Used Hyundai i20 for sale: everything you need to know

The Hyundai i20’s appeal used to be based primarily around the value for money it offered, but the latest version from 2020 onwards is among the best small cars. It’s spacious, good to drive and packed with tech that you might normally expect to find in a bigger car. And it’s still really good value. If that sounds tempting and you’re interested in a used Hyundai i20, you can find out everything you need to know here.

The i20 has sold in quite large numbers in the UK, so there are lots of used examples about. While you’re here, why not check out the selection of Hyundai i20s in stock at heycar?

Should you buy a Hyundai i20?

The entry-level Hyundai i20 is equipped with more tech than you’d probably expect for a car of this class. Get one of the top-of-the-range models and you’ll enjoy the kind of features usually associated with much more expensive premium-brand cars. It’s really spacious as well, with comfortable room for four six-foot passengers, plus it has one of the biggest boots of any supermini. Indeed, you can pack in more stuff than inside many much larger cars. From behind the wheel, it feels light and responsive, which makes the Hyundai i20 easy to drive.

Then there’s the high performance Hyundai i20N, which has a 204PS engine that gives a serious turn of speed, plus lower, firmer suspension for pin-sharp handling. There are other small hot hatchbacks that feel more playful, like the Ford Fiesta ST, but the i20N is a lot of fun to drive. It’s just as well-equipped and spacious as other i20 models, too.

Including the Hyundai i20N, there are five trim levels available, all of which come well-equipped for cars of their price. There are three engines available, including the 1.6-litre unit unique to the i20N. The other two engines are available with a manual or an automatic gearbox, and they have mild hybrid assistance included.

Running costs are low, and Hyundai has a very strong reputation for building reliable cars. If anything does go wrong, the i20 is covered by an impressive five-year warranty that passes on to used buyers up to the end of this term.

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What's the best used Hyundai i20 model to buy?

There are two main engines to choose from in the Hyundai i20 and while the 1.0-litre 48V mild-hybrid motor is neither the punchiest nor the quietest amongst its peers, it's nippy and returns extremely strong fuel economy.

The 1.0 litre engine with 120PS is reserved for the sporty N-Line trim and it also comes with hybrid assistance. For the i20N hot hatch, you get a turbocharged 1.6-litre petrol engine with 204PS to dish up 0-62mph in just 6.2 seconds to make it one of the quickest cars in its corner of the fast hatch sector. 

The Hyundai i20 Premium gets a lot of useful kit – in addition to the strong levels of equipment offered by the basic car, you can get things like heated seats, a heated steering wheel and driving aids that mean the i20 can drive itself on the motorway. The step up to Ultimate spec, meanwhile, buys you a powerful Bose stereo and keyless entry.

Used Hyundai i20 fuel economy and performance

The ‘regular’ i20 models have a 1.0-litre petrol engine with mild-hybrid assistance – that’s an extra electrical system that reduces the amount of work the engine has to do, improving both fuel economy and CO2 emissions. There are two versions of the engine, both of which have a six-speed manual gearbox as standard, or you can choose the optional seven-speed dual-clutch DCT automatic if you prefer. The i20N hot hatchback has a bigger 1.6-litre engine with more than 200PS, which makes it very swift indeed.

• Hyundai i20 1.0T GDi 48V MHD (100PS) petrol – This is a 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbocharged engine with mild-hybrid assistance that helps improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions. It provides ample performance for this type of car, with 0-62mph taking 10.1 seconds. CO2 emissions are as low as 116g/km. It’s available with a six-speed manual or seven-speed DCT dual-clutch automatic gearbox.
• Hyundai i20 1.0T GDi 48V MHD (120PS) petrol – This engine is exactly the same as the one described above, but has a bit more power. With 120PS, accelerating from 0-62mph takes the same 10.1 seconds as with the 100PS version, but it’s usefully quicker at higher speeds, – from 50-70mph, for example. CO2 emissions are a little higher, at 120g/km. It’s only available on the N Line trim level, with a choice of six-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearboxes.
• Hyundai i20N 1.6T GDi petrol – The i20N hot hatchback gets a special engine: a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder unit that produces 204PS. That’s a lot of power for a small car, enough to get it from 0-62mph in just 6.2 seconds. CO2 emissions are 158g/km and it comes with a six-speed manual gearbox.

What used Hyundai i20 trim levels are available?

There are five trim levels available to choose from on the Hyundai i20, starting with the value-focused SE Connect. At the top of the range, there’s the rather luxurious Ultimate and the high-performance i20N. The latter is widely regarded as one of the best small hot hatchbacks you can currently buy.

• Hyundai i20 SE Connect – The entry-point i20 underlines just how good value Hyundai cars are, with a very generous amount of equipment. Among the standard features are a touchscreen media system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, a digital instrument display, cruise control and front and rear parking sensors.
• Hyundai i20 N Line – The N Line gets sportier styling details, including 17-inch alloy wheels, deeper bumpers, a rear spoiler and sports seats. You also get some extra features, such as sat-nav and climate control air-con. 
• Hyundai i20 Premium – The Premium model looks a bit more upmarket thanks to chrome window surrounds. Standard heated front seats and a heated steering wheel make it feel more upmarket, too.
• Hyundai i20 Ultimate – The top-of-the-range ‘regular’ i20 has all the features mentioned above, plus a high-quality Bose audio system, wireless phone charging pad and extra safety systems – including blind-spot monitoring.
• Hyundai i20N – The high performance i20 is marked out by unique, more aggressive styling details, 18-inch wheels, deep bucket seats, and a special steering wheel. Standard features match those of the Ultimate trim level.

Used Hyundai i20 dimensions and boot size

The Hyundai i20’s exterior dimensions are:

• Length: 4040mm
• Width: 1750mm
• Height: 1450mm

The Hyundai i20’s boot capacity is:

• Rear seats up: 262 litres (i20N: 352 litres)
• Rear seats folded down: 1075 litres (i20N: 1165 litres)

Used Hyundai i20 road tax

You'll pay the full £180 flat rate for a year's road tax on the Hyundai i20N hot hatch. However, the rest of the range costs £170 for the same 12 months' road tax thanks to their hybrid assisted engines qualifying for the modest alternative fuel vehicle discount.

How much is it to insure a Hyundai i20?

The i20 comes with lots of standard safety features, so the standard models are in insurance groups 12 to 16 (out of 50 in total). That means they will be really affordable to insure. There’s a sizable jump to the i20N, which is in insurance group 27. Nonetheless, that’s still pretty reasonable for a hot hatchback.

Read our full Hyundai i20 review