RC Recommends: The best family hatchback

Let's consider you are in your late 20s, have just married the love of your life, and are planning to start a family together. You will also plan to get a car to take your family out on weekends and also to commute to work. As a first family car, you will need something reliable, frugal and a car that feels upmarket when parked next to your old man’s swift. Considering all these should happen under 10lakhs plus or minus a lakh your mind will automatically think about a Hyundai. 

But what Hyundai? If I were you I would close my eyes and go for the i20! The i20 has been one of the most successful premium hatchbacks in our country since its launch in 2008. Starting from the first gen i20 till now Hyundai has packaged the i20 so well that there is an i20 for everyone. 

While there are 3 engines and 3 gearboxes offered I choose the 1.2na motor with the super slick 5-speed gearbox for a non-enthusiast and I’ll tell you why. 

The 1.2 kappa engine is punchy enough in the city and decent enough to cruise at low 3-digit speeds on the highways. It produces 82bhp and 115nm of torque and the power is put down by either a cvt or a slick 5-speed transmission. While the CVT is a bit boring to drive the manual is super fun outside the city and manageable inside the city. The clutch is light and the engine is peppy which makes commutes fun. The car if driven sanely returns an average of 14km to a liter in the city and 18km to a liter on the highways which is respectable for a petrol hatch. On the highways, the car feels great due to its ride quality and relatively silent cabin. Cruising between 80 and 100 is the sweet spot for the car as the revs are low and less fuel gets consumed by cruising at lower speeds you save money while also getting more time to spend with your loved ones.  

The engine is just 40% of the deciding factor for an average car buyer, what makes them interested is the features on offer. This is where the i20 excels over its competitors. The top-of-the-line model offers everything you will get in an expensive crossover under 25 lakhs. To start you get keyless entry and push button start, a decent-sized sunroof and a huge touchscreen infotainment system that puts out audio through a great quality Bose sound system which sounds amazing. The infotainment screen is 10.25 inches in size and gets wired Android Auto and Apple car play. There are ample amounts of storage space in the car and a big enough boot to accommodate your weekend getaway luggage.

The cabin experience is one of the best in its segment, while the design is a bit polarising I kinda like it. The seats are comfortable and select variants have leatherette seats. All models above the Magna variant get climate control air conditioning which is one of the best I’ve experienced in a small hatch, even with Chennai’s scorching heat the cabin gets cooled down in no time. You also get voice recognition in the car which can be used to operate useful functions. 

Here comes the important part, driving feel and characteristics. Iam super sad as an enthusiast and happy as an average hatchback customer. Iam sad because of the lifeless steering wheel and the bad handling, but hey I can’t complain as Hyundai also offers the sweet Nline variant with the 1.0-litre turbo engine for the enthusiasts. The light steering and the soft suspension is a dream setup for a non-car guy or girl as they have to put in the least amount of effort to drive around. The car feels planted at 100 and does not feel scary like the Swift. The car tends to understeer when taking corners at medium double-digit speeds. The braking duties are taken care of by disk brakes in the front and drum brakes in the rear which is ample enough if you drive it sanely. 

Overall the i20 with the 1.2kappa engine is the best bet for an average consumer looking to buy their first family hatchback. While the asta(o) is expensive the Sportz variant offers great value for money.