Hyundai i20N Buying Guide & Most Common Problems

Revealed in 2020, this little hot hatch has already finished its production life, so our Hyundai i20N buying guide is packed full of everything you need to know about buying a good used example.

Hyundai’s brand image has undergone some significant changes in recent years. The company has extended its appeal beyond mere affordability to encompass performance and a new age of futuristic electric cars. As the little brother of the i30N, the i20N is an impressive supermini that sits alongside the likes of the GR Yaris and Fiesta ST.

Around 2200 are registered on the road in the UK. As the last few stock and canceled orders sell, this number is expected to rise a little but the final number of i20Ns will be less than 3000. With relatively few on the market the i20N could present a good investment opportunity or just a bit of fun, so let’s dive into what to look out for.

Hyundai i20N buying guide

Engine

Powered by a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, the i20N has 204hp and 203lb ft of torque. Unfortunately, Hyundai said the i20N won’t meet the Euro 7 regulations set to come in from 2025 so its N models in Europe will be cut before then. That doesn’t necessarily mean there won’t be any more N models in the future but it’s more difficult to meet these regulations in smaller cars so this is likely to be the first and last generation of the i20N. But, if Hyundai’s concept cars are anything to go by, its next generation N cars will definitely up the game in the styling department.

On the performance side, 0-60mph happens in 6.2 seconds and it tops out at 143mph. It comes with eco, normal and sport modes as well as a custom mode and launch control. Rev matching is standard and you can change the exhaust setting too. For normal driving, expect to get between 37 to 43mpg.

Transmission

A six-speed manual gearbox was the only transmission option for the i20N. Some owners have reported difficulty getting it into reverse and first gear or trouble with grinding between other gears. This has been flagged on cars that were bought brand new so a low mileage example might not be problem free. Investigating a transmission issue is a time consuming and costly process for a garage but as the cars are still under warranty, it’s worth taking it to a main dealer if this issue arises. It never hurts to check the oil levels or change the transmission oil so this could potentially be an easier remedy.

There’s also been reports of jerkiness at low speeds. This could be a symptom of driver style or an issue with the throttle response so as always, we suggest going for a test drive to experience several start stop scenarios and get used to driving the car.

Chassis

Unlike the i30N’s adaptive suspension the i20N has passive suspension, it also has a slightly lower ride height. Instead of an electronic diff as seen in the i30N, a mechanical limited-slip diff is used and overall a stiffer spring and chassis setup to create the desired handling characteristics. So, this does result in some three- and two-wheeled adventures if you push it hard enough around a track. On the road this means the ride can be a bit stiff but if you’re heading to the track you can live with a slightly firmer on-road experience.

Brakes

The i20N has red brake calipers as standard that are emblazoned with a white ‘N’, in case you forget which car you bought. At the front it gets 320mm discs and 262mm ones at the back. Nestled between the seats is a delightfully analogue handbrake. So, you’ll be pleased to know Hyundai hasn’t robbed you of the ability to do a handbrake turn. Afterall, performance and handbrake turns go hand in hand, who would be so cruel as to deny you that.

Maybe don’t test out the handbrake at speed on a test drive. But, do bear in mind how well the car comes to a stop and listen out for any grinding or crunching noises. Given the i20N is still fairly new, a car’s history shouldn’t show any brake changes unless it’s a particularly high mileage example.

Interior

Compared to the standard i20, the N cabin is spruced up with a few splashes of color in the form of ‘N’ buttons on the steering wheel, a red ‘rev’ button below and a Performance Blue stripe on the gear shift. Extra equipment includes heated seats and steering wheel, parking sensors, reversing camera and wireless charging.

The infotainment screen has a built-in lap timer and GPS track mapping for track days on loaded circuits. Bose audio was an optional extra so if the best sound quality is a must, keep an eye out for cars with this. At the time this meant delivery times were delayed to add an extra two speakers and a subwoofer so cars with the Bose setup can be a little pricier as not many people wanted to wait.

The sporty seats add to the N aesthetic but typically suffer wear to the bolsters. Again, some of this can be dealt with under warranty, but long term this is an issue that’s likely to recur.

Body

Even though the i20N was the smallest N division car, there was no three-door option. For the purists wanting a three-door hot hatch sorry to disappoint, but it might be an easier sell to the other half if it seems more practical with five doors.

The 18-inch alloy wheels were paired with Pirelli P Zero tires but they weren’t necessarily the favored tires with owners. Instead they were often replaced with Michelin Pilot Sports so if the car you’re looking at isn’t wearing Pirellis that might not be a bad thing.

Hyundai’s Performance Blue paint color that features heavily in its N division branding is the most common color to find up for sale. This is paired with a red line around the bottom of the car underlining the side skirts and both bumpers. For a more understated look, Dragon Red paintwork was the only color option to drop the red accents. Black roofs were an optional extra at £500 so some cars feature this contrasting look or the same color paint all over.

Apart from the obvious bodywork checks looking for scratches or dents, there were reports of poor paint jobs from the factory. Patchy paint coverage could result in rust but this is something Hyundai should deal with under warranty. Speak with the owner to establish if they’ve had any repairs made during the warranty period.

Most common problems

As you’d expect, there’s been relatively few issues with the i20N so far. All cars will still be under warranty so most problems will be dealt with by Hyundai but there are a couple of areas to be aware of. The exhaust opening valve spring can be insufficient and rattle. An exhaust replacement would offer a temporary fix but an aftermarket spring is thought to be a better solution. Elsewhere, water and condensation around the front and rear lights has been flagged. The lenses can cloud and with weak headlights in the first place this isn’t a particularly helpful feature.

How much should I pay?

Given production has ended and there’s some final stock left to sell, prices are still pretty high. The model also isn’t out of the five-year warranty period yet so used prices are strong. Once 2021 cars start to come out of their warranties, prices should hopefully come down some more.

US:  

Some N models aren’t available in America and unfortunately the i20N is one of these. The Elantra N is currently the only N division car available Stateside.

Hyundai i20N UK prices

Up to £20,000: There won’t be many i20Ns in this price range for a few more years but the ones that are listed under £20,000 will likely be high mileage examples. If you don’t plan to put a lot of miles on it this could be an affordable way to get one. 

£20,000 to £25,000: This is the target price point to get into a decent example. Most of the cars listed for sale will fall into this bracket and this opens up your buying power for different colors and lets you be more choosy about mileage. There’s still some deals for brand new cars in this bracket so get in quick before they’re all sold.

£25,000 to £28,000: The majority of cars at this price will be brand new. As stock dwindles the upper limit will start to come down. A new car presents good value for the additional warranty years but some dealers are offering new cars under the £25k mark so look around to get the best deal.

If you’re thinking of buying an i20N, be sure to read our Hyundai i20N tuning guide to find out what you can do to unleash its potential.

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