Hyundai i20 Asta (O) 2019 Long Term Review- 14000KMS and more

Having run the Hyundai i20 ASTA (O) for more than 14000kms on the odometer, I feel it right to give the long-term ownership review of the premium hatchback from Hyundai Motors India. The journey starts back in November 2019 and continues to date in which I have cherished numerous memories with this car.

Design Of Hyundai i20 Asta (O)

The Hyundai i20 has currently received a bunch of updates in the new generation but the likes of the previous generation model are still more. Inspired by the muscular design language used in the i20 gives an impression of driving a sedan-sized car.

The front side of the Hyundai i20 is marked by an inverted trapezium-shaped grille above which is placed the Hyundai logo. The projector headlamps, fog lamps and turn indicators are neatly placed to give a magnificent look. The black treatment on the front grille and around the border of the fog lamps gives a sporty appeal in the front.

The side profile of the Hyundai i20 is nicely carved with the cladding in black color present on the doors and the Diamond cut alloy wheels taking the complete command of making the car more attractive than the previous generation models.

The rear end of the Hyundai i20 is dominated by a large-sized tail lamp with LED turn indicators and a wider 195 section tire which gives it a crossover-like feel. The rear bumper has black cladding to add to its sportiness. The reverse parking lamp is present on the right side of the car’s rear end only.

Interior of Hyundai i20 Asta (O)

This is where most of the efforts by Hyundai has been put to make i20 a premium hatchback car. The dashboard design is quite splendid and has a color combination of black and beige. The instrument cluster, 7″ touchscreen,  leather-wrapped steering wheel, black colored AC vents, glove box and more have been designed to catch the attention of everyone.

The instrument cluster comprises the analog tachometer and speedometer along with a digital display that gives important details like odometer, fuel mileage indicator, distance to empty, trip meter, temperature, etc.

The touchscreen is having multiple functions like, music controls, navigation, FM Radio, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth connectivity, etc.

Coming to the storage options available in this car, there is space available for a 1 Litre bottle holder in all the door pockets. The glove is having AC vents to keep it cooled. Wireless charging is also available in this model along with 1 AUX cable slot, USB port, and 1 USB charging slot in the front.

The armrest for the driver seat has some storage space. You can even adjust the armrest for better support.

Coming to the rear passenger seats, three people of average width can sit with comfort. There is an option of rear armrest for the passengers with 2 cup holders. For better cooling of the car cabin, rear AC vents are also present with a rotating knob to control the airflow.

The driver seat is having a separate button to control all the power windows and in addition to this, the outside rearview mirrors adjustment toggle button is also present.

The driver side window is having the auto feature which can be opened or closed with a single toggle of the keys only while for other windows you need to keep on holding the button in order to make it function.

Storage Options

The Hyundai i20 comes with 295 Liters of boot space which is quite nominal as per hatchbacks is concerned. But yes the rear seats can be folded completely down to increase the boot space. For the convenience of the customer, a boot lamp is also present. You can fit 2 medium to large-sized trolley bags in it with some space for small-sized bags.

Other storage options include a Sunglass Holder present on the top of the front driver seat.

 Drivability and Performance

The driving experience of the Hyundai i20 is very calm unless revved hard above 3000rpm. The gear shifting is very smooth and crisp. The suspension setup is neither very hard nor very smooth which makes it agile in crossing bumps, potholes and also the ground clearance is sufficient. There is a slight drop in performance while driving with AC on. The acceleration is in a very phased manner which does not let you feel any jerks or sudden boosts of power.

Maximum Power-	81.8hp@6000rpm
Maximum Torque-	114.7Nm@4000rpm
Gear Box-	5 speed Manual
Ground Clearance-	170mm

The braking duties are performed by the disc brakes at the front wheels and drum brakes at the rear end. This car is equipped with ABS features which make the braking crisp and accurate when it comes to high-speed braking. The 195/R16 section tyres help in reducing the braking distance and also provide better grip all the time.

Overall the braking is on a smoother note which does not give many jerks or shocks inside the cabin and also does its job well.

The Hyundai i20 is having projector headlamps along with a pair of cornering lights which comes handy while making a turn at night. The rear parking camera is having night vision so that you can clearly see what is behind your vehicle. The gridlines present in the rear parking sensors are dynamic in nature which means you can see the gridlines changing their directions while rotating the steering wheel.

Very much like other cars you can adjust the headlight throw with a rotating knob. Also, the intensity of light in the switchgear can be adjusted with a button designated for that.

The Hyundai I20 Asta (O) can achieve a top speed easily above 150kmph or more. It can cruise easily at a speed of 130kmph without much effort.

The handling of this car is the most enjoyable part of it. The steering wheel is very smooth, you can even control it with just one finger, though you should be cautious. Furthermore, the steering wheel becomes light at lower speeds allowing you to manoeuvre in heavy traffic. During high speed, the steering is more on the stiffer side to allow better control and stability.

Safety Features-

This model is the top one in the petrol segment. Hyundai i20 Asta (O) comes with 6 Airbags, ABS, High-speed warning alert system, to keep the passengers safe in case of any misfortune event. The position of the Airbags includes two in the front for the driver and co-passenger, two in the side pillar or side curtain Airbags, and two in the front seat of the driver and co-passenger.

Ownership Experience-

Having owned this car for almost more than 2 years, the total cost of the maintenance of this car is not very high. The insurance cost for the renewal of Hyundai i20 Asta (O) after the first year was Rs 16,422/- and Rs 14,831/- for the ongoing year. Please note that the insurance cost is only for the car, third-party insurance was already taken for 3years so that cost is not involved in this insurance renewal.

The total cost of all the free services is also quite nominal. The company gives 3 free services with an interval of 1000kms or 1-month duration for the first, 10,000kms or 1 year for the second, and 20,000kms or 1year for the third free service.

The cost of the First Free service was Rs 40/- , the Second free service was Rs 1,247/- and the Third free service cost was Rs 4,281/-. In the first service, they washed the car and made relevant checks. Windshield washer and Distilled water is the only thing they charged for.

In the second service cars, engine oil was replacement was the only thing they charges for. Coming to the third and last free service again engine oil replacement, AC Disinfection, Wheel Alignment was the major job they charge for.

If you sum up the total cost involved in maintaining the Hyundai i20 Asta (O) up till three free services it will land up at Rs 5,568 which is quite nominal provided there is no major damage involved in the car.

Cons of Hyundai i20 Asta (O)

The major con that I have found in this car is the battery issue. If you are not using your car for 2 weeks continuously then the battery will drain automatically.

The boot space could have been bigger to accommodate more luggage.

The pricing of i20 brings it in the direct competition of compact sedans that has more to offer as compared to just a hatchback car.

Other than these points, I did not notice any major con. If you have encountered one, then let me know in the comments section below.

Mileage of Hyundai i20 Asta (O)

When it comes to kilometers run per liter of fuel, this car has given me an average mileage of 17-18kmpl, considering most of my drive is on the highways. If you are driving with the full occupant and the AC on then you can expect around 15kmpl on the highways. In the city, the mileage ranges between 9kmpl to 13kmpl depending upon the traffic condition.

Verdict

The Hyundai i20 ASTA (O) certainly has the best features which give it a lead in the premium hatchback segment. The only drawback could be the pricing that resonates with the compact sedan segment which has more to offer for the money.

The driving dynamics, sheer comfort level and the safety features onboard makes the i20 complete game changer for the premium hatchback segment. The hassle-free maintenance and the bulky road presence bring this car in the list of a must buy one.