Hyundai i20 Active 2020 Review - Prices, Specs, Variants, Features and Mileage

Hyundai i20 Active Variants Explained

The i20 Active only comes in 4 variants unlike the plethora of variants offered with the Elite i20. There are 2 variants offered with the petrol engine option namely, S and SX. With the diesel, only one variant is offered which is a 6-speed manual variant called the SX (CRDi). The fourth variant is the SX Dual Tone, which only gets a dual-tone roof and is essentially an SX trim only. The base variant is a 5-speed manual S variant which is priced at Rs. 7,74,035 (Ex-Showroom Delhi, India). The top of the line is the SX variant with a 6-speed manual transmission and a diesel engine. It is priced at Rs. 9,93,393 (Ex-Showroom Delhi).

Which Variant to choose?

As the i20 Active comes at a premium we would suggest you to go for the S variant with a petrol engine which is priced at Rs. 774,035. It comes with a 7-inch infotainment touchscreen option and also all the essential features. If budget is no constraint then we would suggest you to go with the SX variant but with the Diesel engine option as the Diesel engine is superior to the petrol mill. It also comes with side and curtain airbags which takes the safety package up a notch.

Hyundai i20 Active Engine and Performance

With the announcement of the largest automobile manufacturer in India, Maruti Suzuki, of exiting the diesel market in 2020, Hyundai is yet to make any such claims. Hence, the i20 Active is available with petrol as well as a diesel motor. In fact, the diesel motor comes with better drivability and tractability than the petrol engine. These engines are carried forward from the i20 Elite and no changPerformance made to them. Hence, they operate in exactly the same fashion as they do on the Elite i20.

1.2 L Petrol

The i20 Active gets a 1.2L Dual VTVT Kappa petrol motor that produces 82 BHP @ 6000 rpm and 115 Nm of torque @ 4000 rpm. This is the same tried and tested motor which Hyundai introduced with the first generation i20. With minor changes, this engine was slapped into the Elite i20 and now the i20 Active gets the same motor. If you are looking for a point A to B commuter this engine would not disappoint you. But if you are looking for anything more, this engine will not be able to deliver. It’s a very refined motor and it one of the quietest mill whilst on idle. Within the city, this engine feels adequate as the low-end torque makes it an able city crawler.

The clutch is on the lighter side and the gearbox is slick-shifting. The gearbox even though 5-speed, is a joy to operate. But once on the highway, the weak spots of the engine get pronounced. While overtaking on the highway, the engine runs out of juice quickly begging you for an upshift. Hence, prior planing before an overtake is highly recommended. Due to the poor power to weight ratio, cars one segment below, feel quicker and sprightly than the petrol-powered i20 Active. Overall performance is acceptable if this engine gets a gentle treatment as it is not meant for the pedal to metal style.

1.4 L Diesel

The i20 Active gets the same diesel motor which does its duty on the i20 Elite as well. Hyundai has carried forward the same 1.4L CRDI turbocharged motor which made its debut on the first generation i20. This diesel motor pushes out 89 BHP of power (@ 4000 rpm) and 220 Nm of torque (@ 1500 - 2750 rpm). Minor changes have been done to improve the driveability of this engine which includes reducing the Turbo lag. This engine is far more superior in terms of performance when compared to its petrol counterpart. This is due to its bigger capacity and better low-end torque. It feels at home within the city as well as on the highway, making it an excellent all-rounder. Within the city, this engine can pull off the line even in 2nd gear. 

More low-end torque makes it easier to drive around in stop and go traffic conditions. Once on the highway, this engine feels lively and the mid-range is punchy. The turbo spools up quickly after 1800 rpm and you get a surge of torque in the mid-range. Overtaking on the highway is as simple as tapping on the gas pedal. The additional 6th gear available with the diesel motor ensures a better spread of power. The gearbox is slick shifting and is a joy to operate with this engine as well. Refinement levels are simply the best in the segment but the clutch travel is a bit long which can get annoying for some. Overall, this motor can cruise on triple-digit speeds all day long and faces no problem in coping up with the city traffic also.

How fast is the Hyundai i20 Active?

Even though 0-100 Kmph timings are not the most important factor for crossover buyers, the i20 Active’s petrol motor is capable of doing 0-100 kmph in 14.3 seconds. This is not the most impressive in its segment and there are other cars that can perform better. But the diesel motor performs satisfactorily as it completes the 0-100 kmph sprint in 12 seconds. This is still not the fastest in its segment but it is much quicker than the petrol motor.

The fastest 0-100 kmph in the crossover segment has been recorded by Ford Freestyle’s diesel motor. It completes the 0-100 kmph sprint in an impressive 11 seconds. The slowest car on the spec sheet is also the weakest, it is none other than the Renault Triber. The petrol-powered Active i20 is also one of the slowest cars in the segment due to its heavier kerb weight.

