Hyundai i20 N Line, Track Test

The Hyundai i20 N Line, undoubtedly, is one of the most fun-to-drive cars of 2021, for me at least. Besides, it has also revived the hot hatch segment in India. The N Line benefits from the basic i20’s stellar chassis and overall great package. Now, the N Line is full of visual cues – both inside and out – that tell you that it is no ordinary i20. Up front, you get a much more aggressive bumper, different wheels, different exhaust, and lots of N Line badges.

Similarly, the interior gets a black and red colour theme, with an N Line specific steering wheel and gear knob. Mechanically, while the engine doesn’t see any changes, the suspension has been stiffened by 30% and the steering has been retuned for faster response.

On the road, early impressions of the i20 N Line are very positive. The 1.0-litre turbo engine loves to rev, and the result is a quick car that encourages you to push hard. The big torque curve of the engine helps in everyday driving, and the stiff suspension transforms the driving experience, with its road-holding and high-speed stability. The DCT gearbox, though, remains a pain point, as it doesn’t allow you to launch the car from a standstill and stays in a higher gear at all times. Sure, the paddle shifters help here, but I think as an overall package, the N Line deserves a better gearbox – even a proper manual would do just fine.

On the track, even though the i20 set a pretty decent lap time, the tyres of the car simply couldn’t keep up  – they would cause the car to be washed out after a lap. Frankly, the car could’ve clocked a much better lap time on a better set of tyres.

Lastly, I think that given the capabilities of the i20’s chassis, the N Line deserves another 25bhp, which would really make it a scorching hot hatch. And despite the fact that it’s priced on the expensive side, the i20 still remains the class leader of the hatchback segment in terms of comfort, quality, and equipment levels.

Read more: 

Hyundai i20 N Line vs VW Polo 1.0 TSI vs Fiat Palio 1.6 S10: Comparison

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