New Hyundai Elite i20 vs rivals: Specifications comparison

Hyundai has launched its next-generation i20 model, called the Elite i20. The new Hyundai Elite i20 gets a longer wheelbase than the model it replaces and sports the carmaker's Fluidic Sculpture 2 theme. The new car gets the same 1.2-litre petrol and 1.4-litre diesel engines as in the outgoing one.

The new Hyundai Elite i20 enters the hotly contested premium hatchback segment which has seen a couple of recent additions like the Fiat Punto Evo and the VW Polo facelift. There's also the popular Maruti Swift and the Nissan Micra to contend with. Here's what this new car looks like against its rivals on paper.

Under the hood

The new Hyundai Elite i20 carries over the same 1.2-litre petrol and 1.4-litre diesel engines from the previous model but the 1.4-litre petrol engine has been discontinued. The petrol trims get powered by the 1197cc, four-cylinder engine which is good for 82bhp and 11.7kgm while the 1396cc, four-cylinder diesel produces 89bhp and 22.4kgm. 

Just like the new Hyundai Elite i20, the Maruti Swift and the Nissan Micra too are available with only one petrol and diesel engine each.

The Maruti Swift is available with a 1197cc, four-cylinder petrol motor and a 1248cc, four-cylinder diesel engine. The petrol motor generates 86bhp and 11.62kgm while the diesel produces 74bhp and 19.37kgm.

In comparison, the Nissan Micra gets a 1198cc, three-cylinder petrol engine which makes 75bhp and 10.60kgm. There’s also a 1461cc, four-cylinder diesel motor that develops 63.12bhp and 16.31kgm.

Only the Fiat Punto Evo and the Volkswagen Polo facelift offer buyers the option of two petrol engines and a diesel engine in two states of tune.

However, the Elite i20 petrol competes directly against the Punto Evo 1.2 and the Polo 1.2-litre naturally aspirated variants. Similarly, the Elite i20 diesel squares off against the regular trims of the Punto Evo (Active, Dynamic and Emotion) and the Polo (Trendline, Comfortline and Highline). 

Now, the Fiat Punto Evo petrol is available with an 1172cc, four-cylinder motor that makes 67.06bhp and 9.78kgm. The Punto Evo diesel variants are powered by a 1248cc, four-cylinder engine that generates 74.96bhp and 20.08kgm.

On the Volkswagen Polo, the regular petrol trims get a 1198cc, three-cylinder engine and for the diesels, an all-new 1498cc, four-cylinder engine. The petrol engine makes 73.97bhp and 11.21kgm while the diesel engine produces 89bhp and 23.45kgm.

Space on offer

The new Hyundai Elite i20 gets a 2570mm wheelbase which is a good 45mm more than the model it replaces. Also, the space between the Elite i20’s wheels is a substantial 60mm more than the 2510mm wheelbase of the Fuat Punto Evo. In comparison, the Volkswagen Polo gets a 2469mm wheelbase which is 101mm less than the Hyundai Elite i20. The Nissan Micra is placed next with a wheelbase of 2450mm (120mm less) while the Maruti Swift occupies last place with a wheelbase of 2430mm (140mm less).

The Hyundai Elite i20 measures 3985mm in length, 1734mm in width and 1505mm in height.

It is 14mm longer than the Polo facelift, 135mm longer than the Maruti Swift and 160mm longer than the Nissan Micra. But the Elite i20 is only 4mm shorter than the Fiat Punto Evo.

With a width of 1734mm, the Elite i20 is 52mm wider than the Polo, 39mm wider than the Swift, 47mm wider than the Punto Evo and 69mm than the Nissan Micra.

With respect to height, it is 36mm taller than the Polo. However, it is shorter than the Swift and the Micra by 25mm and 20mm shorter than the Fiat Punto Evo.

How does it stack up?

The Hyundai Elite i20 and the Maruti Swift both get similar sized 1197cc, four-cylinder petrol motors. But the i20’s motor makes 82bhp and 11.7kgm while the Swift makes 86bhp and 11.62kgm. In comparison, the Fiat Punto’s slightly smaller 1172cc, four-cylinder engine manages to produce only 67.06bhp and 9.78kgm.

Both the Nissan Micra and the Volkswagen Polo which get a similar capacity 1198cc, three-cylinder engines that generate more power than the Punto’s petrol motor. The Micra’s petrol engine makes 75bhp and 10.60kgm while the Polo petrol produces 74bhp and 11.21kgm. On paper, the petrol i20 engine makes more power and torque than the Punto Evo, Nissan Micra and the Volkwagen Polo.

The Hyundai Elite i20 diesel retains the same 1396cc oil burner from the previous model that is good for 89bhp and 22.4kgm. In comparison, the Nissan Micra gets a bigger 1461cc engine but it makes only 63.12bhp and 16.31kgm. The Swift and the Punto Evo both get powered by Fiat’s 1248cc Multijet engine but in different states of tune. The Swift diesel makes 74bhp and 19.37kgm while the Punto Evo diesel generates 75bhp and 20.08kgm.

Only the Volkswagen Polo facelift which gets an all-new 1498cc diesel engine makes 89bhp and 23.45kgm. So, the i20 diesel and the Polo diesel appear evenly matched.

So, this is how the new Hyundai Elite i20 compares against its current rivals on paper.