Hyundai i20 Active Ride Quality and Handling

A crossover is meant to improve the ride quality and the ride height of the car it is based on and i20 Active does exactly that. The i20 Active is higher above the ground by 20 mm when compared to the Elite i20 it is based on. The i20 Active gets a 190 mm of ground clearance which makes it rough road-friendly. The Elite i20 is known to provide a supple and a plaint ride quality and the i20 Active only improves upon that. The higher ground clearance enables it to clear off larger obstacles. The suspension has been perfectly tuned for Indian road conditions and the i20 Active can take most Indian roads with ease. While in the Elite i20 you might have to slow down over rough roads or undulation, with the i20 Active you do not have to slow down as much. This is by far the biggest benefit of choosing the i20 Active over the Elite i20. The suspension works silently and soaks in most bumps and potholes easily. What helps the ride quality are the springs which are taller than the ones in the Elite i20.

With the increase in the ride height, you might be wondering about the body roll on offer right? Well, surprisingly there is not much of a difference here when compared to the Elite i20. In fact, the i20 Active handles almost exactly like the Elite i20. It is no corner craver and even though the body roll is well controlled, it is not a car to chuck into fast corners. The steering is super light at city speeds and weighs enough on the highway but remains on the lighter side. The steering is certainly tuned towards the city use rather than the highway use. Overall, the i20 Active improves on the already excellent ride quality of the Elite i20 but the handling remains more or less the same.

Braking Performance of Hyundai i20 Active

Braking is not only important from a performance aspect but also from a safety aspect. Hyundai was known to provide vehicles with all-around disc brakes like the first generation i20 and Verna. But now Hyundai seems to have made the decision to provide drum brakes at the rear on most cars due to its cost-cutting measures. Well, the i20 Active gets disc brakes at the front and drum brakes at the rear, which is true for every other car in its segment. But the braking power still feels quite adequate and the i20 active drops an anchor from triple-digit speeds without a fuss. The brake pedal feels spongy though and the bite is not as sharp on some of Hyundai’s other cars.

The best 100-0 kmph distance is provided by the brake on the Freestyle. The Maruti S-Cross also performs satisfactorily due to its lighter kerb weight but things can change drastically on a full load. Due to the increase in the ride height the i20 Active, has more nose dive on offer under hard braking when compared to the Elite i20.

Hyundai Elite i20 Active Mileage

Mileage figures are the most important factors while choosing a car for an Indian buyer. The Hyundai’s i20 Active returns a fuel economy of 17.19 kmpl with the petrol motor and 21.19 kmpl with the diesel one. These fuel economy figures are almost 1kmpl less than that of the Elite i20. It is due to the heavier weight of the i20 Active as well as mo353re aerodynamic drag that affects the i20 Active mileage on the highway. 

There are certainly more frugal engines available in this segment than that of the i20 Active. What is impressive is the fact that even the Ford Freestyle manages to provide 19 kmpl with a petrol motor. In terms of the fuel economy, the i20 Active is not going to put a smile on any face as it provides one of the worst mileage figures in its segment.

Hyundai i20 Active Exterior Design and Style

Hyundai seems to have worked hard on the exterior styling of the i20 Active to give a more upright stance than the Elite i20. The Active i20 sheds some of the sharp looks of the Elite i20 and adopts a more rugged looking design. Hyundai has added black plastic cladding all around the car. The dimensions of the i20 Active are slightly bigger than that of the Elite i20 due to the cladding & enhanced ground clearance. The length has increased from 3985 mm to 3995 mm, while the width has increased from 1734 mm to 1760 mm. Due to the increased ride height and the roof rails, the height has gone up from 1505 mm to 1555 mm.

The front gets loads of enhancements like the inverted air-dam and fake bullbar & skid plate. More subtle changes include the bonnet crease that continues onto the body panel between the bonnet and the radiator grille. From the sides, the Active i20 gets black plastic cladding all around and manages to look more rugged. At the rear, the i20 Active gets fake skid plate and a new bumper. The C-Pillar now gets glossy black plastic cladding instead of the matte one on the Elite i20. Overal the Active i20 does not try too hard to shove the word “Crossover” in your face but gets enough elements to differentiate it from its hatchback sibling.

In terms of the physical dimension, the i20 Active is longer than even the Renault Triber, which is a 7 seater. But the room inside the car has not increased as the larger dimensions are due to the claddings. In terms of the ground clearance, the Freestyle and the i20 Active are neck and neck as both get a segment-best 190 mm of ground clearance. The longest and the most spacious car of the lot is undoubtedly the S-Cross.

Key features on the outside:

• Front and Rear Skid plates

• Power adjustable ORVMs

• LED DRL & Positioning Lamps

• Front Fog lamp

• Black Front Grille with Chrome

• Roof Rails

• C Pillar Black Finish

• R16 Diamond Cut Alloy Wheels

How is the Hyundai i20 Active like on the inside?

Hyundai’s Active i20 gets far fewer changes on the inside than on the outside. But as the i20 Elite is known to provide one of the most premium cabins in its segment, the Active i20 achieves the same. The biggest change on the inside is the colour theme adopted by the Active i20. Instead of the black and beige treatment, the Active i20  gets options of different colour inserts with black which looks more sporty. The interiors are also easier to maintain than the Elite i20 due to the colour scheme. 

