Hyundai i20 (2014): first pictures of grown-up new supermini

By Tim Pollard

First Official Pictures

11 August 2014 07:30

Here is the new 2014 Hyundai i20 supermini, unveiled this morning ahead of a Paris motor show debut in October.

Designed in Europe and built in Turkey, this is a Europe-focused supermini and benefits from a new, pumped-up platform designed to close the gap between the i20 and class leaders such as the Ford Fiesta and VW Polo.

Hyundai is claiming one of the most spacious cabins in the B-segment, thanks to a wheelbase stretched by 45mm – a couple of inches longer than before. The distance between the two axles is now 2750mm.

Result? The ‘passenger compartment can comfortably seat five adults,’ claims Hyundai. ‘Combined front and rear legroom is best in class at 1892 mm. Trunk capacity is also segment-leading: 320 litres when the rear seats are upright.’

Sounds roomy to us. A Polo can pack only 280 litres in its loadbay…

A panoramic sunroof is a class first in the supermini segment, claims Hyundai. It reflects lashings of gadgets and larger-car features available on the i20, including front and rear LED lights and a rear-view camera. Although we have to despair if supermini owners can’t reverse safely without a TV screen to assist…

Hyundai cites its new design language, dubbed Fluidic Sculpture 2.0, as the inspiration for the i20’s inoffensive, quietly smart looks. Now that former Kia design chief Peter Schreyer is leading Hyundai’s wardrobe department, we’re seeing signs of a more confident stylistic palette, we’d say.

The new car was designed in the Koreans’ styling studio in Russelsheim, Germany. Particularly noteworthy is the gloss black C-pillar, which wraps around the rear of the car like a Mini’s – to help create the impression of a floating roof.

At 4035mm long, the new Hyundai i20 bursts through the four metre barrier – once the threshold beyond which no supermini could pass. It’s 66mm longer than a Fiesta, for goodness’ sake.

This growth spurt helps explain why the newest Hyundai i20 is claimed to be so roomy. It also puts more clear water between it and the i10 city car, traditionally Hyundai’s biggest selling car in the UK.

By Tim Pollard