Maruti Baleno vs Honda Jazz vs Hyundai i20 comparison

We often get asked why, in our comparison tests, the newest car is often the winner. We even get accused of favouritism sometimes, or suggestions that we pick our winners based on the hottest new trend. That couldn’t be further from the truth, of course, because as you know, all our tests are based on facts, figures and rigorous testing. So, why does the newest car sometimes come out on top? Well, it’s logical, really – a carmaker about to launch a new product has learnt from the failings (or successes) of its competition that’s already in the market, and customer feedback from rival cars always determines what goes into a new car. Besides, every new car at the start of a fresh lifecycle comes with the latest tech and design trends. So, of course, the newer the car, the more likely it is that it will have an edge over the rest. But then, if you read our comparison test last month, you’ll have seen that the newest premium hatchback – Maruti’s Baleno – lost to our old favourite, the Hyundai i20. Today, however, a few things are different, chief of which is the motor under the hood – it’s the petrol versions this time. The i20’s strong diesel engine gave it a big advantage the last time around, but when it comes to petrol motors, we think they’ll be much closer matched. And, of course, we’ve brought in a third – the Honda Jazz – which also has a strong petrol engine, as well as loads of space and practicality to boot. Game on, then.

THE SHAPE OF THINGS

The Baleno is the best looking Maruti hatchback in a long time and that’s a refreshing change from a company whose designs have erred on the side of safe and conservative. Interestingly, it’s not a striking shape that makes this car look good, but rather subtle details, like its rising shoulder line, rear quarter glass and a stance that makes it look very planted. You’ll also like the face, with its V-shaped grille, slim headlamps and especially the projector elements and LED running lights on this top-spec car. The design of the 16-inch alloys is a bit conservative, but the wheels fill up the bulging arches nicely and give the Baleno that great stance.

Now it might be one of the best looking Marutis around, but you have to admit, the other two cars here are better at grabbing your attention. Take the Honda Jazz. It still uses an almost-one-box shape for maximum interior room like its predecessor, but Honda’s fine-tuned it for less of a van-like appearance this time around. This, in part, is due to the loads of detailing – some might say too much – in the bodywork. Creases on the sides, a big air dam and fog-lamp housings in the front bumper, faux ‘vents’ in the rear bumper, a huge chrome bar on the tailgate and tail-lamps that extend onto the boot; it’s a little bit fussy. Still, you can’t argue that it looks striking, and is only let down by the small-looking 15-inch wheels and weedy 175/65 R15 tyres.

The i20’s design is maturing well even though it’s an all-too-familiar sight on our roads, and its classic two-box proportions do look the neatest. Again, there might be some details not to everyone’s tastes, like the gaping grille, but the clean lines, blacked out C-pillar, and smart, chromed 16-inch wheels come together cohesively. It does look a little ‘jacked up’ on its tall springs, compared to the others though. The i20 does without the garish rear chrome bar that the others have, but you will still like the details – especially the intricate tail-lamps and wide, angular headlamps.
 

UPSCALE AND UPMARKET

It’s important to remember that Hyundai set the benchmark for interiors in this segment when it launched this latest i20, and amazingly, when it comes to fit and finish, it still is the best. The i20’s dashboard is not just well designed, with its two-tone colours and multiple textures, it’s also the best put together. Plastic quality is uniformly fantastic all around the cabin, with barely a cheap looking bit in sight. You’ll also find nice little touches like blue illumination for all the switches and buttons around the car – it doesn’t mean much, but it just makes you feel a little more special. And that’s what the i20’s cabin does flawlessly – makes you feel like you’ve got your money’s worth.

i20's dash has the best design and the highest quality materials as well.

