Should you buy one?

Hyundai’s N Division has served up an excellent small hot hatch. The i20 N is great to drive with punchy acceleration and a powerful engine that thrives on revs. So, we recommend it, but suggest that you’d do well to try out a Ford Fiesta ST, as it dishes up even more thrills than the Hyundai.

So, it comes down to priorities. You’ll need to decided whether you want your hot hatch (relatively) easy to live with, or to deliver oodles of excitement all of the time. The i20 N’s handling and steering are easily its strongest asset and make it a bit of a champion in a market sector that’s running out of choices.

As an overall package, the i20 N is just eclipsed by the Ford Fiesta ST. But it’s a close-run thing, because the Hyundai is roomier, better built, has a longer warranty, better tech, and is just that little more usable more of the time. So, we’d understand why you’d take an i20 N over the current class champ.

What we like

Beyond the hot hatch qualities, such as its responsive steering and brilliant handling, we like the i20’s interior and practicality, long warranty and excellent expected reliability.

What we don’t like

The quality of the interior isn’t up there with its rivals with some cheap-feeling fittings to contend with. We also wish it were a little cheaper.

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