Hyundai i20 — Price, Mileage, Variants & Expert Review

The i20 has always sold on presence rather than parsimony, and the sheet backs that up: at 3,995 mm long and 1,775 mm wide it is broader than a Baleno or Altroz, it offers a single-pane sunroof, an IVT automatic and 16 variants of trim ladder to climb — but its 20 kmpl claimed mileage sits a striking 39% below the hatchback segment's median figure. In a class where CNG rivals clear 30, this is the running-cost laggard, and you should walk in knowing it.

Under the bonnet there is exactly one choice: the 1.2L Kappa petrol with 83 PS and 115 Nm, in 5-speed manual or IVT form. No CNG, no diesel, no turbo in this bodystyle. What Hyundai spends your money on instead is the cabin and kit — automatic headlamps, LED DRLs and tail-lamps, powered folding mirrors, and that sunroof, dressed in details like the parametric grille and shark-fin antenna.

Price is the other eyebrow-raiser: ₹6.00 lakh at entry is reasonable, but the ₹10.48 lakh top end ranks the i20 19th of 28 hatchbacks on price — compact-SUV money for a hatch, with a 311-litre boot that is actually the smallest among its direct rivals here. The i20 is for buyers who have done that math and still want the nicest hatchback cabin they can get.

i20 Variants & Ex-Showroom Prices

Ex-showroom prices. See the city-wise on-road price for your city.

Engine, Performance & Mileage

1.2 l Kappa Petrol

1197 cc · 83 PS @ 6000 rpm · 115 Nm @ 4200 rpm · 5-Speed MT / IVT AT · ARAI 20 kmpl · BS VI 2.0

i20 Dimensions

Length: 3995 mm · Width: 1775 mm · Height: 1505 mm · Wheelbase: 2580 mm · Ground clearance: 170 mm · Boot space: 311 litres · Fuel tank: 37 litres

i20 Safety

Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Central Locking, Child Safety Locks, Driver Airbag, Passenger Airbag, Side Airbag, Day & Night Rear View Mirror, Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Traction Control, Engine Immobilizer, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), ISOFIX Child Seat Mounts, Hill Assist, Global NCAP Safety Rating: 3 Star.

i20 Colours

Available in 8 colours: Fiery Red, Typhoon Silver, Starry Night, Titan Grey, Amazon Grey, Atlas White, Atlas White With Abyss Black, Fiery Red With Abyss Black.

Ownership & Running Costs

Annual paid services in line with Hyundai's small-car norms (indicative)

The long-serving 1.2 Kappa is a known quantity with widely available parts; IVT variants add CVT-fluid attention over the years (indicative)

Premiums track the premium-hatch band; higher variants with the sunroof and larger kit list quote a little more (indicative)

At 20 kmpl and petrol near ₹100-105/litre, expect about ₹5-5.2 per km; the 37-litre tank gives ~740 km of claimed range (indicative)

Already own one? Check i20 challans, verify RC details, compare insurance quotes or recharge FASTag on GaadiInfo.

i20 vs Rivals

i20 vs Maruti Suzuki Baleno: From ₹5.99 lakh with a CNG option claiming 30.61 km/kg — the running-cost counterargument to the i20's premium cabin. See the Maruti Suzuki Baleno.

i20 vs Maruti Suzuki Swift: Starts ₹5.79 lakh with a best claimed figure of 32.85 — cheaper to buy and to run, if smaller in feel. See the Maruti Suzuki Swift.

i20 vs Tata Altroz: From ₹6.30 lakh with petrol, CNG and diesel — the flexibility play against the i20's petrol-only lineup. See the Tata Altroz.

i20 vs Hyundai Prime HB: Hyundai's own CNG-only hatch from ₹6.00 lakh — the in-house answer if i20 running costs put you off. See the Hyundai Prime HB.

GaadiInfo Verdict

The i20 is the hatchback as a lifestyle purchase: widest body, longest feature list, smoothest automatic — and the segment's weakest running-cost case at 20 kmpl with no CNG fallback. Buy it with eyes open as the low-mileage indulgence it is. The sweet spot is the upper-middle of the 16-variant range with the IVT, where the sunroof and LED kit arrive; the ₹10.48 lakh flagship is hard to defend when SUVs lurk at that money.

• Be honest about monthly kilometres: at 20 kmpl and ~₹100-105/litre you are paying roughly ₹5-5.2 per km (indicative) — fine at 800 km/month, painful at 2,000.
• Choose the IVT over the manual if you are in traffic daily; it is the single biggest comfort upgrade in the range.
• With 16 variants, feature gaps between adjacent trims are small — compare the two variants around your budget line item-by-item before paying for the next step.
• At PDI, run the sunroof through full open-tilt-close cycles and check drain channels — it is the marquee feature, so make sure yours is perfect on day one.

Frequently asked questions

Why is the i20's mileage lower than other hatchbacks?

Its sole engine is a 1.2L petrol rated at 20 kmpl — 39% below the hatchback segment median, which is propped up by CNG variants of rivals. There is no CNG or diesel i20 to close that gap.

Does the i20 come with a sunroof?

Yes, upper variants get a single-pane sunroof — one of the few hatchbacks at this price to offer it.

Is the i20's IVT automatic better than an AMT?

For smoothness, yes — the IVT is a continuously variable unit without the head-nod pauses AMTs produce, which is exactly why traffic-bound commuters pick this car.

What is the i20's price spread and why is it so wide?

₹6.00 lakh to ₹10.48 lakh across 16 variants — Hyundai slices the range finely, so each step adds a small bundle of features rather than a big jump.

Is the i20 spacious enough for a family of four?

Yes — 1,775 mm of width and a 2,580 mm wheelbase make it one of the roomiest hatchbacks for passengers, though the 311-litre boot is merely adequate for luggage.

How much does an i20 cost to run per month?

Indicatively, at 20 kmpl and ~₹100-105/litre, 1,000 km a month is roughly ₹5,000-5,200 in petrol. CNG rivals like the Baleno cut that nearly in half.

Should I buy the i20 or a compact SUV at the same price?

Top i20 trims reach ₹10.48 lakh where entry SUVs live. Buy the i20 if cabin polish, width and the IVT matter more to you than ride height — it does the premium-hatch job better than a base SUV does the SUV job.