Hyundai i20 N 2026 review

Like so many others before it, the i20N burst onto the enthusiast scene, burned brightly for a handful of years and has already been consigned to the history books.

That’s right, Hyundai has just announced that the i20 N, after just three years on the market, will be discontinued.

The good news is, the brand has ordered a solid final production run, with enough stock to see the small performance hatchback all the way through 2026.

In this farewell review we’ll look at this car’s legacy and what to consider if you’re thinking of getting your hands on one of the final examples.

The i20 N is a great example of track-ready value

Like the i30 N before it, the i20 N is ready to hit the track straight from the factory, and at just $37,500 before on-road costs, it’s also one of the most cost-effective entry points to the performance realm.

For a time you’ll be able to choose from the remaining stock of outgoing Suzuki Swift Sports, which can be had from $34,990, but your next stop in this size-bracket is either the more premium Polo GTI (from $41,990) or GR Yaris which starts from a whopping $57,990 (although the homologation special is a Yaris in name only).

Alternatively, you can go a size-up and look at an i30 N ($50,000 before on-roads), or instead consider a less practical coupe or roadster like the Mazda MX-5 (from $42,140), Toyota GR86 (from $43,940) or Subaru BRZ (from $44,290).

Now that you’ve got the lay of the land, what makes the i20 N such great value is that it offers significantly higher performance than the Swift Sport, while being a tad more hardcore and probably cheaper to run than the Polo and not as over-done as the GR Yaris, making it maybe the best value performance car in the country for the time being. 

The catch is you’ll have to be comfortable changing gears yourself, as there’s no automatic option available.

What are the i20 N’s performance specs?

The i20 N is equipped with a 1.6-litre, turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 150kW/275Nm. It drives the front wheels via a six-speed manual transmission paired with a limited-slip differential to enhance power down when cornering.

The brand claims a 0-100km/h sprint time is 6.2 seconds, which is about a second faster than the Swift Sport and around a second slower than the GR Yaris.

Interestingly, it completes the sprint faster than the larger-engined and more powerful Polo GTI which is rated at 6.8 seconds.

This car’s secret weapon against those rivals is also its factory limited slip diff (LSD), which really tightens up the cornering performance. The Swift Sport doesn’t score one of these, while the Polo GTI only simulates one with what VW dubs the XDL system (an extension of the traction control software).

But it’s not just performance stats - this car is pretty easy to live with, too

Inside the i20 N gets a fully modern interior which is, in some ways, traditionally laid out to please the enthusiast. For example, while the car gets a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and a matching-size multimedia touchscreen, it still gets a healthy array of physical buttons, shortcuts and toggles for all the main functions.

In addition, its racy bucket seats are reasonably comfortable and finding a sporty but appropriate seating position is easy.

The back seat isn’t massive or particularly well equipped. The i20 N is a city-sized hatchback, but it’s enough for two adults in the back (in a pinch), which is more than can be said for many of its rivals. And at least the rear seat is more contoured than the comparatively basic rear bench in a Swift Sport.

The boot is functional enough (though perhaps only for weekend trips) at 310 litres and there’s a space-saver spare under the floor.

Okay, but is it really all that good to drive?

Yes, and part of the reason for this is that it’s not too good. Let me explain.

In the pantheon of hot hatchbacks right now, there are basically two options. There are the upgraded commuter cars, like this i20 N, the i30 N, and the Swift Sport, and then there are effectively homologation cars like the GR Yaris and GR Corolla.

I’ve driven all of them and here’s the thing, while the GR Yaris and Corolla are by far more technically impressive vehicles, they’re also far too well tuned to really enjoy on a public road.

They’re really track machines which are legal to register. It’s hard to have lots of fun driving them most of the time because they are, if anything, too performance oriented. By the time the engines are screaming you’re going illegally fast. And it’s impossible to get a bit silly with them on a public road because the tyres, suspension and steering are designed for far higher velocities.

The i20 N though is comparatively flawed, and much easier to have fun with as a result. Because its engine isn’t too powerful, you can wring it out on a back road without being stupid and the slippery diff can have you leaning properly into corners and chirping tyres just the right amount without getting to dangerous speeds.

All the while, it feels a bit more track-ready than the also-fun Swift Sport. It weighs 300kg more, but barely feels it, and it’s maybe worth it to have the extra refinement if this is going to be your daily driver.

In other areas, the steering is tight to match the sharp turn-in the LSD allows (if a little heavy), the transmission is notchy enough without being the best manual tiller I’ve ever used, and the pedal feel and general feedback from the car are as you’d hope they’d be, organic, but not overtly visceral.

The tyre choice, Pirelli P-Zero, is excellent, and grippy enough for track action straight out of the box, while the stock brakes didn’t throw up any issues in my time with the car - track longevity is the big question with these.

Is the i20 N the perfect amount of hot hatch?

It depends if you’re looking for a daily driver or to set lap times. The argument for the daily driver is strong, only a few thousand bucks more than a Swift Sport and with markedly higher equipment, refinement, and performance, but not as expensive as a faster and arguably less practical GR Yaris, the i20 N seems to me to be quite a sweet spot. It’s sad, then, to see its rivals outlive it, although I don’t doubt examples will be cropping up at car meets and track days for years to come.