The i20 hatchback is already a great looking car, but Hyundai intends to “attract young,
lifestyle-oriented consumers” with this three-door version called the i20 Coupe.
And I know what you’re thinking, why’s it called a Coupe?
Well, they might be blink and you’ll miss them features, but the i20 Coupe is actually
slightly lower, the grille is different and the rear bumper is sportier.
It’s also available in a new vibrant Tangerine Orange interior and exterior colour scheme
for those who really want to show off.
So it’s a sporty, three-door hatchback/supermini – that means competition from the Ford Fiesta,
Peugeot 208 and Seat Ibiza.
The interior of the Coupe is identical to the hatchback model, which means everything’s
well-screwed together and logically laid out.
There’s also quality materials in some vital places too.
When it comes to practicality, you’ve got two cup holders, plenty of adjustment in the
driver’s seat and, a regular feature of both Hyundais and Kias, a large cubby in front
of the gearstick.
Kit wise, the entry-level Coupe is equivalent to the mid-range i20 hatchback, so you get
Bluetooth, parking sensors and 16-inch alloys.
This flagship Sport Nav model gets, a sat-nav, which is built into this responsive seven-inch
touchscreen, a rear-view camera and 17-inch alloys.
Climb through to the back, folding this seatbelt arm in as you do, and you may be surprised
at the amount of space back here.
Sure head room is slightly intruded at the side and if you sit in the middle – but
for a three-door it’s really good.
The boot’s quite impressive as well – I mean the load lip is quite big and the seats
don’t fold completely flat, but it makes up for this with a class-leading size of just
over 300 litres.
So what’s the Coupe like to drive?
Well, it’s not exactly what I’d call sporty, but it is competent.
For example, weaving through urban and city streets, the steering is sharp and its, well
it’s a breeze to drive.
Its pitfalls become apparent when you take it on a country road as the steering doesn’t
offer much weight and feedback isn’t great when cornering – certainly no Ford Fiesta.
The suspension is well-balanced though, with enough firmness to keep it planted but enough
give so that it doesn’t shudder over bumps.
Now, I am a big fan of turbocharged three-cylinder engines, and the i20 Coupe comes available
with two, a 1.0-litre with either 99bhp or 118bhp.
Even though we have the more powerful 118 three-pot, it still lacks a bit of oomph,
especially when you try to open it up on a winding road.
The only other engine is a four-cylinder, naturally-aspirated 1.2-litre petrol, with
the 1.4-litre diesel option no longer available.
The 118bhp three-cylinder does have enough power for day-to-day driving though, this
six-speed manual is nice and slick and you still get that trademark three-cylinder grumble.
Even though you can hear that grumble, the i20 is incredibly well-insulated from things
like road and wind noise, and actually feels like a much bigger car.
Drive it exclusively around town and you’ll probably get between 30-35mpg – take it
on the motorway and you are looking at closer to 40-45mpg.
Its claimed figure of 59mpg is a bit unlikely.
The three-door i20 Coupe starts from £13,025, that’s £3,000 more expensive than the entry-level
i20 hatchback.
But before you start scratching your head, remember that base models in the Coupe get
the same kit as mid-range hatch models – which explains why it is priced a fair bit higher
than the likes of the three-door SEAT Ibiza and Ford Fiesta.
For me, the i20 Coupe is a great example of how a car can toe the line between sportiness
and convenience – and is essentially aimed at those who want to look the part but still
have some decent practicality as well.
Ultimately, for many, it will come down to value for money when it comes to equipment
and efficiency, a department the i20 is falling behind in slightly.
But do you like the sound of an i20 Coupe?
Or would you stick with a five-door?
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