Hyundai i20 Active facelift revealed

Having unveiled the i20 facelift at the 2018 Auto Expo, Hyundai has now revealed the mid-cycle refresh for the i20 Active cross-hatch.

Unlike the i20, the i20 Active facelift doesn't get the new 'Cascade' grille, and instead sticks with the grille seen on the pre-facelift car. Surprisingly, for a refresh, the i20 Active sports almost no changes up front. The major differences are at the back, where the i20 Active receives revised tail-lights and the registration plate housing has moved up to the tailgate. The European model also gets a 'Phantom Black' contrast roof and two new paint options, but it remains to be seen if the India-spec car will also get them.

Just like in the standard i20, revisions are equally as subtle on the inside. There's a new pattern for the seat upholstery, but that's about it. In Europe-spec, the i20 Active can now be had with a seven-speed dual-clutch auto 'box, and an idle stop-start system, aimed at boosting fuel efficiency.

In India, the i20 Active is offered with a 1.2-litre, 83hp petrol and a 1.4-litre, 90hp diesel, both of which will likely continue unchanged on the facelift. As for transmission duties, there's a five-speed manual on the petrol and a six-speed manual on the diesel.

It'll be interesting to see if Hyundai will also introduce its new CVT on the i20 Active facelift (due to debut on the standard i20 soon), as currently, none of its cross-hatch rivals - the Honda WR-V and the Ford Freestyle - offer an automatic option.

There is no word on when the facelift for the i20 Active will arrive in India. When it launches, expect prices for the i20 Active facelift to remain more or less the same as the current car’s, which is priced from Rs 6.99 - 10 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).