Hyundai i20 Tenerife Driving Review

When people ask us what car to choose for a Tenerife holiday, the conversation usually turns to compact hatchbacks. We spent a few days driving the Hyundai i20 across the island to see exactly how it copes with the unique mix of coastal cruising and demanding mountain climbs. It is easy to look at a spec sheet, but we wanted to know what the car actually feels like when you are navigating unfamiliar roundabouts or climbing above the cloud line.

Tenerife is definitely not a flat island. You can easily go from sea level to an altitude of over two thousand metres in under an hour, and the local roads ask a lot of any engine, gearbox, and suspension setup. We wanted to find out if the 1.2-litre engine in the i20 is up to the task of exploring everything from the sunny southern beaches to the misty northern forests.

How it drives on Tenerife roads

Our journey started on the TF-1 motorway along the south coast. This road is characterised by long fast sweepers and a generally excellent surface. Joining the motorway, the Hyundai i20 gets up to the 120 km/h speed limit without too much fuss. Wind noise is kept to a minimum, and the car feels remarkably planted for a small hatchback. You do not get that nervous, floaty feeling that some older compact cars suffer from at higher speeds. It simply settles into a comfortable cruise, making the drive from the airport to the southern resorts entirely stress-free.

Things get much more interesting when you turn off the coast and head up the TF-21 climbing to Mount Teide. This road takes you up to 2,100 metres above sea level. As you ascend, the air gets noticeably thinner and you experience a big temperature drop. Small, naturally aspirated engines can sometimes gasp for breath up here, and the 1.2-litre unit in the i20 does require you to work the gears to maintain momentum. You will find yourself holding on to second or third gear longer than you might at home. However, the chassis itself is excellent. The steering is direct and the car grips well through the endless succession of bends through the pine forests.

The real test for any rental car in Tenerife is the TF-436 into Masca. This road is famous for its extremely narrow cliff hairpins and sheer drops. Here, small cars have a massive advantage, and we were incredibly grateful for the compact dimensions of the i20. When you meet a local bus coming the other way on a blind corner, you need a car that is easy to place on the road. The visibility out of the front and sides of the i20 is very good, allowing you to confidently tuck the car right against the rock face to let oncoming traffic squeeze past. The brakes also held up perfectly on the steep descent, providing consistent stopping power without any hint of fading.

Finally, we took the car up to the Anaga forest roads in the north. These roads are frequently damp, twisty, and often misty due to the microclimate. The sure-footed nature of the i20 was reassuring on the wet tarmac. The suspension absorbs the worst of the bumps and tree roots pushing up through the road surface, keeping the cabin comfortable while still providing enough feedback so you know what the front wheels are doing.

Where this car shines (and where it does not)

The Hyundai i20 truly shines in its agility and predictability. It is a car that makes you feel comfortable within the first five minutes of driving it. The controls are light, the driving position is highly adjustable, and it feels built to handle the daily grind of city traffic just as well as a scenic holiday road trip. The suspension strikes a very good balance between comfort and control, meaning you will not arrive at your destination feeling battered by rough road surfaces.

However, we have to be honest about its drawbacks. The 1.2-litre engine is adequate for two people and light luggage, but if you fill all five seats and pack the boot to the brim, the car will struggle on the steepest inclines. On the climb to Teide with a full load, you will definitely be spending a lot of time in first and second gear, listening to the engine work hard. It is not a fast car, and overtaking on the single-carriageway mountain roads requires a lot of planning and a very long, clear stretch of tarmac.

Practical notes

When you head back down to the resort streets in Los Cristianos, Costa Adeje, and Playa de las Americas, parking is always a challenge. The streets are busy, spaces are tight, and you constantly have to watch out for the blue-line meters. The i20 is a breeze to park. The steering becomes very light at low speeds, and the squared-off rear end makes it easy to judge where the bumper is when parallel parking outside a busy cafe.

Fuel economy is another strong point. Even with the heavy acceleration required on the mountain passes, the car remained surprisingly frugal, meaning you will not have to visit the petrol station too often during your holiday. As for luggage, the boot is generous for this class of car. It will easily swallow two large suitcases or three medium ones, making it perfectly suited for couples or small families.

If you prefer to let the car handle the shifting on those steep hills, you might want to look at the Automatic, 1.2 L, 5 seats version. It takes the effort out of stop-start traffic in the resorts. Alternatively, if you enjoy having total control over the engine revs (which is very useful on the descent from Teide), the Manual, 1.2 L, 5 seats is the way to go.

Verdict

After driving it across every type of road Tenerife has to offer, we can confidently say the Hyundai i20 is a highly capable companion for an island holiday. It might lack the outright power to race up the mountain passes, but it makes up for it with excellent handling, comfort, and the sheer practicality of its size. Whether you are navigating the terrifying hairpins of Masca, cruising the south coast motorway, or squeezing into a tight spot in Playa de las Americas, the i20 does exactly what you need it to do with minimal fuss.

Where to book the Hyundai i20 in Tenerife

If this one sounds like your kind of drive, you can check dates and prices for the Hyundai i20 hire in Tenerife directly. Prefer to compare first? Browse all Hyundai rentals in Tenerife, economy car hire in Tenerife, car hire in Tenerife.