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Hyundai i20 Mk3 (BC3) (2020-present) reliability

At a glance

Hyundai i20 Mk3 (BC3) built around 2020: about average at the MOT

Hyundai i20 Mk3 (BC3) models built around 2020 fail their MOT a little less often than similar cars the same age.

Looking at a Hyundai i20 Mk3 (BC3) right now?

Enter its number plate to see its full MOT history, risk rating and running costs.

Key figure

10% of MOT tests on Hyundai i20 Mk3 (BC3) models built around 2020 ended in a fail (retests included), against 14% for similar cars the same age.

Most common issue

The most common MOT issue on Hyundai i20 Mk3 (BC3) models built around 2020 involves the tyres.

Hyundai i20 Mk3 (BC3)
No reliability rating: too close to call between ratings2020-presentHatchbackPETROL / HYBRID ELECTRIC

Based on 17,373 tests of i20 models registered 2020+.

About 1 in 8 petrol i20 cars registered in 2022 (12.1%) failed their first MOT.

Based on 1,170 first MOTs (DVSA MOT results, 2025).

0.8% of i20 Mk3 (BC3) MOTs failed and still hadn't passed 3 days later. That's for cars built around 2020 (5 years old), all fuels combined.

Based on 2,661 tests (DVSA MOT results, 2025). A fail that passed a retest within 3 days, even the same day, isn't counted. Nor is a fail with no later MOT on record.

About 1 in 30 i20 Mk3 (BC3) MOTs (3.2%) found at least one dangerous defect. These are cars built around 2020 (5 years old).

Based on 2,661 tests (DVSA MOT results, 2025). Dangerous is the most serious grade an MOT gives: a direct risk to road safety.

Mk3 (BC3) fail rate by age

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for cars this age
Age / builtFail rateMOT tests
3 yearsbuilt around 2022
8,53912.7%
4 yearsbuilt around 2021
6,17310.8%
5 yearsbuilt around 2020
2,66110.4%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Build years are worked out from age, so they are approximate. Tests counted are 2025 MOTs. Highest fail rate at 3 years old.

How the i20 Mk3 (BC3) compares

At each age below, see how the i20 Mk3 (BC3) holds up against other cars the same age. The averages combine all fuel types.

Based on 64,110 tests across 10 Hyundai models, built around 2020 (5 years old).

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateHyundai average
Age / builtFail rateMOT tests
3 yearsbuilt around 2022
8,53912.7%
4 yearsbuilt around 2021
6,17310.8%
5 yearsbuilt around 2020
2,66110.4%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Build years are worked out from age, so they are approximate. Tests counted are 2025 MOTs.

What to check before viewing

The model's most common MOT issues, turned into things you can ask about or look for.

Brake pads

High priority

Ask when the pads were last replaced and check the warning-light history.

Brake discs

High priority

Ask for the date and mileage of the last disc replacement; visually check for a deep wear lip and rust pitting on each disc.

Tyres

Worth checking

Check tread depth across the full width on all four; uneven wear suggests alignment or suspension issues.

Suspension bushes and joints

Worth checking

Listen for knocks over speed bumps and ask about recent control-arm or anti-roll-bar work.

Vehicle-specific check

Worth checking

Check the car’s number plate on MOT Wise to see its own MOT history and any recalls for its build years.

Other hatchbacks to compare

Other hatchbacks, with each one's figures taken at the same age as the i20 Mk3 (BC3).

  1. 1

    Citroen C4 Cactus

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    17.5%

    No clear edge over the Hyundai i20 Mk3 (BC3) on these figures.

    Some figures could not be compared for these two cars. So this comparison uses the fail rate and recalls only.

    3,022 MOT tests on cars built around 2020

  2. 2

    Volkswagen up!

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    9.3%
    Still registered at 10 years
    96.7%

    No clear edge over the Hyundai i20 Mk3 (BC3) on these figures.

    2 critical recall campaigns matching this model/build period.

