Premium hatchbacks are an interesting classification of cars. They offer features you only get from a segment above in a pint size, ideal for urban commute, making these cars hugely appealing. Of all the popular cars in the premium hatchback space, one car stands out and has a cult following thanks to its understated styling and solid build quality. Yes, we are talking about the Volkswagen Polo which is long gone but not yet forgotten. The Polo was offered with various powertrain options and it pretty much remained the same for more than 10 years. What worked was a simple formula with great design and powerful engine options. The Polo’s legacy lives on and it is a preferred used car option nowadays.
On the opposite end of things, we have Hyundai’s i20 which is also the Polo’s arch nemesis. The Hyundai took a distinct approach to the Polo and took on the market with impressive features that made it the go-to choice for buyers looking for novel features. Every generation of the Hyundai i20 offered a step up in terms of features and the latest and the current generation i20 offers the most features in its segment without any doubt. It is also a stylish hatchback with a sharp design language that is backed by decent engine options. Unlike the Polo, the i20 is still available and chugging on with a petrol engine option. It also got a recent update with some minor revisions to make it relevant against new competition that comes in the form of Maruti Suzuki Baleno, Toyota Glanza, and the Tata Altroz.
To make this comparison fair and square and since the Polo came with a plethora of engine options, we have picked the last generation of the Volkswagen Polo, the BS6 version that was sold right before Volkswagen pulled the plug. Here’s how both of these hatchbacks compare:
Hyundai i20 Vs Volkswagen Polo: Dimensions
Dimensions Hyundai i20 Volkswagen Polo Length 3995mm 3971mm
Width 1775mm 1682mm
Height 1505mm 1469mm
Wheelbase 2580mm 2469mm
Ground Clearance 170mm 165mm
Boot Space 311 litres 295mm
Well, the numbers don’t lie. The Hyundai is the bigger hatchback here by a substantial margin as it has got all the numbers on its side. The Polo is a decently sized hatchback with great road presence and size. However, it is a generation older than the current Hyundai i20 and it clearly shows. The now discontinued Polo’s weakest links are its rear seat space and a below average boot space of just 295mm which is one of the lowest in the segment. It is also down on length, width, and height in contrast to the i20 which has indeed grown in size over the years with the current one being a proper premium hatchback with space and size in its arsenal.
Hyundai i20 Vs Volkswagen Polo: Engine & Transmission
Parameters Hyundai i20 Volkswagen Polo Engine Options 1.2-litre 4 cylinder petrol engine 1.0-litre 3 cylinder petrol engine, 1.0-litre 3 cylinder TSI turbo petrol
Transmission Options 5-speed MT, CVT 5-speed MT, 6-speed MT/AT
Power 84 PS 76 PS/110 PS
Torque 115 Nm 95 Nm/175 Nm
Mileage - 16.4-18.24 kmpl
Before we compare both these hatchbacks and the petrol engine options, it is only fair if we mention the diesel engines that powered these hatchbacks right before BS6 emission norms kicked in. The i20 used a refined 1.5-litre diesel engine while the Polo also used a 1.5-litre TDI which was derived from the explosive 1.6-litre TDI engine. Both these engines are available in the used car space and a great option for anyone who often does highway miles.
Presently the i20 is powered by a sole 1.2-litre petrol engine with adequate numbers – 84 PS power and 115 Nm torque. The Volkswagen Polo, right before it was discontinued, was powered by two engines, a 1.0-litre petrol and a 1.0-litre turbo petrol. The normal petrol engine lags behind the i20 in terms of figures. However, the 1.0-litre TSI turbo engine is a powerhouse as it develops 110 PS power and 175 Nm mated to a 6-speed MT/AT. This engine is a successor to the brilliant 1.2-litre TSI unit that is revered amongst enthusiasts for its zingy nature mated with the DSG gearbox.
The i20’s engine does the everyday job perfectly, but if you want something exciting, it ought to be the Volkswagen Polo with the turbo petrol engine. This engine delivers decent fuel economy and keeps you smiling with the way it delivers the numbers. What also helps the Polo’s case is the 6-speed MT/AT, both great gearbox options as opposed to the 5-speed MT and CVT options in the Hyundai i20.
