Steve – I’ve recently ordered a new Hyundai i20 Ultimate for one of my daughters (private purchase), to replace her 2016 i20. I was very interested to read your comments, as the dealer originally said that the lead time was around 8 months, yet once the order was placed with Hyundai their system says it’s expected end December, which would only be 3 months. I know that delivery times change constantly and I have told my daughter not to expect it until next Spring / Summer as I am highly sceptical about it coming that soon, but your comments about lead times were interesting.
We spent ages looking over the car and took one for a test drive. I think that the mild hybrid system is over hyped and it doesn’t add anything performance wise. My daughter said that, if anything, it didn’t feel quite as quick as her 2016 i20. I sat in the back and was surprised at the room (I’m 6ft 2 and had loads of room) and the standard equipment on the Ultimate model is phenomenal. As for negatives, it’s very noisy on the road (poor sound insulation?) and the boot is very small. I really struggle to believe that anyone could get a wheelchair in the boot. My wife’s wheelchair is a standard size and I would struggle to fit more than half of it in the boot! The rear seats would most definitely have to be folded down.
Word of warning though. With cars at this end of the market, sourcing through Motability can be a very expensive route. Based on what the dealer is currently offering in part exchange for my daughters 2016 i20 Premium, the car has cost us, in total, £1,300 a year during the period of ownership. That’s including depreciation, 5 year servicing plan, 6th year service, MOT’s, tyres, road tax and insurance. The car came with a 5 year warranty and we have had free breakdown cover throughout. It’s been just as much ‘worry free motoring’ as a Motability car. The same car, even with zero AP, would have cost £3,000 a year through Motability, which is the same that we have sacrificed for a £40k BMW through the scheme (accepting that we paid £2,249 AP).