Hyundai i20 vs Ford Fiesta – which is best?

That’s what we’ll find out in this article. You might already know that the Ford Fiesta is no longer on sale, so you’ll have to look to slightly older models if you pick the Fiesta. The Hyundai i20, meanwhile, is still available, and you can find nearly new models with low mileage and great value for money.

Hyundai i20 vs Ford Fiesta compared

Styling

The latest Hyundai i20 is quite a striking car, with sharply angled LED headlights and bold creases across its body panels. A lot of newer models come with interesting star-shaped alloy wheels that really stand out, while the chrome windowline trim on higher-spec models adds a little sophistication.

To our eyes, the Fiesta has a slightly cleaner look, especially if you go for a pre-facelift car in something like Titanium trim. The popular ST-Line versions make the Fiesta look sporty, while there are also Active versions with 4x4-like styling. There was actually an older i20 with a similar makeover, but the latest generation doesn’t come with such an option.

Interior and technology

Inside, the i20 feels marginally more grown up than the Fiesta. Its touchscreen has more functionality and sharper graphics, and the straked interior detailing adds a bit of interest. Mind you, we’re big fans of the red stitching and sports steering wheel that you get in Fiesta ST-Line models.

Both cars are laid out for function over form, which makes them fantastically easy to live with. Whichever you pick, you’ll get physical buttons for climate controls and key driving settings. There’s very little to separate these cars in terms of build quality and the materials used, either – you get the impression that both could have been made on the same production line.

Dimensions and practicality

There’s almost nothing between the i20 and Fiesta when comparing size. Both will carry four adults comfortably, plus a couple of suitcases and shopping bags, but neither will be daunting to drive around a tight multistorey car park. You’ll need to get a high-spec Fiesta model to benefit from a reversing camera, while it’s standard equipment on the i20.

The difference in boot space on the i20 is down to whether you pick a mild-hybrid engine or not. The mild-hybrid engine, badged ‘48V MHD’, sees the battery relocated to the boot, which robs some of your luggage space.

Engines and performance

Besides the i20 N, which we’ll cover below, every i20 comes with a 1.0-litre petrol engine. Most come with a nice, round 100hp, which is enough to get the i20 up to speed without much fuss.

You’ll most commonly find Fiestas with a 1.0-litre petrol engine, too. Ford’s EcoBoost engine is unrelated to Hyundai’s engine, but both manage over 50mpg and produce 100hp. A 100hp Fiesta is quicker off the line than a 100hp i20, and that’s before you realise that the Fiesta’s available with up to 155hp. These higher-power versions are even sprightlier.

In its lower trim levels, the Fiesta was also sold with a 1.1-litre engine. Unlike the EcoBoost engines, this doesn’t have a turbocharger, and it trades performance for impressively low insurance costs.

Both cars are excellent all-rounders, capable of navigating endless snarly city traffic or spending hours on the motorway. The Fiesta is more fun on a twisty road than the i20, and its manual gearshift is a touch slicker, too.

Hyundai i20 N vs Ford Fiesta ST

Fancy a dash of spicy sauce with your cornflakes? Both the Fiesta and i20 have offered powerful hot hatch range-toppers. The Fiesta ST packs a 1.5-litre, three-cylinder engine with 200hp. The i20 N adds 0.1 litres, an extra cylinder and four more horsies – and go-faster red bits.

You’ll be grinning in either of these cars on a twisty road, because they’re both immense fun – and the fun is accessible at normal everyday speeds. The i20 N is a little more settled when you’re taking it easy, whereas the Fiesta is always straining at its leash and wanting to go faster.

Shop used Ford Fiesta ST cars and used Hyundai i20 N cars for sale at Motorpoint, or read our Ford Fiesta ST review.

Value

The Fiesta was discontinued in 2023, so every model will now be at least three years old. Ford only included a three-year warranty, so the vast majority of cars are now outside of manufacturer cover.

The i20 is still going strong and comes with a five-year warranty, affording you a bit extra peace of mind. You can pick up a nearly new i20 from Motorpoint with low mileage and savings of over £7,000 versus a brand-new unregistered example.

Even comparing 2023 cars, the i20 is generally a bit more expensive than a similarly positioned Fiesta. Plus, you’ll pay extra if you want an automatic i20 over a manual one.

Which is best?

Although it’s more expensive, the i20 has a longer warranty, a bigger boot and more impressive technology than the Fiesta. We’d recommend the i20 over the Fiesta unless you want the Ford’s sporty trim levels and slightly more engaging driving experience.

Read our Hyundai i20 review and Ford Fiesta review for more information on these cars. Made up your mind? Shop used Hyundai i20 cars and used Ford Fiesta cars for sale at Motorpoint.