A hatchback with a turbo-petrol engine is a recipe for fun. But as things stand, only two mass-market hatchbacks presently offer the added oomph of a force-fed petrol engine. There’s the original warm hatch by VW, the Polo, that’s just got a new 1.0 TSI engine for the BS6 era, and Hyundai has also just joined the fray with the Grand i10 Nios Turbo. Which one offers more bang for your buck? Let’s break it down.
How do the Polo TSI and Nios Turbo compare on size?
| Polo TSI vs Grand i10 Nios Turbo: Dimensions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Grand i10 Nios Turbo | Polo TSI | |
| Length | 3805mm | 3971mm |
| Width | 1680mm | 1682mm |
| Height | 1520mm | 1469mm |
| Wheelbase | 2450mm | 2469mm |
| Boot capacity | 260 litres | 294 litres |
| Fuel capacity | 37 litres | 45 litres |
| Tyre size | 175/60 R15 | 195/55 R16 |
The Polo is a bit larger overall than the Grand i10 Nios in length, width and even wheelbase, but it’s actually the Hyundai with the roomier cabin. The Hyundai is significantly taller and makes greater use of vertical space. On the flipside, the Hyundai’s higher centre of gravity could result in more roll in the corners. The Polo wears thicker rubber, which should equate to better grip.
How do the Polo TSI and Nios Turbo compare on power?
| Polo TSI vs Grand i10 Nios Turbo: Powertrain | ||
|---|---|---|
| Grand i10 Nios Turbo | Polo TSI | |
| Engine | 998cc, 3 cyl, turbo-petrol | 999cc, 3 cyl, turbo-petrol |
| Power | 100hp at 6000rpm | 110hp at 5000-5500rpm |
| Torque | 172Nm at 1500-4000rpm | 175Nm at 1750-4000rpm |
| Manual gearbox | 5-speed | 6-speed |
| Automatic gearbox | - | 6-speed torque convertor |
| ARAI mileage (MT/AT) | 20.3kpl | 18.24kpl/- |
| Range | 751.1km | 820.8km |
In terms of peak outputs, the Polo again seems to just edge ahead. It’s got a 10hp and 3Nm advantage but does trail the Grand i10 Nios on economy by 2.06kpl. The Volkswagen’s significantly larger fuel tank does mean it has a greater overall range. The Polo TSI also one-ups the Hyundai by providing an automatic transmission option, though how this unit compares to the slick, quick-shifting DSG of old is still something to be ascertained.
How do the Polo TSI and Nios Turbo compare on safety kit?
| Polo TSI vs Grand i10 Nios Turbo: Safety kit | ||
|---|---|---|
| Grand i10 Nios Turbo | Polo TSI | |
| Airbags | 2 | 2 |
| ABS/EBD/Brake assist | Yes/Yes/Yes | Yes/No/No |
| Anti-pinch power windows | No | Yes |
| Front fog lights | Yes | Yes |
| Automatic wipers | No | Yes |
| Rear defogger/wipers | Yes/No | Yes/Yes |
| Day/night inside rearview mirror | Manual | Automatic |
| Rear camera | Yes | No |
First, a disclaimer. The Polo TSI is only on offer in the top-spec Highline Plus and GT variants (they’re only differentiated by cosmetic changes). Meanwhile, the Hyundai Grand i10 Nios Turbo is only offered in the higher-spec Sportz variant, which means it misses out on kit like a rear wiper, adjustable rear headrests, a cooled glovebox and keyless entry and go available on the top-spec Asta.
On the safety front, both hatchbacks make a compelling case for themselves, though there are omissions. The Polo misses out on a rear parking camera, while the Grand i10 Nios Turbo does not get automatic wipers. While the previous Polo TSI came with hill-start assist, traction control and electronic stability control, the current car misses out on these safety features.
How do the Polo TSI and Nios Turbo compare on features?
| Polo TSI vs Grand i10 Nios Turbo: Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Grand i10 Nios Turbo | Polo TSI | |
| LED DRLs | Yes | No |
| Dual-tone exterior | Optional | Optional |
| Leather steering/gear knob | Yes/No | Yes/Yes |
| Driver’s seat adjust | 6-way manual | 6-way manual |
| Adjustable headrests (F/R) | No/No | Yes/Yes |
| Rear seat split/folding | No/Yes | No/Yes |
| Cruise control | No | Yes |
| Cooled glovebox | No | Yes |
| Touchscreen infotainment | 8.0-inch | 6.5-inch |
| Android Auto/Apple CarPlay | Yes/Yes | Yes/Yes |
| Bluetooth/USB/Aux | Yes/Yes/No | Yes/Yes/Yes |
| Wireless smartphone charging | Yes | No |
| One-touch up/down power windows | Driver’s side, down only | All four, up & down |
| ORVM Power folding/adjust | Yes/Yes | Yes/Yes |
| AC | Automatic (1-zone) | Automatic (1-zone) |
| Rear AC vents | Yes | Yes |
| Rear power outlet | Yes | No |
| Instrument cluster | 5.3-inch digital speedometer & MID with analogue tacho | Analogue dials with digital MID |
Like with the safety features, these two hatchbacks are neck and neck in terms of the creature comforts and tech on offer. However, the Hyundai does seem more modern, holding the edge in terms of infotainment, smartphone charging and even the part-digital instrument cluster. Still, the Volkswagen offers adjustable headrests for the front and rear passengers and seems to be the more convenient offering, thanks to kit like cruise control, a cooled glovebox and a one-touch up and down function for all four powered windows.
How do the Polo TSI and Nios Turbo compare on price?
| Polo TSI vs Grand i10 Nios Turbo: Price | ||
|---|---|---|
| Grand i10 Nios Turbo* | Polo TSI^ | |
| MT | Rs 7.68 lakh | Rs 8.02 lakh |
| AT | - | Rs 9.13-9.60 lakh |
*Price, ex-showroom, Delhi
^Price, ex-showroom, pan-India
From the price table, it is obvious that the Hyundai Grand i10 Nios is quite a bit more affordable – the Polo 1.0 TSI Highline Plus in manual form costs a whole Rs 34,000 more. The Polo GT variant – only available in automatic form – is nearly Rs 2 lakh costlier than the Hyundai. For a limited period, Volkswagen is offering the Polo TSI Edition, which is essentially the Polo Highline Plus variant with a few cosmetic additions, at Rs 7.89 lakh.
On paper, it’s much too difficult to choose a winner. Hyundai’s Grand i10 Nios Turbo comes across as the better value-for-money package, thanks to its price tag and the features on offer. The Volkswagen Polo 1.0 TSI is the more powerful option and also the only one available with an automatic.
Only a proper comparison will decide which one of the two hatchbacks will satiate your need for affordable performance. Stay tuned.
Also see:
Hyundai Venue long term review, first report
Autocar Drag Day: Ford Figo vs Volkswagen Polo Drag race video