Hyundai Malta welcomes the first model of 2016, the Hyundai i20 Active Cross which is now displayed for viewing at the Hyundai's showroom in Valley Road B'Kara.

With this model, Hyundai took the already sporty-looking i20 and lifted it to a compact crossover - an intelligent combination of a sporty hatchback with the all-round capabilities of an SUV. Moreover, its 170 mm ground clearance gives it that advantage of tackling rough surfaces and floods.

Besides its utterly great looks, its spacious and well-lit interior and the many practical features, one very exciting aspect of this model is that it comes with a 1.0T-GDi Petrol 120ps engine.

"The Hyundai i20 Active Cross ushers new and exciting times for Hyundai whose main qualities will shift people's perceptions through bold design and technology because they will represent a significant step forward for Hyundai as an increasingly important brand. The i20 Active Cross model is in fact fully-equipped with comprehensive active and passive safety technologies and is focused on ride comfort and driving dynamics," stated Francesca Mamo, Managing Director of Meridien Enterprises, local importers of Hyundai.

The inside of the i20 Active Cross beckons with a 2-tone motif with 60:40 folding rear seats for additional cargo space. It also has an ergonomic dashboard layout, housing a 2-DIN audio system that can play AM/FMCD/MP3/Bluetooth connectivity.

Safety features include dual front airbags, ABS with EBD, and child safety door locks.

In terms of design, the i20 Cross Sport shares a lot with the i20 albeit but includes totally revised bumpers, body cladding, larger wheels, a sporty fuel lid and spoiler and roof rails that comes as standard. The i20 Active Cross has all the qualities of an SUV whilst retaining its street appeal for city driving.