Review - 2023 Hyundai i20 N

The philosophy behind the hot hatch is as simple as it is effective: take a small, practical and typically bland hatchback and add speed, flashy styling and a naughty soundtrack and it’s been working ever since.

The i20 N is Hyundai’s second attempt tackling the hot hatch recipe, following in the footsteps of the now-iconic i30 N, but does the smaller footprint and less power uphold the reputation laid down by its bigger brother?

Let’s take a closer look to find out.

Hyundai i20 N Competition

Starting Price: $35,990

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How Much Does It Cost?

The Hyundai i20 N is offered here in Australia in a single variant lineup, with prices standing at $35,990 before on-road costs and any optional extras are applied.

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Hyundai i20 (N) Specifications

What Features Does the Hyundai i20 N Have?

The Hyundai i20 N comes riding on a set of 18-inch alloys and receives LED head & tail lights, a limited-slip differential, upgraded brakes, a an active exhaust system, cloth and leather upholstery and climate control.

In terms of tech, the i20 N receives a rear-view camera, keyless entry & start, cruise control, a wireless charging pad, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, 10.25-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto paired with a seven-speaker Bose sound system.

Range Features:

• 18-inch alloys

• LED head & tail lights 

• Limited-slip differential 

• Upgraded front & rear brakes

• Active exhaust system 

• Cloth/leather upholstery 

• Cruise control 

• Rear-view camera 

• 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster 

• 10.25-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto 

• Seven-speaker Bose sound system

Is the Hyundai i20 N Fun to Drive?

It takes only a few minutes behind the wheel to realise this is far from an ordinary little hatchback.

Start the engine up and it’s got a more imposing grumble from the exhaust, with the 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol unit producing 150kW of power and 275Nm of torque that is thrown to the front wheels via a six-speed manual transmission.

Hit the throttle and the i20 N offers some serious pace, while switching into sport mode and you’ll hear a variety of crackles and pops from the exhaust in a hilarious and addictive fashion.

The straight-line speed is impressive, though the i20 N really shines when you hit the twisties and test out its immense levels of grip while the front differential gets to work and makes you feel as though it’s driving on rails.

The upgraded brakes offer a tonne of stopping power, while the agile front end darts immediately when prompted and offers a decent amount of feedback to the driver.

The trade-off with all this performance, though, is that the i20 N has a noticeably firm ride quality, particularly when you leave smooth city streets.

Having said that, keep things in Eco or Normal drive modes and the i20 N is nice and civilised on a mundane trip through town, offering a lightweight steering rack and a light clutch pedal that makes it user-friendly.

Combine that with the narrow wheelbase, agile handling and compact turning circle and you’ll find the i20 N is just as happy bumbling around town as it is tearing up a B-road, charming you all along the way.

All up, the i20 N is immensely usable on a daily drive and makes for a great city car that has no trouble setting your hair on fire when needed.

Is it Fuel Efficient?

Hyundai’s 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine powering the i20 N is rated at 6.9L/100km on a combined cycle, making it reasonably fuel-efficient considering just how much power is on offer.

Is it Practical and Spacious?

Step inside the cabin and you’ll find the Hyundai i20 N retains all the important, practical hallmarks of a compact car while receiving a handful of sporty touches that make it a lovely place to sit.

The front of the cabin receives a pair of sports seats that offer some side bolstering to hold you in place in the corners while remaining fairly accommodating to a range of different body shapes and sizes.

Your hands are greeted by a chunky steering wheel lifted from its larger i30 N sibling, blue contrasts throughout the cabin and an impressive amount of headroom considering its pint-sized footprint.

Practical touches inside the i20 N include a narrow centre console with a pair of cupholders, a folding armrest, a storage tray sitting behind the manual gear lever and some average-sized cup holders on either side of the cabin.

Things are pretty cramped in the rear of the i20 N’s cabin, though it does well enough to accommodate adults for short hops around town and will be very happy to accommodate growing kids and child seats thanks to the ISOFIX anchors and top tether mounts.

Finally, the i20 N has a boot measuring in at 310L which is slightly less than you’ll find in its major rivals, though still large enough for a decent-sized shop, with boot space expanding to 1123L with the rear seats folded flat.

All up, while practicality isn’t a huge priority for cars like the i20 N, Hyundai has done well to ensure its pursuit of performance hasn’t made it any less viable as a fairly practical little hatch.

Is it Safe?

The Hyundai i20 N is yet to be officially tested by ANCAP.

As standard, the Hyundai i20 N comes packaged with autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-keep assistance, a rear-view camera, lane-follow assistance, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alerts, traffic sign recognition, driver attention monitoring and curtain airbags inside the cabin.

Our Verdict: Is the Hyundai i20 N Worth it?

As far as fun on four wheels goes, it’s genuinely hard to top the i20 N for the money.

It’s a little rocketship that is equally as comfortable weaving on the race track and darting to the shops for a loaf of bread, upholding the true spirit of the hot hatchback segment in a somewhat comical fashion with the exhaust opened up.

If you’re tossing it up, don’t hesitate to get behind the wheel of the i20 N for a test drive - we’re sure it’ll charm your socks off, too.

On that note, if you’re looking to upgrade to a new car, be sure to contact one of our car-buying experts who can help find the best possible price and take the hassle out of the process for you.

Five Specs You Need to Know

1. Five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty 

2. 1.6-litre turbo four-cylinder produces 150kW/275Nm 

3. 0-100km/h in 6.2 seconds, top speed of 230km/h

4. Front-wheel drive layout with limited-slip differential 

5. Six-speed manual transmission only