The redesigned Hyundai i20 has its world premiere.

Hyundai has unveiled the first official photos and specifications for the updated i20, which will soon be available in Europe. Sources indicate that it would be some time before the updated i20 is introduced in India. The latest generation i20 debuted in India in the end of 2020, despite initially debuting in other markets in the middle of the following year.

1. Updated i20 gets minor styling tweaks
2. No major changes on the interior
3. ADAS standard on some variants

Hyundai i20 facelift: what's new?

Midway through production of the third generation i20, Hyundai made few changes to the car's interior and exterior. A closer inspection, however, reveals minor style changes, most notably to the front and rear bumper, to keep the appearance current. Minor adjustments were made to the grille, and two huge arrow-shaped inlets were added to the bumper. The chin is now more pronounced and wider, with a black contrast finish. However, Europe's standard issue full-LED headlights haven't altered.

The Hyundai emblem has also been given a fresh 2D look and moved from the grille to the trunk. The redesigned i20 features new alloy wheels, with 16-inch wheels standard and 17-inch wheels available on higher trim levels. The rear has seen very few changes, with the dual-tone bumper now featuring a more pronounced fake diffuser. A new Lime metallic color, Lumen Grey, and a Meta Blue pearl color have been added to the exterior paint color palette.

The updated i20, like the present model, will be assembled in Turkey for export to Europe, and it will continue to use a 1.0-liter turbo-petrol engine mated to 48V mild-hybrid technology. A six-speed manual and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission will be offered.

While the i20's cabin and standard features remain unchanged, adaptive cruise control and forward collision warning and prevention have been added as standard ADAS. There have also been upgrades made to the digital instrument cluster, which now measures 10.25 inches.  

Hyundai i20 facelift for India

Since the current generation i20 only became available in India a few months after its global launch outside, a refresh for the India-specific i20 is still a ways off. The updated i20 will look identical to the current generation, but it will feature new engines, wheels, and other features that are appropriate for the Indian market.

Depending on the engine, the i20 marketed in India is available with a five-speed manual, a CVT automatic, an iMT, or a DCT automatic transmission and a 1.2-liter normally aspirated petrol or a 1.0-liter direct injection turbo-petrol engine. When reintroduced to the Indian market, the updated i20 will once again compete with compact hatchbacks such as the Maruti Suzuki Baleno, Tata Altroz, and Toyota Glanza.

Upcoming Hyundai launches for India: 2023 and beyond

In the latter half of 2018, Hyundai will debut the refreshed Exter as a subcompact SUV option. Creta N Line and the updated Creta will hit the Indian market sometime in the first quarter of 2019.