Free Buyer’s Guide
2012 Hyundai i20
A simple guide for buyers with no car knowledge. Do most of the work from home, on the phone. Only go and see the car if you like what you hear. The decision is always yours.
The free guide is below. The full guide is made for this car after you pay.
Most complete
Want the full step-by-step plan for this 2012 Hyundai i20?
The full guide is made for this exact car. It runs to up to 40 pages, with drawings, so you know where to look and what each answer means.
- Drawings of the car, the engine bay and where oil and coolant leaks show up
- A step-by-step walk around, start-up and test drive, with a Yes or No for every check
- A colour on every No that says how serious it is, and a rough repair budget at the end
- Your name, odometer reading and VIN printed on it, if you give them
Which 2012 i20 is it?
Some 2012 cars are listed as MY12.5 and some as MY13. Ask the seller which one this car is.
Ask the seller: "Can I see the engine code in the logbook or on the compliance plate?"
1.4L petrol 1.4 PETROL
Engine code G4FA · 4-speed automatic, 5-speed manual or 6-speed manual
- 73.5 kW and 136 Nm
- Sold in the Active and Elite
- Timing chain, not a belt
1.6L petrol 1.6 PETROL
Engine code G4FC · 4-speed automatic or 5-speed manual
- 91 kW and 156 Nm
- Sold in the Premium
- Same engine family as the 1.4L, which has a timing chain
Safety rating
- All i20 models built from 2011, when 6 airbags became standard. The 5-door was tested. The 3-door was not tested on its own.5 stars (34.07 out of 37)
As published by ANCAP. Older ratings, tested to easier standards than today’s.
The big-money items
You can’t see inside these parts, but you can ask about them.
Timing chain and tensioner 1.4L G4FA ENGINE. THE 1.6L IS THE SAME ENGINE FAMILY.
$$ ($500 to $2,000)A chain inside the engine keeps its moving parts in step. A tensioner keeps the chain tight.
Ask: "Has the engine been heard rattling on a cold start? Is there proof of regular oil changes?"
Clutch (manual cars only) MANUAL GEARBOX CARS
$$ ($500 to $2,000)The clutch joins the engine to the gearbox. Owners report it losing pressure in heavy traffic.
Ask: "Has the clutch or its fluid ever been fixed? How does it feel in slow traffic?"
Radiator leaks 2010 TO 2015 I20, ALL ENGINES
$$ ($500 to $2,000)The radiator cools the engine. Leaks can come from the cooling system.
Ask: "Has the radiator or any coolant hose been replaced? Is the coolant level steady?"
Engine oil leaks and rough idle 2010 TO 2015 I20, ALL ENGINES
$$ ($500 to $2,000)Oil can seep from engine seals. Rough idle means the engine shakes when stopped and running.
Ask: "Are there any oil leaks, and has the engine ever idled roughly?"
Want to check these yourself?
The full guide shows where each of these parts is on this car and how to check it safely, with a Yes or No for every check.
Get the full guide · $29Regular maintenance
Look for these on the service invoices.
- Engine oil
Keeps the engine moving parts clean and slippery.
As shown in the logbook
- Spark plugs (petrol)
Make the spark that starts the fuel burning.
As shown in the logbook
- Brake fluid
The liquid that carries your foot push to the brakes.
Every 2 years (our guide)
- Coolant
Keeps the engine from getting too hot.
As shown in the logbook
- Gearbox oil
Keeps the gears smooth. Automatic and manual gearboxes both use it.
As shown in the logbook
- Air filter
Cleans the air before it goes into the engine.
As shown in the logbook
- Tyres
The only part of the car that touches the road.
Replace at 6 years old, even with good tread (our guide). Alignment every 10,000 to 15,000 km (our guide)
- Battery
Starts the engine and runs the electrics.
Most last about 3 to 5 years
Questions to ask on this i20
These are for this model. The full list of questions, with tick boxes, is in the PDF.
Which engine does the car have? Can you read the engine code from the logbook?
Good answer: The seller reads out a code from the logbook or compliance plate.
Why: The i20 came with two petrol engines, so the code tells you which one it is.
When was the engine oil last changed? Is there a receipt?
Good answer: A date and kilometres in the logbook or on an invoice.
Why: The timing chain relies on clean oil.
Does the engine rattle when started cold?
Good answer: No rattle on a cold start.
Why: A knock that fades once warm can be chain noise.
Words you might see on an invoice
- Timing chain kit
- The chain, guides and tensioner that keep the engine's moving parts in step.
- Tensioner
- The part that keeps the chain tight.
- Rocker cover gasket
- The seal on top of the engine. It is a common spot for oil seeps.
- CVVT or VVT solenoid
- A small valve that adjusts when the engine's valves open. A fault can cause rough running.
- Coil pack
- The part that makes the spark. A fault can cause the engine to misfire.
- Brake rotors
- The discs that the brake pads grip to slow the car.
Two quick checks at home
All you need is the VIN.
- Recalls: hyundai.com/au/en/owning/safety-recalls
- Recalls: vehiclerecalls.gov.au
- Money owing: ppsr.gov.au (small fee; check again on the day you pay)
- The PPSR search is $2 online. Search with the VIN.
- It shows money owing and may show if the car is stolen or written off.
- It does not show the odometer reading or unpaid fines.
- A free state rego check is separate. It shows registration status only.
Good to know
- A class action about some Hyundai and Kia engines is listed on its own website. The i20 was not in the model lists we found.
Free guide or the full guide?
Both are for the exact car you are looking at. Here is what each one holds.
| What it holds | Free guide | Full guide · $29 |
|---|---|---|
| Length | About 12 pages | Up to 40 pages |
| The engines sold that year, with their codes | Yes | Yes |
| The big-money items, with the question to ask | Yes | Yes, and where each part is and how to check it safely |
| Questions to ask the seller on the phone | Yes | Yes |
| Service history | What to look for on the invoices | A table for the odometer reading, with the jobs that should be done by now |
| Drawings of the car, the engine bay and the leaks | No | Yes |
| Step-by-step walk around, start-up and test drive | No | Yes, with a Yes or No for every check |
| How serious each problem is | A simple scorecard | A colour on every No, and a rough repair budget |
| Your name, odometer reading and VIN printed on it | No | Yes, if you give them |
| A PDF to print or open on your phone | Yes | Yes |
A look inside the full guide
Four real pages from a full guide for a 2015 Toyota HiLux. We blur most of each page on purpose, so it cannot be copied. Your own guide is clear, and made for your car.
Your car drawn see-through, with the key parts marked
The engine bay, with numbered pins
A Yes or No for every check, with a colour on each No
A rough repair budget from what you tick
General information only, not an inspection of any vehicle. “Our guide” means our recommendation, not a legal rule. Costs are a rough guide. Information current at October 2026: always check the VIN yourself.