    4,392 MOT tests on cars built around 2020

  3. 3

    DS 3

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    16%
    Still registered at 10 years
    90.9%

    No clear edge over the Hyundai i20 Mk3 (BC3) on these figures.

    3 critical recall campaigns matching this model/build period.

    2,363 MOT tests on cars built around 2020

  4. 4

    Citroen C4

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    16.6%
    Still registered at 10 years
    90.6%

    No clear edge over the Hyundai i20 Mk3 (BC3) on these figures.

    6 critical recall campaigns matching this model/build period.

    3,533 MOT tests on cars built around 2020

Fail rate
= the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests.
Still registered at 10 years
= the share of cars still registered (taxed or declared off the road) 10 years after they were first registered.

Recall context

3 recalls in all

All 3 i20 Mk3 (BC3) recalls cover cars built in these years.

  • 3 recalls

Top concerns

  • The subject vehicles may experience a transmission malfunction resulting in a loss of drive.
  • IN THE EVENT OF eCall TRIGGER THE VIN NUMBER INFORMATION MAY NOT BE SENT
  • The vehicle fuel pump may have an internal malfunction which may fail over time. In case of a fuel pump malfunction the

For the exact car, check GOV.UK's recall checker with the number plate.

Fail rate by engine size, built around 2020 (5 years old)

Engine sizes across all petrol i20 tests (not specific to Mk3 (BC3)).

Under 1.0 litre10.1%1,302 tests1.0 to 1.4 litres11.3%4,394 tests
How i20 Mk3 (BC3) cars have aged

How i20 Mk3 (BC3) cars have aged

How fail rates have changed as these cars got older. Each line follows cars first registered in about the same year across several years of MOT data. Not a prediction for any one car.

Some lines cover only a year or two, so read this as a rough guide.

0%10%345Age at MOTBuilt around 2021, 3 years old at the time of MOT: 13.3% (4,886 tests, 2024 data)Built around 2021, 4 years old at the time of MOT: 10.8% (4,129 tests, 2025 data)2021Built around 2020, 3 years old at the time of MOT: 8.5% (3,087 tests, 2023 data)Built around 2020, 4 years old at the time of MOT: 9.6% (2,830 tests, 2024 data)Built around 2020, 5 years old at the time of MOT: 10.4% (2,661 tests, 2025 data)2020
First registered around 2021First registered around 2020
Mk3 (BC3) variants compared
All generations of this modelPlenty of data

Most common issues on Hyundai i20 models of this age

This list covers every Hyundai i20 built around 2020, whichever generation it is. We don't have a defect list for the Mk3 (BC3) on its own.

Most common advisories and fails

In order of the share of MOT tests that recorded each one

  1. 1
    Advisory

    Tyre slightly damaged, cracking or perishing

    18.0%
    Advisory: 1,918Fail: 102 (5% of the times it was found)
  2. 2
    Advisory

    Tyre worn close to the legal limit or worn on the edge

    10.5%
    Advisory: 875Fail: 55 (6% of the times it was found)
  3. 3
    Advisory

    Brake pads wearing thin

    9.0%
    Advisory: 579Fail: 102 (15% of the times it was found)
  4. 4
    Advisory

    Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened

    5.4%
    Advisory: 426Fail: 14 (3% of the times it was found)
  5. 5
    Advisory

    Suspension arm pin or bush worn, but not moving too much

    2.5%
    Advisory: 206Fail: 15 (7% of the times it was found)

Based on 5,846 tests

Looking at a Hyundai i20 Mk3 (BC3) right now?

Enter its number plate to see its full MOT history, risk rating and running costs.

Frequently asked questions

Built around 2020 (5 years old), the Hyundai i20 Mk3 (BC3) (2020-present) fails MOTs slightly less often than typical for this age. This is based on 2,661 5-year-old MOT tests from DVSA data. Each retest counts as a test.

*The build year is worked out from the date a car was first used on UK roads. For most cars this matches when it was registered, but imports may differ by a few months.

Data sourced from DVSA MOT History API. From 17,373 MOT tests on Hyundai i20 models first registered from 2020. These figures are a guide, not a guarantee.