known to have faulty clutches. Even though the clutch was known to be fine in the beginning, it was reported to get hard easily after a while. This problem was more common in the first generation of the i20, but some of the Elite i20s were also known to develop this problem. Another thing to check is if the clutch has worn out, so pay close attention if it is slipping or feeling spongy. So take the car out for a spin in a busy area where you will have to use the clutch extensively in order to explore if it is working fine or needs to be fixed. This is quite important because if you go for a complete clutch assembly replacement from an authorised service centre, it will prove to be an expensive affair. Especially for the diesel models, a new clutch with pressure plate will cost quite a bit more than the petrol variants.
Look for cracked or leaking seals around the windows and the doors
Another issue that is commonly found in other cars too after a period of time, but earlier and more commonly in i20’s case is leaking seals around the windows, the doors, and the boot. This essentially means more chances of water coming inside the cabin during a wash or rain shower. Open all the doors and inspect the rubber seals closely and look for any cracks as this will also give you a fair idea if the seals need to be replaced or not. Also look for moisture and rust in areas covered by these seals. Thankfully, seals are not expensive to replace, and ideally, you should go to an authorised workshop to get them replaced. Pay attention to the date of the manufacturing of the seals while buying as rubber is prone to harden and develop cracks over a longer period of time.
Check if the engine and the gearbox are behaving sluggishly
Among the three engine options that were available on the Elite i20, the 1.2-litre petrol engine was somewhat boring. The other two engines – the 1.4-litre diesel engine clubbed with a six-speed manual gearbox, and the rare 1.4-litre petrol engine with a four-speed automatic transmission – were both fun and peppy. Where the 1.2-litre engine might seem to work with the five-speed manual gearbox, the CVT will take longer than what you think to reach the required speed and acceleration. Where this particular engine might be enough for city driving, it was known to struggle on highways and deliver poor fuel economy at low speeds. Drive it in mixed conditions to know if the engine and the gearbox suit your needs and style of driving.
Spend some time using the brakes
Some of the vehicles were reported to have stiffened brake pedals at low speeds that can pose a risk to the car and its occupants. Also check if the brakes are worn out and need immediate attention. Use the brakes at different speeds and notice if there is an unnecessary sound coming from the front or rear tyres.
Evaluate the infotainment system
In some of the higher trims of the Hyundai Elite i20 that had a touchscreen, it was common for the infotainment system to have some lag, and at times freeze as well. Check all the functions well to see if they are behaving the way they should, and if all the devices connected to the infotainment system work. Use it often to see if the refresh rate is good enough to have minimal (or acceptable) lag while operating.
Summary
The Hyundai i20 is one of the most iconic cars to have landed on Indian shores. This was the car that created an all-new segment in the Indian automobile world – the premium hatchbacks. This also forced the competition to up their game and improve the overall quality of their cars. Where the first generation of the Hyundai i20 had its fair share of issues, they were almost missing from the second generation of the i20 – the Elite i20. The fact that the Elite i20 sold in huge numbers before it was finally discontinued means you will find them aplenty in the used car market. Make sure you have a preference in terms of variants, fuel types, engines, gearboxes, features etc. before you start hunting for one for yourself. It is a car that has enough space, enough features, and is available in many different combinations which makes it an ideal car for almost everyone.
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