Hyundai i20 Active launched in India at Rs 6.38 lakh

The Hyundai i20 Active has been launched in India at Rs 6.38 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). The i20 Active is a bulked-up version of the standard Elite i20 hatchback, which has been pitted against the likes of the Fiat Avventura, Toyota Etios Cross and the Volkswagen Cross Polo. The i20 Active is available in five variants, with the option of either a 1.2-litre petrol or a 1.4-litre diesel engine.

While the i20 Active continues with Hyundai’s ‘Fluidic version 2.0’ design philosophy, it gets a beefy body kit with lots of plastic cladding to give it the rugged appeal of a crossover. Most of the design elements like the body lines and the silhouette are the same, though the i20 Active gets a different front fascia with a trapezoidal grille, projector headlamps with LED DRLs and a redesigned lower bumper which integrates a bash guard.

The rear of the i20 Active gets a redesigned black bumper with a bash guard, though the tail lamps and the tailgate design are the same. The car has also been equipped with roof rails, new diamond cut alloy wheels and side skirts. Inside, the changes to the cabin aren’t significant though it does get a new funky trim for the upholstery. The equipment list is also very similar to the hatchback.

The powertrain options for the i20 Active have been carried over from the Elite i20 hatchback. The petrol models are powered by the four-cylinder 1.2-litre Kappa engine which delivers 83bhp and 113Nm of torque through a five-speed manual transmission. The diesel variants, on the other hand, are offered with a 1.4-litre CRDI unit, which delivers 89bhp and 219Nm of torque through a six-speed manual gearbox. Changes to the i20 Active aren’t just cosmetic, as it features a higher ground clearance of 190mm thanks to the raised suspension.

Last year, Volkswagen carved out this niche segment in the Indian market by launching the Cross Polo based on the Polo hatchback. While these hatchback-based crossovers haven’t exactly set the sales charts on fire, a growing number of manufacturers have been taking the gamble of entering this segment. Being based on hatchbacks, these crossovers are not very expensive to develop and manufacture though manufacturers get the liberty to charge an extra premium over the regular hatchbacks for the perception of them being tougher vehicles.

Prices of the Hyundai i20 Active (ex-showroom Delhi) -