Planning To Buy A Used First-Gen Hyundai i20? Here Are The Pros And Cons

The Hyundai i20 is one of the most popular premium hatchbacks in India. In fact, it was the car that popularised the segment in the country after the South Korean carmaker first introduced it in 2008, as a replacement for the Hyundai Getz. The i20 is also one of the most popular cars in the used car market. Now, we have already talked about some of the pros and cons of buying a used second-gen i20, however, if you have a tighter budget, you can still go for a used first-gen model.

Also Read: Planning To Buy A Used 2014-2020 Hyundai i20? Here Are Things You Need To Know

Depending on the model year and the condition of the car you can get a pre-owned first-gen Hyundai i20 for just under Rs. 2 lakh, going as high as Rs. 4 lakh. However, before you start looking for one, here are some pros and cons you must consider.

The i20 was offered in both petrol and diesel engine options, and both were quite capable.

Pros

1. While looks are subjective, the first-gen i20 was quite a nice-looking car, and to an extent, it's still relevant today. The car was well-built and felt quite premium.
2. The i20 also offered good cabin space and was quite feature-packed for its time. The car was equipped with auto climate control, dual airbags, anti-theft alarm, power steering and power windows among others.
3. The i20 was offered in both petrol and diesel engine options, and both were quite capable. In fact, the petrol option also came with the option of an automatic torque converter unit. However, we would suggest going for the diesel option.

While the cabin did offer decent space, the quality of material used inside wasn't the best, at least, not by current standards.

Cons

1. While the first-gen i20 was quite feature-packed for its time, compared to current cars it is quite basic and dated. So, no touchscreen display, LED/projector headlight, DRLs, keyless entry, and push button start among others.
2. While the cabin did offer decent space, the quality of material used inside wasn't the best, at least, not by current standards. The cabin design has also become quite dated.
3. The first-gen i20 was not the best handling car, and the ride quality was also too soft. So, the car did not feel very stable at high speeds.