What is it?
'Something-Line’ versions of cars – think AMG Line, RS Line, S line, R-Line etc – can be somewhat cynical exercises. Add uncomfortable suspension, bigger wheels, a bodykit, some Alcantara inside and a chunk of money to the price. Job done.
Yet they are often a good money-spinner, especially when the performance brand the ‘line’ is derived from has some cachet – hence why a BMW that isn't an M Sport is a rare sight these days. Enter Hyundai i20 N Line, the newest trim level on the Hyundai i20. It’s still far from BMW M, but the Hyundai i30 N was very well received, and the recent Hyundai i20 N even more so, so you can’t blame them for wanting to ride that wave.
For the i20 N Line, they’ve certainly gone all out on the styling. You have to look twice to be able to tell it apart from an i20 N. The biggest differences are the wheels, which are an inch smaller, and the exhaust, which has two round tips instead of the bisected oval on the real thing. Inside, the cloth sport seats aren’t quite as serious as the i20 N’s buckets, and the steering wheel is missing the two N buttons to select your favourite drive mode.
Under the bonnet, the differences are a bit bigger. The i20 N Line always comes with the mild-hybrid 118bhp three-cylinder engine, but that engine is available with N Line only and starts from £22,395. It comes with either a standard-fit six-speed manual or a seven-speed dual-clutch that costs £1250 extra.
Our test car had the manual and it’s worth mentioning because Hyundai calls it an iMT, for Intelligent Manual Transmission. The intelligent part of it is the clutch. Although there is a clutch pedal, it doesn’t directly control the clutch. Instead, a sensor sends the clutch position to an actuator, which then opens and closes the clutch. The benefit is that the mild-hybrid system can declutch and shut off the engine when coasting to a stop.
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Buy a I20N instead.
complete ripoff for this over rated korean turd
As the i20 is such an ugly thing i started off assuming this would be awful, but actually think its not a bad effort. Yes, its still ugly, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and the exhaust does sound a bit much, but unlike many of these _____Line cars, it sounds as if Hyundai have actually made a junior hot hotch, and i applaud that. The electro-clutch sounds a poor replacement for a real one, and its not really fast enough, and wow, its expensive (what isnt these days) but it also sounds fun, and an added bonus, if you are enjoying driving it, you cant see it!!