The Jazz too is made from mostly high-quality materials, but the way it comes together is decidedly less impressive than the i20. Like the exterior, you might find the detailing a little fussy and the design not very cohesive, and it’s only accentuated by the all-black theme. There’s loads of glossy plastic, which attracts and highlights fingerprints, and the finish all round is just not as good as in the Hyundai. It’s also annoying to see signs of missing equipment, like the ‘blank’ where the push-start button should have been. Still, where the Jazz scores high is on practicality with in-cabin storage spaces aplenty – the others are good too, but the Honda simply has more and they are also well thought out.

The Baleno’s cabin is a bit of a mixed bag. While we like the fresh new design that’s a huge step up for Maruti, unfortunately it still feels all too familiar thanks to countless bits from lesser Maruti cars. Time to design a new steering wheel and window switches, Suzuki! And then there’s the quality – while the V-shaped centre console finished in matte silver looks really cool, the plastic just doesn’t feel that great, and it’s a similar story all over the cabin. It’s not hard to find cheaper, poorly executed bits in here, and while it’s passable even in a Swift, in this premium hatchback segment, it just won’t fly. One thing that really stands out, though, are the blue coloured dials and the full colour screen that sits between them – it really packs in a lot of info that’s not just informative, but quite cool as well.

Baleno's dash design is fresh but still too many standard Suzuki bits.

And staying on the subject of equipment, Hyundai, as ever, set the benchmark in this segment, and while the Jazz hasn’t quite managed to match that, the Baleno certainly has. In fact, the i20 was forced to play catch-up just in time for the launch of the new Maruti, quickly adding a touchscreen infotainment system to top-spec i20s. Let’s get the common stuff out of the way first – all three cars get touchscreen infotainment systems with navigation, as well as Bluetooth, aux and USB input, and of the three, it’s Maruti’s Apple CarPlay-equipped unit that’s the best. Even without the iPhone syncing software, it’s the most intuitive to use and has the cleanest interface; the i20’s system is a bit clunky, while the Jazz’s AVN unit feels like an aftermarket add-on. All three cars get rear-view cameras too, but the Honda misses out on rear parking sensors. In fact, the Honda is clearly the poorest-equipped hatch here, which stings a bit more when you realise it’s also the most expensive. Other things it lacks compared to the others are push-button start, reach adjustment for the steering, automatic headlamps and an auto-dimming mirror. As for unique features, the i20 is the only one with a rear AC vent, the Jazz exclusively has a CD player, while the Baleno is the only one with puddle lamps under the doors, projector headlamps, and LED running lights. And while all three have two airbags and ABS in their top trims, the Baleno is the only one to offer it across the range.

SIZING UP

Space, especially in the boot and rear seat, has never been of more importance in a hatchback than in these three. You are paying a premium for a larger, more upmarket hatch after all, and space is one of the things you expect for your money. It’s also part of the reason why the VW Polo and Fiat Punto Evo don’t quite make the cut for this test, despite being in the same price range.
Here too, where once the i20 astonished us with the amount of space you could cram into a hatchback, it now lags behind significantly. In isolation, the rear legroom is just fine, but once you’ve seen what the other two offer, it feels relatively cramped. That might also have something to do with the fact that the rear seat is very low and the window sills are high, giving you a somewhat boxed-in feeling. Then there’s the rear seat itself, which isn’t as wide as the others, and is contoured in a way that forces you to the middle of the bench, making it best for two passengers only. It is, however, very supportive, but while its soft cushioning is good over short distances, it gets uncomfortable on long drives.

i20 seats low and window sill high.

The Baleno offers a surprising amount of space in the back seat, and legroom is truly ample. Headroom might not be as good as the others, but it’s still good enough, and you get a good sense of space thanks to the big windows and rear quarter glass. The best bit is that since it’s a wide bench, you can easily fit three passengers back here, and the console between the front seats doesn’t intrude too much either. The seats are very comfy, but they are a bit flat and are a little short on thigh support too. The other issue is the massive front seats and their tall head restraints; they really hinder your view forward from the back.

