The Hyundai i20 has achieved a cumulative sales milestone of 15 lakh units in India, nearly 18 years after it made its debut in the country. Introduced in December 2008 as the successor to the Getz, the i20 has remained a key player in the premium hatchback segment through three generations.
Hyundai’s sales journey with the i20 has seen steady growth over the years. The hatchback crossed the 1 lakh sales mark in 2010, reached 5 lakh units by 2015 and doubled that figure to 10 lakh units in 2019. The latest milestone further highlights the model’s long-standing presence in the Indian market despite increasing competition from compact SUVs.
The first-generation i20 helped Hyundai establish itself in the premium hatchback space by offering features that were uncommon for the segment at the time. Depending on the variant, it came equipped with features such as automatic climate control, a sunroof, a cooled glove box and up to six airbags. Engine options included 1.2-litre and 1.4-litre petrol units along with a 1.4-litre diesel.
In 2014, Hyundai introduced the Elite i20 with a completely redesigned exterior based on its Fluidic Sculpture 2.0 design philosophy. The second-generation model offered improved cabin quality, additional equipment and continued with petrol and diesel engine options. It also went on to become the most successful iteration of the hatchback, contributing around 8 lakh units to the overall sales tally during its production run.
The current-generation i20 arrived in 2020 with sharper styling, a more feature-packed cabin and the introduction of a turbo-petrol engine for the first time in India. While the diesel variant was discontinued in 2023, the 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engine continues to be offered exclusively on the sportier i20 N Line. The standard model received a mid-life update later that year.
Today, the regular Hyundai i20 is powered by an 83 HP 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine paired with either a 5-speed manual gearbox or a CVT. Buyers looking for more performance can opt for the i20 N Line, which gets a 120 HP 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engine mated to either a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
The Hyundai i20 is currently priced between Rs. 6 lakhs and Rs. 10.63 lakhs (ex-showroom), while the i20 N Line is available from Rs. 9.27 lakhs to Rs. 11.74 lakhs (ex-showroom). It continues to rival the Maruti Baleno, Toyota Glanza and Tata Altroz in the premium hatchback segment.
Hyundai has already revealed the fourth-generation i20 globally earlier this year. However, there is no official word yet on whether the new model will be introduced in India.