Hyundai i20 Vs Volkswagen Polo: Features & Comfort
Features Hyundai i20 Volkswagen Polo Infotainment system 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system Music system Yes Yes
Climate control Yes Yes
Ventilated seats No No
Adjustable steering Yes Yes
Drive modes Yes No
Instrument cluster Digital Analogue
Sunroof Yes No
Adjustable seats (manual or electric) Manual Manual
Rear AC vents Yes No
60:40 rear seat split Yes Yes
Cruise control Yes No
There is not much contest here as we have already established that the i20 is the hatchback to pick if you want the best features on offer. The Volkswagen Polo’s biggest achilles heel is the features list which is basic at best. There is a 7-inch touchscreen, automatic climate control, and a music system. However, it lacks a digital display, sunroof, wireless charger, connected car tech, rear AC vents, cruise control, drive modes, and many more features that are offered in the Hyundai i20.
In all fairness, when it comes to features, the Volkswagen Polo cannot hold a candle against the Hyundai which is clearly the pick here.
Hyundai i20 Vs Volkswagen Polo: Safety Features
Features Hyundai i20 Volkswagen Polo NCAP Safety Rating 3 stars GNCAP 4 stars GNCAP Airbags 2 airbags
ABS with EBD Yes Yes
ESC Yes Yes
Traction control No Yes
Automatic headlamp Yes No
Rain-sensing wipers No No
Hill hold assist Yes Yes
Hill descent control No No
Rear sensors Yes No
Rear parking camera Yes Yes
ISOFIX Child seat anchor points Yes Yes
ADAS No No
Looking at the table above, we might come to the conclusion that the Hyundai i20 is the safer car of the duo here. It offers a wide variety of safety features such as 6 airbags, auto headlamps, ESC, traction control, etc. But we regard crash test ratings as the best yardstick for safety and going by that, it is the Volkswagen Polo that takes the crown here. It misses out on some of the interesting safety tech options, but it offers a strong chassis with great protection. As a result, the Polo scored 4 stars in the GNCAP test against 3 stars of the new Hyundai i20.
Therefore, it is the Volkswagen Polo that remains our pick in terms of safety and crashworthiness.
Hyundai i20 Vs Volkswagen Polo: Price Comparison
Variants Hyundai i20 Volkswagen Polo (used prices from New Delhi) Base Variants Rs. 6.99 lakh Rs. 2.25 lakh Mid Variants Rs. 7.40 lakh to Rs. 9.44 lakh
Upper Mid Variants Rs. 9.53 to Rs. 11.05 lakh
Top Variants Rs. 11.16 lakh Rs. 5.93 lakh
The Hyundai i20 is the most expensive hatchback in the country with prices starting from Rs. 6.99 lakh for the base version going all the way till Rs. 11.16 lakh for the range-topping variant. Since the Volkswagen Polo is a discontinued model, it is confined to the used car market. It is also surprisingly cheap to own as it has been around since 2009. Spinny’s inventory contains examples priced way low from just Rs 2.25 lakh for a 2011 model year topping out at around Rs 6.00 lakh for a 2017 model year (examples from Delhi NCR market).
Summary
In a nutshell, the Hyundai i20 remains the pick for buyers looking for a stylish hatchback that offers the ultimate premium experience. It comes with all the features that you normally expect along with some impressive features that are only offered in expensive models. In essence, the Hyundai i20 is indeed the quintessential premium hatchback that is highly unlikely to not appeal to any potential buyer. It leads the way when it comes to space, dimensions, features and novelty.
That said, it is still not quite there with the Volkswagen Polo when it comes to powertrain options or safety, two crucial parameters. So if you could look past the age and omission of space-age features, the Volkswagen Polo is a brilliant used buy, especially the later BS6 models with the turbo petrol engine. In contrast, you will end up saving a good chunk of money while you drive away in the safer and more powerful hatchback.
In the i20’s defense, Hyundai offers the i20 N-Line which is the alter-ego version of the i20 with a 120PS turbo petrol engine. It is expensive but if you want the best of both worlds, it doesn’t get any better than this.