The Jazz is still the king of space and comfort in this segment. You can truly stretch out in the back seat, and headroom and width are incredible too. What’s more, the ‘Magic Seats’ on the top trim can be split and folded in a number of ways, including folding back the front passenger seat to use as a footrest. This bench too is good enough for three and you sit high enough to get a good view out of the front. Thigh support is the only area where the i20 has an edge over it, but it still comes across as the more comfortable seat overall.

Jazz has the most spacious and comfortable seats, front or rear.

Speaking of which, the Jazz just about edges ahead of the Baleno for the most comfortable front seats. Both cars offer generous cushioning and support, but the Jazz is just that little bit better, and you also sit higher up for a much better view of the road. The i20 once again suffers from overly soft cushioning, and though it would be passable in isolation, it’s just not as good as the competition. When it comes to the luggage area too, the Jazz rules the roost with a solid 354 litres, versus 339 litres for the Baleno and just 285 litres in the i20. The Honda’s boot is also super easy to load thanks to its low and wide opening; the other two require you to lift bags high up above tall bumpers.

PETROL PATROL

Whereas there is a significant performance gap between the diesel versions of these three cars, the petrol cars are much closer matched. Just look at the numbers. For one, they’re all of the same capacity this time – 1.2 litres, and their outputs are close too. The Baleno and i20 are closest at 83.1bhp and 81.9bhp respectively, while the Jazz has a bit more power at 88.8bhp. The Honda makes a smidge less torque though at 11.2kgm versus an identical 11.7kgm for the other two. But the key factor is weight, which is where the Baleno, with its new lightweight chassis, has a big advantage. At a mere 890kg, it’s a full 150kg lighter than the Jazz and 190kg lighter than the i20, and boy, does it show! The Jazz manages the 100kph dash in a respectable 14.2sec, while the i20 does it in 15.71sec. The Baleno, on the other hand, is done with it in just 12.60sec, and it’s a similarly large gap when you consider in-gear acceleration for overtaking.

The Maruti feels really peppy and just shoots off from a standstill, to the point that you might even find the throttle response a little too sharp off the line. Still, this car has a powerband that’s well suited to most driving situations, with enough low-down pep for city driving and also a strong enough mid and top end to stand you in good stead on the highway. It’s not the quietest of motors, but that’s only in the company of its peers. In fact, the Suzuki K12 engine is pretty smooth, it’s just that insufficient sound deadening (one of the reasons for its light weight) doesn’t make it feel as refined as its rivals. The Baleno has a light clutch and a smooth, short-throw gearbox, but then the Jazz’s gearbox is nicer to use, with a snappy throw, but its clutch is the heaviest.

The i20’s clutch and gearbox both feel as smooth as stirring butter, but the gear-shift feels a little mushy and not a lot of fun to use enthusiastically. Also not fun is the slightly sluggish response off the line, and the somewhat flat power delivery thereafter. You see, while the 1.2-litre Kappa2 motor feels quite peppy in the smaller Grand i10, in this 1080kg car, it has a lot more to haul around. It does gather steam as you pile on the revs, but even then, power delivery doesn’t feel very consistent. You will love it for its refinement though; it’s by far the quietest motor here, at any revs.

i20’s power delivery feels too flat and is weak low down.

Honda’s 1.2-litre petrol motor is also very quiet at idle, but the moment the revs build, it will be heard. This turns into a lively buzz typical of Honda’s i-VTEC motors as you ascend the rev range, and you will want to do just that, because closer to the redline is where this engine gives its best. It’s been tuned to be responsive low down too; perhaps not as much as the Maruti K12 engine though good enough, but then, its mid-range isn’t quite as strong, so you will find yourself working the gearbox if you want a sudden change of pace. Overall, this motor sits in the middle of this test – not as responsive as the Baleno’s, but not as weak low down as the i20’s either.

When it comes to fuel economy, it’s no surprise that the super-light Baleno once again walks away with the crown. In our city testing, it achieved 13.43kpl, which comfortably outdoes the Jazz’s 12.3kpl and the i20’s 11.5kpl. On the highway too, the Maruti petrol managed an impressive 18.11kpl, while the Honda and i20 gave us 16.9kpl and 15.2kpl, respectively.

