Hyundai i20 N | Spotted
The i30 was great, the i20 perhaps even better - and the market is reflecting that
Good news, then: the Peugeot 208 GTI is back. Yes, it’s electric and, yes, it’s five-door only, but greater obstacles have been overcome in creating brilliant hot hatches before. From the get-go, the old 208 was significantly better than the 207 GTI that it replaced, and it would evolve into the by Peugeot Sport models - they were absolute crackers.
The return of Peugeot means the junior hot hatch ranks continue to be bolstered, which is nice to see after a couple of years of tumbleweed. There are even rumours of a Fiesta comeback. From Honda Super N to Hyundai Ioniq 5N, there are battery powered five doors of all shapes and sizes available. Sure, they’re very different from what came before (after many years of little change) - to some extent they had to be. And scooting around lanes on instant electric power is a lot of fun.
But it’s undoubtedly a big upheaval for hot hatches, with little sign of the old ways returning. Fortunately, if your idea of a pocket rocket has a combustion engine, a manual gearbox and a feisty attitude (chances are it is, as you’re on PH), then there’s plenty to pick from in the classifieds. Remember, for example, the Hyundai i20 N.
A short lived gem on sale from 2021 to 2024, the i20 distilled everything that had made the i30 equivalent so good - a capable, engaging chassis, decent value, a silly sound and a great manual - into a smaller, cheaper package. Entirely unsurprisingly, it was just as likeable, even with an engine that was only average by class standards.
To some extent, however, the Hyundai has always been overshadowed by the Fiesta ST. The Ford’s demise, coming as part of the end of all Fiestas, was inevitably going to chime with the buying public more than a small Hyundai flagship. And by the slimmest of margins, the ST was the more thrilling car to drive. But there was precious little in it - with or without the Ford as competition, the i20 was a brilliant hot hatch.
And a canny investment by the looks of it, too. While £20k is the ceiling for the Mk8 Fiesta ST on PH, anything up to £25,000 is being asked for the Hyundai. The very bottom is £18k; impressive for a car that launched at £24,995 half a decade ago. Like the larger i30, it seems that the end of combustion powered Hyundai Ns (after less than a decade) has buoyed values. It’s hardly like they’re tremendously rare, with almost 40 i20 Ns on PH right now. If you make a great petrol hatch, the people will buy it…
This one has just been listed this week, looking as smart as ever in Performance Blue. (Funny how what seemed OTT not long ago is much more desirable when it’s not around.) It’s certainly been enjoyed, with a couple of owners and more than 40k racked up before its first MOT. It means the next owner need not be precious at least, and the use is supported by four main dealer services and a recent pair of Michelins. Modern mischief really doesn’t come much more entertaining. And while £23k is more than a Fiesta, all the signs are that the Hyundai will retain its value better also. With some warranty still intact, don’t forget. So that’s fast, fun, practical and cheap to run, with strong residuals on top - this hot hatch thing might catch on…
SPECIFICATION | 2021 HYUNDAI I20 N
Engine: 1,598cc, turbocharged four-cyl
Transmission: 6-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Power (hp): 204@5,500-6,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 203@1,750-4,500rpm (224@2,000-4,000rpm on overboost)
MPG: 40.4
CO2: 158g/km
Year registered: 2024
Recorded mileage: 43,500
Price new: £24,995 (2021, before options)
Yours for: £22,995
SPEC
Brought brand new in September 23 but had to wait 3 months as they were already by then in limited supply and I love it to bits having covered 11,000 miles so far without any issues. A five year warranty and a three year service plan for £300 was also a real bonus.
The only criticism I can offer are the standard fit Pirelli P Zero tyres which although great when warm and give super grip, lasted only 6000miles and suffered badly from tyre skip when manoeuvring slowly but changing to Michelin PS5's has eliminated this. Plus the rear light clusters and plastic joining strip between them can suffer from a bit of water ingress and cause some condensation inside but mostly doesn't cause an issue, only cosmetic.
Unusually for me, I've kept it completely standard as its so well developed and don't feel it needs any mods although you can get the usual suspension/exhaust and cosmetic upgrades as well as the obligatory remap to 220/230Bhp along with as many pops and bangs as you like.
I think it sounds just fantastic as standard but switching to N mode, it can be a real hooligan car if you choose to do so.
Its great fun and suits my driving style perfectly complimenting my Sunbeam so well for the perfect 2 car hot hatch garage
Think it cost him around £1k in depreciation.
He did a few track days in it and it performed superbly.
There seems to be around double the amount for sale now than when he bought it, but still got a good price even though it s done 35k miles.
Great little car, and I was surprised at how much I liked it.
As above, putting some Michelins on made it so much better, but it ate front tyres.
Modern cars with all their warnings, bings & bongs, touchscreens, drive me nuts.
Modern cars with all their warnings, bings & bongs, touchscreens, drive me nuts.
So people want to buy a used car that is both better and cheaper than its new equivalent.
Modern cars with all their warnings, bings & bongs, touchscreens, drive me nuts.
So people want to buy a used car that is both better and cheaper than its new equivalent.
But I am in a bit of a dilemma about continuing to service it at the dealer. My next service is close to £500 but all the service items on this car have easy access and are very easy to do. So I may take matters into my own hands especially as the warranty is up and there does not appear to be any goodwill from Hyundai.
I guess if I keep the parts receipts it shouldn’t put any one off if I do want to sell. But like I said that’s many years away .
It’s a great car and better than a Ford Fiesta
tty little Hyundai hot hatch. But to sum it up my best memory was pulling over in a nice road side cafe in the dolomites on a road trip with my mate in his Boxster S. The cafe owner came over to us whilst we were eating our strudel and said " is that your car i reallly love them" to which my mate wearing his porsche hat said, yes it is thanks thinking he was talking about the porsche, the cafe owner then said, when you leave can you put it in N mode so i can hear the exhaust ,,,,,,,, he meant the stty little hyundai hatch, never seen my mate so crest fallen.So yes great cars and they definitely match the hype as one of the best out the box hatches out the box, look up the evo car of year and top gear car of year which it also won vids on youtube, all the respected journos were impressed with it. i'd have another now if i could but i'd be paying the same as i let my one go fo, even 2yrs on.
But I am in a bit of a dilemma about continuing to service it at the dealer. My next service is close to £500 but all the service items on this car have easy access and are very easy to do. So I may take matters into my own hands especially as the warranty is up and there does not appear to be any goodwill from Hyundai.
I guess if I keep the parts receipts it shouldn t put any one off if I do want to sell. But like I said that s many years away .
It s a great car and better than a Ford Fiesta
The Hyundai has better brakes as standard but the Ford wins in handling, engine and gearbox feel.
The fun EVs are starting to filter through, though, and these end of the line petrol hot hatches will age to the point where they are no longer a trouble-free ownership proposition. It will be interesting to see where values then go. The answer will likely be wrapped up in broader market issues around the extent to which most people eventually embrace or resist EVs, whether manufacturers can actually produce a decent, affordable hot hatch EV, and whether there is any roll-back of regulations or targets that leads manufacturers to create any new petrol hot hatches.
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