Hyundai's N Line models are offered only in select markets across the world. Hence, the introduction of the i20 N Line in our market is significant. More so, as it's the first time ever that such a vehicle will make it to the Indian roads. All N Line cars come as 'performance-oriented' versions of regular cars and are not full-blown performance versions like the N cars. That said, these pack in all the goodies from the standard road-going version along with features to stand out. This indeed is a great idea to tap into the potential new-age millennial and Gen Z buyers. They add to a sizable chunk of sales and would prefer a distinct model to stand out. The i20 N Line then, we believe, is a good proposition to do that and give a taste of Hyundai's 'N' brand before it hopefully gets proper go-faster N cars. Left Front Three Quarter Engine and performance 8.5 / 10 Left Front Three Quarter As mentioned earlier, this is an 'N Line' and not an 'N' car. Hence, it was unlikely to get any major change in terms of performance compared to its regular sibling. So, don't be surprised that there's no power boost on this Hyundai i20 turbo. Nonetheless, this one continues to draw power from a 1.0-litre T-GDi petrol engine that puts out 118bhp and 172Nm of torque. This powerplant can be had with a six-speed iMT unit or a seven-speed DCT gearbox. The latter is what we're driving. Read More Ride and handling 7.5 / 10 Right Rear Three Quarter The i20 N Line might not be a performance-packed hot hatch that some of us expected it to be. But, it gets a couple of functional changes for a more spirited driving experience. As you might have got an idea, it's not a riot to drive, but still keeps you engaged. Starting with its ride, the low-speed ride continues to be stiff and now with Hyundai tuning the damping force by 30 per cent, the ride gets even firmer. However, on the positive side, its road-holding capacity has increased and it stays pretty planted without too much up and down movement. It feels even more stable at high speeds. It's still no corner-carver and will understeer if you go too fast around a sharp bend. Another drawback is that the rear passengers will not be too comfortable with jerks from the suspension. Yet, ground clearance isn't a major concern as we managed to clear all speed-breakers and potholes on the way without any hassle. Read More Interior Space and Comfort 7.5 / 10 Front Row Seats Inside, the i20 N Line has an all-black interior which might not be as inviting as cars with a lighter interior feel. Still, I'd say it’s one less worry in its upkeep. And reasonably so, as you wouldn't hesitate to spend a lot of time in this comfortable and spacious cabin. It gets the same interior as the standard i20 with good quality fit and finish. Now things have been livened up with red accents and red ambient lighting instead of blue. Then, a chequered flag design for the leather seats, a new gear knob, and a three-spoke steering wheel, all with an N logo add up to the visual appeal. Otherwise, there are no major changes in the design, layout, space, and comfy seats. It remains to be the same as the standard i20 which we have detailed in our previous review here. Read More Features and Equipment 8 / 10 Dashboard Now, the i20 has always been known for having a feature-packed cabin and nothing has been skimped in the Hyundai i20 N Line. In fact, its top-spec N8 version boasts of a few additional updates apart from all the bells and whistles offered. For example, Hyundai is offering the 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with BlueLink suit for connected technology and 16 OTA map updates for eight years. Then, there are new voice commands for the sunroof, location finding, and even driver window control. What's more, the usual noteworthy features that are carried over include a Bose sound system, TFT digital display, automatic headlamps, TPMS, wireless charger with a cooling pad, push-button stop/start, cruise control, and many more. Read More Conclusion 8 / 10 Right Front Three Quarter Hyundai has taken this bold step of experimenting rather than just sticking to what they’re selling. Hopefully, this should kick-start the segment of hot hatches even if this N Line is more about cosmetic changes. This does instil a hope that Hyundai might bring in their performance range of cars too. Now, for the i20 N Line, you get cosmetic add-ons to make a style statement and boast a unique car. In terms of performance, there's not really a big upgrade, but this turbo-petrol is one of the most powerful in the segment. Then, these automatics continue to add to the convenience of a car that is fun-to-drive, feature-packed, and is a well-packaged premium hatchback. In terms of ex-showroom pricing, it's close to a lakh more than the standard i20 iMT and just about Rs 50,000 more than the DCT i20 Asta. It’s quite a promising option for an i20 buyer – shell out that premium and get a more unique i20 then!

Hyundai has been making solid waves in the world of rallying since its debut in 2014, even scoring a podium in its first outing. The face of its rally campaign has been the i20 hatchback across two generations with top honours in 2019 and 2020. This onslaught has resulted in Hyundai starting its sporty innings for road-going cars with the N Line series of vehicles. After making debuts around the world with various models, the sporty range has finally made its way to India with the i20 N Line. What's changed on the outside? Grille A hot hatch gets hot in its name from the racy and larger-than-life design that's meant to help it stand out. This one fits the bill word for word on the outside. The car has all the distinctive design cues of the latest generation i20 hatchback but with some fancy N Line bits. The face gets a chequered flag design for the grille and red highlights on the bumper. Exhaust Pipes The i20 in itself is a sporty looking car and this one adds to that profile with 16-inch N specific wheels, exclusive to the N Line range. The rear gets a roof spoiler with side wings, a dark chrome garnish running the width of the boot door and our personal favourite- off-set chrome dual exhaust tips. What about interior and features? Dashboard The cabin is an all-black affair with N Line highlights like the red accents on the seats, steering, gear lever and climate control display. The steering, carpet, gear lever and seats get N Line logos as part of the makeover. Rear View The i20 N Line is based on the top-spec Asta (O) variant and so you get a fully loaded version of the car whose arsenal includes the likes of climate control with rear AC gents, touchscreen infotainment with a 10-inch display and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto as well Bluelink connected car tech. Front Row Seats We have explained in detail what the N6 variant and N8 get in terms of features and you can read about that here. The fully loaded N8 variant (that’s in the pictures) gets six airbags, disc brakes on all four wheels, a tyre pressure monitoring system and a stability programme. What about engines and tuning? Gear Shifter/Gear Shifter Stalk The i20 N Line being Hyundai's sportiest car gets its sportiest engine for its small car range. It's the 1.0-litre GDi turbo producing 118bhp and 172Nm. Gearbox options are either a six-speed iMT or a seven-speed DCT with paddle shifters. You get disc brakes on all four wheels and Hyundai says it has tuned the steering and suspension to offer a sporty driving experience, something we should be able to tell you more about once we drive the car. When will it launch and what will it cost? Front Badge Hyundai has said that it will launch the i20 N Line in the third week of September 2021 with prices expected to be around the Rs 11 lakh mark. Bookings for the i20 N Line have opened at Rs 25000 and it will be the fourth model to be retailed through Hyundai's signature showrooms. The i20 N Line will take on the same rivals as the regular car and this list includes the likes of the Maruti Baleno, Honda Jazz, Tata Altroz as well as compact SUVs like the Kia Sonet, Hyundai Venue, Tata Nexon and Mahindra XUV300.