How to get the best resale value – Hyundai i20

Stylish. Spacious. Feature-laden. Sporty. Fuel efficient. Smooth to drive. This is how the Hyundai i20 is described by many. The Korean premium hatchback is one of the best-selling hatchbacks in India and being the oldest contender in the segment, it is a formidable rival of the Maruti Baleno and Tata Altroz. All the same, the most promising quality of the Hyundai i20 is its unmatchable value which remains strong both in new and used car markets. In case you plan to sell your Hyundai i20, here are some tips that will help you get the best resale value.

Factors Affecting Hyundai i20 Resale Value

Like any other car, several factors affect the Hyundai i20’s resale value big time.

Condition

A vigilant inspection is something every buyer does when they visit to check the used car physically. The appearance of a used car inside out and the functionality of its components generally give away the ballpark of its resale value. This is why many individual sellers have their cars repainted before calling buyers to examine them. For a car like the Hyundai i20, which is famous for its looks, it is vital to have the car as free of scratches, dents, or any other blemishes as possible. Also, make sure all the features of your i20 are in working condition. Buyers usually check them immediately after getting into the car. Poor functionality of features or any blemishes can also indicate that the car has met accidents in the past and this can have a very strong reductive impact on the resale value.

Odometer Reading

You will never see a used car advertisement or receive a proposal for a used car without emphasised mention of the odometer reading in them. In every car, they install a gauge named odometer which records every metre that the car covers in its lifetime and displays the total distance covered through the instrument cluster. The higher the odometer reading, the lower the car’s resale value. Moreover, as we speak of the odometer reading, make sure you do not fall into the trap of odometer tampering as it can reduce the resale value to throw-away prices and can also lead to a strong possibility that your used Hyundai i20 never gets sold.

Number of owners

The condition of a used car is directly linked to the way it has been treated by its owner and since everyone treats their car in their own way, it becomes difficult to evaluate the life of a car that has been sold multiple times. A car loses its value by a considerable margin every time it gets sold to a new owner, and this is why the more the ownership changes the lesser the car’s resale value. Often, the first and second owners of a Hyundai i20 get a worthwhile resale value, while the resale value drops by a great margin when the third owner sells it.

Model popularity

The first generation Hyundai i20 introduced the premium hatchback segment to India, offering a petrol and diesel engine along with a well-equipped list of features. However, the hatchback is now more than 14 years old for the early models and close to 10 years old for the later models of the generation. However, thanks to Hyundai’s reputation for reliability and the general feature-set on the first generation, Hyundai i20 models command up to Rs. 3.5 lakh.

Building on the success of the first generation, Hyundai launched the second generation in 2014, naming it Elite i20. Being a more recent model, it offers more updated features, which make it a more attractive premium hatchback to own. With demand still strong for the Hyundai Elite i20, you can expect to get good resale value for this generation of the i20.

Hyundai launched the third generation i20 in November 2020 which is currently on sale. Being the latest model, the 3rd generation Hyundai i20 is surefooted to fetch the best value as compared to earlier generations.

Age

Age does not spare any car from deteriorating its value, regardless of the brand it comes from. The fresher a car the more valuable it is. For example, a 2019 model Hyundai i20 Sportz Plus has a resale value of around Rs. 6.13 lakh, while the same variant of the 2020 model can fetch around Rs 7 lakh.

Accidental Status

Whether it is the Hyundai i20 or any other car, nothing brings down a car’s value more than accidents. In a country like India, minor accidents are almost unavoidable, however, serious accidents can simply break down a deal. A Hyundai i20 with a serious accident in its history usually gets sold at 20 – 40 % lower price than that of its non-accidental condition. Moreover, it is harder to sell a Hyundai i20 that has suffered major accidents in the past and even if they do, the deals are settled at nominal prices.

Powertrains, Transmission, and Features

The latest generation Hyundai i20 offers three engine options: a 1.2-litre petrol engine, a 1-litre turbo petrol engine, and a 1.5-litre diesel engine. The 1.2-litre petrol engine is coupled with a 5-speed manual gearbox and CVT automatic. The 1-litre turbo petrol engine is available with a 7-speed DCT automatic, while it was also available with 6-speed iMT for a long time. Lastly, the 1.5-litre diesel engine comes with a 6-speed manual transmission. Hyundai also sells a sportier version i20 N Line in India and this one comes with the same 1-litre turbo petrol engine mated to either a 6-speed iMT or 7-speed DCT automatic. In its history, the Hyundai i20 has also featured 1.4-litre U2 CRDi diesel engine and a 4-speed torque converter automatic transmission mated with a 1.4-litre petrol engine. 

Hyundai has done many changes to i20’s powertrain offerings since its launch and all of them seem to have favoured this premium hatchback. Speaking of diesel engines, the 1.4-litre diesel engine was sporadically available in the i20’s line-up and since it is not in production anymore, an i20 equipped with this engine claims a lower resale value as compared to other models.

All the same, in regions like Delhi NCR the scrappage for diesel cars is 10 years and 15 years for petrol cars, and this makes diesel cars claim lower resale value as compared to their petrol-powered counterparts.

As far as transmission is concerned, the automatic transmission is costlier than the manual one, making an automatic Hyundai i20 more valuable than the manual models.

Last but not the least, Features. The convenience of a car for the driver as well as the passengers has a lot to do with the types of features available. While a good audio system entertains the passengers, features like steering mounted controls and steering adjust add a great deal of convenience for the driver. More features simply mean more resale value. As we speak of the Hyundai i20, the hatchback has always had an upper hand in terms of features, as a matter of fact, even the first-generation Hyundai i20 features up to six airbags. With time, the Hyundai i20 kept on getting updated with more features, and today the premium hatchback sports a captivating package of upmarket features like a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, automatic climate control, 7-speaker Bose sound system, an air purifier, connected car tech, auto LED headlights, a sunroof and more.  In terms of safety, the Hyundai i20 packs up to six airbags, ABS with EBD, rear parking sensors, a reverse camera, and electronic stability control (ESC).

Expected Resale Value of Hyundai i20

Though the resale value of a Hyundai i20 relies on several aforementioned factors, here is the list of the expected resale value of the Hyundai i20. Do remember, these prices can vary concerning the vehicle’s overall condition.

Best Time to sell your Hyundai i20

Once a brand-new car leaves the showroom it loses 10% of its value and another 10% after one year. Then, with 10% cost depreciation every year, after 5 years the car is generally worth half of the original price paid for it. Thus, in a bid to fetch a good resale value for your Hyundai i20, try selling it within 5 years of its purchase.

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