How quick is the Hyundai i20 N?

The Hyundai i20 N promises big thrills in a small package, sticking with the age old formula of ‘big engine, small car’.

With the turbocharged 1.6-litre inline-four lifted from the larger i30 N-Line, N Division’s little blue bolt produces 150kW at 6000rpm, and 275Nm between 1750rpm and 4500rpm (304Nm with overboost). As a result, the i20 N boasts a claimed 0-100km/h time of 6.2-seconds.

That sounded a little ambitious to us, so we decided to put it to the test.

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We took to the Heathcote drag strip to record 0-60mph (for any international readers), 0-100km/h, 0-400m, 80-120km/h and 100-0km/h to see, in the real world, how quickly the compact hot hatch of the moment can stop and go.

With ESC turned off, allowing launch control to be engaged, the little i20N takes its place on the line. To quell wheelspin, Scott Newman initially sets the launch rpm to 3000rpm - its lowest possible setting.

Blast off!

A poor launch sees the i20 N hit 60mph in 6.8-seconds, took 7.4-seconds from 0-100km/h and cleared the quarter-mile in 15.4-seconds at 149.5km/h.

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It’s a decent baseline for our first go but there’s plenty of room for improvement, and we’re a ways off Hyundai’s manufacturer claim,so Scott Newman ditches the launch control and takes the reigns into his own hands.

Short gearing in second sees Newman needing to run the car to redline to make an efficient 0-100km/h time, but bouncing off the limiter will certainly leave time on the table over the 400m sprint. Clearly, getting the most out of the i20 N is an exercise in finesse.

Lining up for a second attempt, this time sans launch control assistance, Newman eases off the line at 3000rpm, but bounces off the limiter in search of that elusive 0-100km/h claim.

It’s still an improved 6.4-second time from 0-60mph and 7.2-seconds from 0-100km/h.

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Third time’s the charm? Apparently so, as Newman nails the crucial second-to-third shift and clocks his best figures yet: 6.0-seconds from 0-60mph, 6.5-seconds from 0-100km/h, blasting past the quarter mile marker in 14.7-seconds at 152.4km/h.

On a roll in third, the i20 N pegs 80-120km/h in 3.9-seconds and pulled to a stop from 100km/h in an impressive 34.3-metres.

While we’re still three-tenths off the i20 N’s OEM 0-100km/h claim, we couldn’t imagine wringing much more out of it. No question about it, the i20 N is quick and posted respectable numbers for a baby hot hatch.

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Watch the full video at the top, and leave a comment if you’d like to see a new car tested.