November 5, 2020, saw the launch of the all-new Hyundai i20 in India. With official bookings open from October 27, 2020, the latest entrant in the premium hatchback category recorded 20,000 bookings in 20 days. By then, over 4,000 customers had taken delivery. Now, 40 days down the line, Hyundai has some more numbers for us. It says that the new i20 has bagged nearly 30,000 bookings, out of which 10,000 have already gone home with their takers.

Out of the total bookings, nearly 10 per cent of customers have opted for a dual-tone finish. The combination of Fiery Red body paint clubbed with a Starry Night roof has emerged at the most popular two-tone paintwork. Another takeaway is that approximately 85 per cent of the customers have chosen “higher trims” of the car in question.

In its category, the new Hyundai i20 offers the most number of engine-transmission combinations. You can have it with a 1.2-litre petrol engine, which produces 82bhp/114Nm with a 5-speed manual transmission and 87bhp/114Nm with an IVT (Intelligent Variable Transmission). The next engine option is the 1.0-litre turbo-petrol, which produces 118bhp/172Nm. That is available with either a 7-speed DCT (Dual-Clutch automatic Transmission) or an iMT, which is a clutchless manual gearbox. Lastly, there’s the 1.5-litre diesel which puts out 99bhp/240Nm and is available only with a 6-speed manual transmission.

Depending on the powertrain chosen, the claimed fuel-economy ranges between 19.65kmpl and 25.2kmpl. And, like all Hyundais, the new i20 offers a wide range of features. Some of the highlights include the Blue Link connected-car tech, a 7-speaker Bose sound system, a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, electronic stability control, six airbags, a built-in air purifier and a powered sunroof.

In India, the Hyundai i20 competes directly with the Honda Jazz, Maruti Suzuki Baleno, Toyota Glanza, Tata Altroz and the Volkswagen Polo. Apart from the i20, only the Altroz offers the option of a diesel engine.