If you have a Hyundai you are boring. At least that’s what I hear from Mike Naicker. But a guy like Mike isn’t thinking of comfort for the wife and kids or safety. Mike wants to get from point A to point B fast and flashy… like.

And my theory is that Hyundai is the new Toyota. Something for everyone in the package: zippy for dad, comfy for mom, safe for Johnny and fold down seats for Fido. And, to sweeten the deal: great quality rating with independent studies around the world, excellent after sales service and parts availability is improving.

Driving out the AVIS lot it dawned on me. Mike Naicker may in-fact like this car. Obviously for it’s target market the drive is a little lackluster for a speed freak, but it’s just so well rounded. With just a little tweaking this baby could really go, and that’s probably why modification company Brabus have chosen the i20 as one of their zooping up projects.

That aside, the i20 is an expert at doing what cars like this are made for. Driving around safely. Aimed at the young family. Everything is there: power, easy stearing, space, fold down seats, decent stereo, great aircon, comfortable seating, and a few gizmos to make it fun.

But don’t be fooled, drive and handling are great for simply driving pleasure too. Cornering with this car is great fun, and this builds a sense of confidence about the car when driving in day-to-day traffic.

Little things that made me happy were:

• The lights switch off when you pull out your key so you’ll never run the battery flat.
• Electric window control for all windows at the drivers arm rest.
• Comfy seats.
• Fold-down rear seats.
• Really fun cornering on gravel and tar (don’t tell my wife please).

Things I thought were a bit silly:

• You have to press a button to remotely fold in the side mirrors, so you never end up doing it.

To be honest, I could grow that “things I like” list quite a bit, and the remote mirror folding button is seriously the only thing I didn’t like.

Hyundai really are the “Toyota” of today. Remember those old Corollas? They went for decades and they were cheap to maintain because Toyota had a no frills policy. And this is why the remote mirror thingy works via a button and why they keep using the same “standard issue” Korean dash – because it works, it lasts and it saves money.

Get this, the Yaris 1.3 T3 5 Door (AC) retails at R157,700 and comparatively the Hyundai i20 1.6GLS retails at R164,900 (According to ZEDA). So if you buy the Toyota you get a badge that says Toyota, a smaller car, a smaller engine with less power, no electric windows and no remote central locking. And you get all that for almost the same price. Should you want a Yaris (still with a small engine) with the same specifications you will have to spend R188,800 for the Spirit, thats R24,000 more than the i20. 

And then you may make an argument for the “peoples car”, but don’t get me started because the comparatively priced VW doesn’t even come with aircon.

In order for you to buy a VW or Toyota much like the i20 you would need to buy a Yaris (way smaller) or a Polo Vivo (a car that has been selling for almost a decade).

Don’t get me wrong, the i20 does not find it’s identity via it’s butt kicking of it’s archives of tradition. No it find’s it’s identity as a no fuss, yet luxurious family car that Mike Naicker would be proud to fit a Nitro kit to.