Hyundai’s N division has been churning out surprisingly good scorching hatches to tackle the trade’s greatest. Now, the i20N is right here to tackle the small scorching hatch phase.

As with meals, the easier (and cheaper) the recipe, the tougher it’s to do brilliantly. Pushed by High Gear’s Ollie Kew, the i20N proves that Hyundai has the engineering talent to provide a small, low cost, easy automotive that may be very rewarding.

Powered by a 1.6-liter four-cylinder motor driving the entrance wheels, the i20N begins out effectively sufficient. That engine makes 201 hp (204 PS/150 kW) and 203 lb-ft (275 Nm) of torque, which is nearly proper for the category.

Learn Additionally: The Hyundai i20 N Is Enjoyable However Not With out Fault

Naturally, at its value level, the automotive doesn’t supply adaptive suspension or any such issues. However then, it’s at all times prepared for an excellent sequence of corners. In truth, the one set of issues that it does have, the customizable N mode, is designed to control the GPS and if it notices a enjoyable part of bends arising, it could immediate you to enter the high-performance driving mode earlier than you attain it.

“What I like is that beneath this factor is only a pure old-school scorching hatch,” says Kew. “However it’s utilizing that expertise to make itself extra accessible. It doesn’t really feel type of overcomplicated, it doesn’t really feel just like the computer systems try to do something for you.”

In the long run, Kew concludes that the Hyundai i20N was designed primarily for enjoyable. A small automotive that’s enjoyable on actual roads with out being an excessive amount of of a nuisance is one thing price celebrating and it proves that Hyundai’s engineers actually know their manner round a automotive.

“It’s proof that Hyundai, they’re not a fluke,” says Kew. “They gave us the i30N and we thought ‘Hm perhaps that factor was – the Golf GTI rival – maybe it was newcomers luck.’ Not a little bit of it! They’ve come out with the i20N and I feel it’s even higher.”