Hyundai i20
1.0 T-GDI petrol FWD automatic
Sustainability Rating: 3½ stars
Our verdict:
For a conventional petrol vehicle, the small Hyundai i20 reaches a high score of 3½ stars in the sustainability rating. The enablers for this achievement are the low weight resulting in lower environmental impact of the production processes, an adequate exhaust aftertreatment and relatively low petrol consumption figures. As for other conventional vehicles, the most challenging discipline are the greenhouses gases, where the result is moderate.
- The Hyundai's exhaust system performs well, also under high power, and the assessment benefits from low tyre abrasion due to the car's light weight, but does not score points for brake abrasion
- Fuel consumption is decent, aided by low weight and aerodynamics, but the lack of electrification and reliance on petrol limits both propulsion and life cycle energy efficiency.
- Life cycle greenhouse gas emissions are 211 g CO2-eq./km, with fossil fuel combustion CO2 outweighing the benefits of low vehicle production-phase emissions.
The Hyundai i20 demonstrates that small and light modern conventional vehicles with reasonable consumption values and adequate exhaust aftertreatment can play a role in limiting the transport impact on the environment, although their potential to do so is fairly limited by the usage of fossil fuels.
Driving Experience
Our comments:
The Driving Experience evaluation of conventional vehicles focuses only on the performance in section 'Consumption and Range'. The Hyundai i20's estimated real-world consumption figures are seen as adequate in all conditions – warm weather and cold winter, urban, rural, highway and mixed driving scenarios. The consumption readings on the board computer display are accurate.
See datasheet for more details.