Hyundai Elite i20 Discontinued, Superseded By The All-New Model

After 6 years of faithful and successful service, the Hyundai Elite i20 was finally discontinued in India. First launched in August 2014, the second-generation of Hyundai’s popular hatchback was hailed as one of the best products in the market. The Elite i20 went on to win several awards and accolades and even spawned a mini crossover version called the Active. The hatchback got a mild facelift/update in 2018, adding some new features and a new transmission. However, it was becoming clear that the Elite i20 was losing ground to some of its newer and more competitive rivals. And this time, a mere facelift won’t do the trick. Fortunately, an all-new Hyundai i20 was on its way to help re-establish the pecking order in the segment.

Compared to its aging Elite predecessor, the third-generation Hyundai i20 is a whole new car unveiled in early 2020. However, due to the raging global pandemic at the time, the Korean auto giant had to postpone the new i20’s official launch. The carmaker confirmed that the all-new model would be available with a BS6-compliant diesel engine as well, something its predecessor didn’t offer. In a market where diesel-powered cars are still top-rated (albeit a little rare now), an oil burner in a car as popular as the i20 makes for an excellent business proposition. The latest i20 will sport Hyundai’s brand-new "Sensuous Sportiness" design philosophy, and it is a larger car as well. In comparison, the older model used the automaker’s prior “Fluidic Sculpture 2.0” exterior theme.

Regardless, the Elite i20 is still considered to be a handsome-looking hatchback. Its large sweptback headlamps, ‘cascading’ front grille, sculpted front & rear bumpers, tapered tail lamps with static LEDs, and blacked-out C-pillars came together quite well. Its proportions seemed just right, and the overall styling looks sporty yet with a touch of sophistication.

The Hyundai Elite i20 is slightly smaller when compared to the all-new model, which supersedes it. It measures 3,985mm in length, 1,734mm in width, 1,505mm in height, and has a 2,570mm long wheelbase. For reference, the latest iteration comes in at 3,995 mm in length, 1,750mm in width, and 1,450mm in height. At 2,580mm, the wheelbase is now slightly longer, and so is the boot space. Of course, all these figures will be verified once Hyundai releases the official numbers of the all-new i20.

Under the hood, the Elite i20 was powered by a BS6-compliant 1.2-liter four-cylinder petrol engine that produced 82hp and 114Nm of torque. There was also a BS4 oil burner in the form of a 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that made 89hp and 220Nm of torque. Obviously, the diesel variant of the Elite i20 was discontinued when stricter emission norms came into the picture in April 2020. The latter was mated to a 6-speed manual tranny, while the petrol versions could be had with either a 5-speed manual or a CVT gearbox.

As for its equipment list, the Hyundai Elite i20 offered automatic projector headlamps with LED DRLs, power-adjustable & retractable door mirrors, automatic climate control with rear AC vents, tilt & telescoping steering wheel, height-adjustable driver’s seat, push-button engine start, a 6-speaker audio system, and Android Auto & Apple CarPlay. Its safety features included 6 airbags, Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake-Force Distribution (EBD), and Brake Assist, speed-sensing door locks, ISOFIX anchor points, and child safety lock.

Of course, as with many commodities, standard production cars have a fixed shelf life, too. And while the Hyundai Elite i20 may no longer be around (officially speaking), I bet you can still find thousands of them on the used car market and maybe even new ones at some dealerships. It still remains a well-built, smartly designed, and spacious hatchback. So, that said, au revoir, Elite i20. I am pretty certain that your spiritual successor will do you proud.