ROUGH RIDERS

The first Maruti Swift struck one of the best ride-handling balances among hatchbacks and, at the time, was truly a revelation. The current, second-gen Swift softened things up a fair bit, and more recently, the Ciaz has clearly been set up only with comfort in mind. So, it’s interesting to see that the Baleno has been given quite a firm and aggressive suspension setup. The upshot is that body control and stability in all conditions are just superb, and this car rides flat over just about everything. The downside is that the ride is rather stiff too. It thuds over expansion joints and crashes through potholes, and you can feel a lot of the road inside the cabin. What blunts the Baleno’s overall dynamic ability is its steering. It’s nicely weighted and fairly linear but has numbness that leaves you disconnected from the front wheels and there’s a fair bit of ‘stiction’ which doesn’t allow the steering to return freely to centre and this can be a bit disconcerting.

The i20’s steering suffers from the same problem of not returning to the centre position and like most Hyundais, suffers from an inconsistency in feel as you increase the lock. It’s super light, which is good in traffic, but as you build up speed, it starts losing connection with the road which is far from ideal. Again, typical of Hyundais, the i20’s suspension is set up extremely soft, and though this gives you cushy ride quality at low speeds, it causes the car to float and bounce around a lot out on the highway. Admittedly, it’s much improved from the previous i20 and even the Verna, but it’s still a long way off.

The Jazz is the most dynamically sorted car here, and you can feel some of that classic Honda chassis magic at work. There’s a little pitter-patter over rough roads and you can hear some suspension noise in the cabin, but this is minor in the bigger scheme of things. The ride is very absorbent and capable of subduing most potholes and undulations, it rides extremely flat and is very stable at high speeds. The best part is that this doesn’t come at the cost of handling, and though the Honda is tall, it corners with surprisingly little roll. The steering is just superb as well – light at low speeds but reassuring as you go faster, and pinpoint accurate too. It really makes for an enjoyable and confidence-inspiring experience from behind the wheel; not something you can say of the others.

PLAYING PREMIUM

This contest is much closer than we anticipated, and each of the cars really brings a strong suit to the table. The i20 may be the oldest car here now, but on the desirability scale, it’s still at the top. It looks attractive on the outside and in, and it backs that up with a cabin that feels properly special. Hyundai always delivers on equipment and it’s no different here, giving you everything you need and then a little more. But it’s the mechanicals that let it down in this test, whether you’re a driver or a passenger. The engine feels a little weak, the handling is soggy and even the ride is very inconsistent. It’s no longer the most spacious and comfortable in the class, which loses it some big points.

The Jazz is somewhat the opposite of the i20, as it is easily the best car to drive, and that’s despite not having the best engine of the trio. The dynamics are just so spot on, and on top of that, your passengers (and their luggage) will be very well taken care of too. What will bother you a bit is the way the cabin doesn’t feel very special, and that’s not great in a premium hatchback. What you do have to pay, however, is a premium – the Jazz is the most expensive of the lot and, unfortunately, the least well equipped as well. Competent and capable as it is, it’s when you factor in the important value equation that the Jazz loses out.

The Baleno has its fair share of shortcomings. It’s not the most refined, well-built or stylish. Also, it lacks the sporty edge that made the Swift a legend, robbing it of character. That said, the Baleno is more user-friendly than the others. It feels light on its feet, delivers effortless performance and feels equally at home in the city and on the highway. It’s very practical too with an incredibly spacious and comfortable cabin, a big boot and lots of storage space. It also scores where it matters – it’s the best equipped with a level of connectivity not seen before in this class. And, offering twin airbags as standard throughout the range wins it extra points. The Baleno may not be the most premium of the lot but it takes your money the furthest, to a point that makes it hard to ignore.