Just did a back to back drive of the Polo 1.0 TSI AT and i20 N Line DCT. Here are my observations:
Engine - The Polo has the better engine and feels much more sprightly than the i20. The i20 has noticeable turbo lag. The Polo's turbo lag in comparison is not that bad. Both engines can pull the car and keep you interested, but the Polo can bring that smile on your face. The engine note too is better on the Polo. The i20's engine note felt a bit wheezy.
Gearbox - The i20's DCT didn't feel noticeably faster than the Polo's torque converter. Which is surprising. The Polo's torque converter does a splendid job. Shifts are nearly imperceptible if driven sedately, and shifts are quick! But hey, you get paddles on the Hyundai!
Suspension - i20 N Line wins hands down. Zero body roll around corners and very firm and matured setup. The Polo in comparison feels softer and also has noticeable body roll.
Steering - I felt the Polo's steering to be a bit more weighted than the i20's, and felt more solid. The i20 is very responsive but a bit more weight would have helped. The steering wheel of the Polo feels a tad bit better in your hands than the i20's due to the very tight leather stitching. But again, the i20's steering wheel feels softer to the touch. Both are made from excellent material quality.
Build quality - Polo has that satisfying European door thud when you close the doors. That is missing in the i20 - the doors feel lighter to operate in typical Hyundai fashion. But Hyundai has definitely come a long way today. The panels feel well put together - there aren't any major panel gaps. The paint quality too has improved.
Interior - The i20 definitely felt more modern and upmarket, but the quality of plastics is better on the Polo. In my opinion, both score well in this regard.
Features - Do we even have to go here? Of course the i20 wins hands down. But the Polo has auto wipers which in my opinion is more useful than auto headlamps.
Comfort - The bucket seats on the Polo fare a bit better than the ones on the i20 which lack under-thigh support. That's just me nitpicking. But the tables are turned once you get into the back seat, where the i20 is far far better than the Polo. It just has much more space in the back. On the driver's seat too, there is much more knee-room and leg-room in the i20. I'd give this one to the i20.
Cost cutting - I could see several areas where Hyundai has cut costs. First, the painting on the door sills and other areas which aren't visible to the naked eye (for example, the inside of the hatch) don't have enough clear coat on them. The quality of plastics on the outside too, in my opinion, feel like a cost cutting exercise. I suspect Volkswagen does a full BIW dip into the clear coat whereas Hyundai probably only sprays the clear coat on top of the base coat from outsides and doesn't bother about doing the same inside (I could be wrong about this).
Overall for me, being an enthusiast, I'd choose the Polo over the i20 N Line purely because of that fantastic engine and gearbox combo. But in other areas, the i20 beats the Polo hands down. It's definitely a tough choice for the average Joe. Both of these are very competent cars in different aspects, you can't go wrong with either.
Quote:
Originally Posted by vivek.ks 3 months from the last post on this thread. Here are 2 new updates
1. Polo production is rumoured to be shut down in Q2 2022
2. Altroz Automatic is being launched with 1.2L NA Engine coupled with DCT motor.
If you want a fun to drive hatchback as a second car, what would people go for today? I in fact have booked a polo on Feb 22 and waiting to hear from VW on allocation. |
Hi Vivek,
If you don't mind owning a discontinued car, I'd say stick with the Polo if you're an enthusiast. Personally, i don't care about owning a discontinued car. I'm sure VW will provide service for the next 10 years. It is very likely that you'll look for an upgrade before that. Moreover, the Polo has been around for so long that spares availability shouldn't be an issue.
The i20 is a nice and well rounded car. But it doesn't have the same driving feel which the Polo offers. It is let down by that sub-par engine. i20 N Line turbo GDI is not as free revving as the Polo TSI and that can be felt. Hyundai would have had a winner only if they had plonked a better engine into the i20 NLine. But alas, that's not the case. And for now, the Polo takes the lead as the enthusiast's car.
Hope you get your car soon. I had booked mine around November and got delivery in January. Congratulations in advance!
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