An automatic version of the Hyundai Elite i20 has been launched in the Indian market at Rs 9.01 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). It is available only in the Magna variant and comes fitted with a 1.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine producing 100bhp/132Nm of torque. This setup has been mated to a four-speed AT.
The Magna is the second variant for the Elite i20 and is offered with dual front airbags, dual-tone fabric interiors, power windows, power mirrors, central locking and a 2-DIN infotainment system. Externally, the only change is the AT badging at the rear.
The Elite i20 is priced significantly higher than the 1.2-litre manual Magna variant thanks to the taxes levied on vehicles having petrol engines above the capacity of 1.2-litres. However, with this setup it directly rivals the Polo GT TSI in terms of performance but lacks the rest due to this being a second-level model while the Polo GT is based on the top-of-the-line model.
This version of the Elite i20 was already being produced for export purposes and the move to bring it to the Indian market has no doubt been aided by a consumer trend shift towards petrol models as well as growing demand for automatic cars. Both its main rivals, the Honda Jazz and Maruti Suzuki Baleno, already have AT petrol options.
