Hyundai Automotive South Africa has come a long way in the last ten years and are continuing its success in the segment for mid-sized hatchbacks by introducing a refreshed i20 line-up with a more modern design, and the addition of a 1.4 Active flagship derivative which we feature in today’s road test.The range-topping 1.4 Active takes the place of the outgoing 1.4 Sport derivative.

The Active has been given the appearance of a small SUV. It has a different grille and fog lights, with silver cladding on the matt-black front and back bumper, a higher ground clearance, roof rails make the fitment of activity gear such as bicycle carriers or a roof box for camping gear easy on the Active, and LED daytime running lights, fog lights and cornering lights, sporty tailgate spoiler, rear mounted “B” sting antenna, rear wash and wipe while the tailgate has been reworked to integrate the license plate.

Moving inside, the new i20 benefits from a new dash board and center console, which contributes to the neat layout and very functional interior features of the i20. The cab is nice and roomy inside, and will quite easily accommodate five adults, including three on the rear bench seat and the cloth upholstery looks good. Oddments storage is provided for in the smallish cubby, large cup holders in the center console, 1.5-litre bottle holders in the front doors, 1-litre bottle holders in the rear doors, rear magazine pockets, and a storage compartment underneath the front armrest that can move forward for more comfort. Boot space is generous for a hatchback with a boot capacity of 285 litres, and 1 001 litres with the rear seatbacks folded down.

The new i20 Active is distinguished by its red or blue colour trim around the air vents, gear lever console and gear knob, and colour inlays for the seats. Standard equipment includes automatic climate control air conditioner, which also provides cooling for the cubby hole, multi-function steering wheel with remote controls for the sound system's audio control, Bluetooth telephone connection and the on-board computer, which shows average fuel consumption and speed, distance to empty for the fuel tank, immediate fuel consumption and two trip meters. Other features include; an infotainment system in the middle console that integrates seamlessly via Bluetooth with the driver's smartphone and offers excellent sound quality through its four speakers, which can be customized by the equalizer on the new seven-inch touch-screen display.

The i20 Active also comes with a USB charger so passengers can recharge their mobile devices, while it also acts as an alternative connection to the music sound system when Bluetooth is not used. An AUX cable port is also provided. The functions of the infotainment system can be expanded to include satellite navigation by purchasing an optional SD memory card for R2 500.

Under the bonnet, Hyundai have installed their Kappa 1.4-litre engine pushing out 74 kW at 6 000 RPM and 133 Nm of torque at 3 500 r/min and sends power to the front wheels through a new 6-speed manual gearbox. Fuel consumption of the i20 Active is quoted at 6.7 litres per 100 km but over the period I had the car, the trip recorder gave me a reading of 7.5 litres per 100 kms which is still very good. The tank holds 45 litres.

In performance testing, the i20 Active did the 0 to 100 km’s dash in a reasonable 11.8 seconds after three gear changes, and goes on to a top speed of just over 180 km/h. In the stopping department, the i20 has ventilated disc brakes in front and solid disc brakes at the rear, with a 4-wheel electronic, 4-channel and 4-sensor Anti-lock Braking System and Electronic Brake Force Distribution, and in the emergency stop from 100 km/h, stomping hard on the brake pedal brought it to a stop in just 3.1 seconds.

The ground clearance for the new i20 Active has been raised to 17 cm – two cm higher than the other models and coupled with its 16-inch 5-hole alloy wheels, which on the press vehicle were shod with 195/55R16 Goodyears for ample tyre profile, the Active makes a very capable car on gravel roads.

Safety features include; a driver and front passenger airbag, with front and rear seatbelt pre-tensioners and a lap belt for the middle passenger in the rear. The height-adjustable head restraints provide protection against whiplash.

Driving the i20 Active is an absolute pleasure. From behind the steering wheel, the front bucket seats are fully adjustable as is the steering column, so it was simple to find a decent driving position. The seats are extremely comfortable, the pedals well positioned, and vision is very good with hardly a blind spot. Start the i20 1.4 Active 6-speed manual and at tick-over, you can barely tell the engine is running – testament to Hyundai’s improvements in sound-deadening. For around town, the car is easy to park in tight spots, while on the road, the new i20 is incredibly refined – it’s quiet and relaxed on the freeways, and even at 120 km/h there's minimal road or engine noise. Travelling at a steady 120 km/h in 6th gear, the motor runs completely unstressed with the rev counter spinning at just 3500 RPM, and when you need that extra power for overtaking, just drop a gear or two, floor the accelerator, and you will get safely by.

The handling of the i20 Active worked well and the new improved suspension proved itself through the twisty bends of the old Durban to Maritzburg road, where the i20 handled the corners with plenty of front-end grip and reassuring stability. Even on the poor-quality roads, the i20 was smooth and well equipped to dodge the potholes, while the motor driven power-steering did a good job in helping pilot the car around a series of fast bends. The six-speed manual gearbox has a slick action and the extra couple of cm of ground clearance makes quite a difference on gravel roads.

The recommended retail selling price for the new Hyundai i20 1.4 Active 6-speed manual is R279 900, which includes the 3-year / 60 000 service plan, as well as the standard 5-year / 150 000 km manufacturer's warranty, which is extended with an additional 2 years or 50 000 km powertrain warranty across the range.