Everything new on the updated Hyundai i20 – Photos

The Hyundai i20 has been updated in South Africa, boasting new visuals, improved features, and a simpler model line-up.

The automaker recently held a launch event for the hatchback in Gauteng, where it went into more detail about what’s been done to keep its products fresh for audiences in 2024.

What’s new

The revisions to the i20 have seen the dropping of one derivative, leaving the range with five specifications.

The line-up has also been renamed, as the long-running “Motion” and “Fluid” classifications are now called the Premium and Executive, respectively.

Since it is a facelift and not a new generation the powertrain selection is unchanged, meaning three different petrol engines are available across the range.

The first is a 1.2-litre, naturally-aspirated block which produces a total of 61kW and 115Nm and is paired to a five-speed manual gearbox.

Anyone who wants an automatic transmission will need to pick up the 1.4-litre units, which produce 73kW and 133Nm, and connect to a six-speed shifter.

Both of these drivetrains can be found on either the Premium or Executive trim, with the 1.2l achieving an average consumption of 5.9l/100km while the 1.4l manages 6.9l/100km.

The most important thing to note about the 2024 model year is that the third engine, the 1.0-litre turbo, is no longer available on the mid-range Executive trims.

Instead, this powerplant is now exclusive to the flagship N Line, which has the side effect that you can no longer buy the 1.0-litre with a six-speed manual box.

The N Line benefits from an exclusive seven-speed, dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT), and drinks an average of 6.9l/100km.

Shifting focus to the visual changes brought about by the update, the Hyundai is sporting a reworked gloss black grille and more prominent front and rear bumpers.

The range also has new wheel designs, with the Premium getting 15-inch steel rims with carbon black covers, while the Executive and N Line have their own 16-inch alloy patterns.

What hasn’t changed is that the Premium and Executive still have halogen headlights, but the front end is perked up by the addition of new vertical studded LED daytime running light (DRL) strips.

It’s actually the N Line that has kept the small circular DRLs in the lower front facade, but its LED headlights have been slightly altered with an extended line running down the back of the casing.

The colour options are different, too, as the N-badged models can only be purchased in the Atlas White or Thunder Blue scheme from now on.

The basic layout of the interior is unchanged, though the equipment sheet for each trim level has seen a few updates.

For starters, the Premium and Executive now feature keyless entry, and cloth/artificial leather upholstery instead of plain cloth, with the former also getting a height-adjustable driver seat and a central armrest and storage box.

The mid-range units come with auto-folding heated side mirrors with indicators, a driver’s window with an auto up/down function, a cooled glovebox, a wireless charging pad, a full-sized alloy spare wheel, a two-tone exterior with a black roof, a leather steering wheel and gearshift, and a luggage net for the boot.

The N Line, meanwhile, is the recipient of a new eight-speaker Bose stereo with a subwoofer, and a button that allows the user to cycle between driving modes for Normal, Eco, and Sport.

Despite all of these changes, the Hyundai i20 is actually cheaper than before, as it now starts at R309,900 instead of R333,500.

You can see a breakdown of the old and new prices below:

Notably, the N Line is the same price as before, but the new sound system and driving modes mean customers are getting more than they were previously at no extra cost.

2024 Hyundai i20 N Line