The interior colour scheme depends on the exterior colour, for example, the silver car gets an Aqua Blue interiors, while the brown car gets Tangerine Orange on the inside. The interiors come exude a certain level of quality and sophistication when compared to its rivals. The fit and finish is the best in class like most Hyundai cars.

The front seats provide with adequate under-thigh support and side bolstering. The cushioning of the seats is neither too hard and nor too soft. Undertaking long journeys in the i20 active will be no big deal. The overall visibility is also good and you sit a bit higher off the ground than a hatchback. You get a good view up ahead but nothing that can be compared to a full-grown SUV. The rear seats also provide good under-thigh support but the shoulder room is limited. Hence, tall passengers might get uncomfortable at the rear. The knee room, even while not the best in class, feels ample and there is enough room to stretch your legs. Overall, the interior of the i20 Active is very much like that of the Elite i20 which means that it is one of the best cars to be inside in the segment.

Creature comforts on offer?

• Sporty Aluminium Pedals

• Push Start-Stop button

• Auto Up/Down driver side power windows

• Height adjust steering wheel

• Automatic Climate Control

• Front & Rear Door Map Pockets

• Sunglass holder

• Automatic Headlamps

Infotainment System

The i20 Active gets a 7-inch infotainment touchscreen now which the Hyundai introduced with the Elite i20’s facelift. Its is quite fluid to operate and shows no lag in any condition. It also comes packed with features like the built-in maps, Arkmays sound mood and Android Auto/ Apple Carplay compatibility. It provides one of the best infotainment experience in the segment and you will have no problems with it.

Infotainment features

• 7” Touchscreen Infotainment system

• Apple Car Play and Android Auto connectivity

• Inbuilt-Navigation

• Bluetooth and USB connectivity

• Voice control

What is the Boot Space of the Hyundai i20 Active?

As there are no changes done to the actual body of a car to make it a crossover (in most cases), the interior space remains the same. Hence, the i20 Active also gets the same boot space as of the Elite i20. The i20 Active also comes with 285 litres of boot space.  Hyundai might provide a bigger boot with the 2020 i20 but for now, it has one of the smallest boot space in its segment. But the loading lid is on the lower side making loading and unloading the luggage easier.

The Triber gets the smallest boot space in the segment due to the 7 seat arrangement. But if you tumble down the 3rd row of seats the Triber’s boot transforms into the biggest in the segment. The S-Cross gets the biggest boot space on offer due to its bigger dimensions.

How safe is the Hyundai i20 Active?

With the car safety norms kicking in, many manufacturers have made certain changes to the safety list of their cars. The i20 Active comes with dual airbags and ABS with EBD as standard. The top of the line SX variant comes with side and curtain airbags as well which makes the i20 Active quite a safe car on the inside. 

• Front and Side curtain Airbags

• Speed-sensing door lock

• Rear Parking Sensor

• Rear Backup Camera

• Driver side Load Pre-tensioner and limiter

• ABS with EBD

How does the Hyundai i20 Active compare against its rivals?

Hyundai i20 Active vs Ford Freestyle

The Freestyle is based on Ford’s best selling car in India which is the Figo. It comes with the most powerful engine on offer and provides an excellent ride too. It comes with Ford’ SYNC3 infotainment system which is neck and neck with the i20 Active. It is the only car which comes with 6 airbags as an option, just like the i20 Active. But once you talk about the overall refinement and experience, the i20 Active comes out as a better car.

Hyundai i20 Active vs Renault Triber

Renault has tried to attempt something new with the Triber and it is the only car in the segment that provides seating of 7. Surprisingly, it also comes loaded with features and it is a very practical car. The Triber is a family car which is perfect for a point A to B commute. But its engine feels quite weak and the cabin quality cannot match that of the i20 Active’s cabin. Overall, the i20 Active is a better car but the Triber is a more practical car at a cheaper price.

Hyundai i20 Active vs Maruti Suzuki S-Cross

The car that comes closest to proving a better overall experience than the i20 Active is undoubtedly the S-Cross. The S-cross has been the first car that was launched Maruti Suzuki’s Nexa showroom network. The S-cross comes with a frugal engine and is loaded to gills with features. But S-cross has been a car that has not been able to perform well in the market. When compared to the i20 Active, the S-cross fails to provide the same level of fit and finish as available on the i20 Active. Overall, the S-cross with more space on offer and a better engine.

Final Verdict

Like most other manufacturers in the market, Hyundai has also converted one of its hatchbacks into a crossover. But this time the competition is more fierce. The i20 Active then provides everything that the Elite i20 did but it adds more to its contents. It comes quite close to what a perfect crossover should be like. It not only improves the ride quality of its hatchback sibling but also provides the best-in-class cabin experience. But while everything might fall into place, the pricing is something that doesn’t. The i20 Active costs almost a lakh more than the Elite i20 which can make a lot of customers still choose a hatchback over a crossover.