The Elite i20 borrows the petrol automatic drivetrain from the first-generation model and we pitch it against the rest of the options available in the same price band
One of the premium hatchback segment’s best-sellers – the Elite i20 – is finally offering a long-awaited automatic option. Hyundai has launched the Elite i20 automatic with a 1.4-litre petrol engine at a price of Rs 9.01 lakh (ex-showroom, New Delhi). The 1.4-litre petrol engine in the i20 attracts more duties (in sub-4m vehicles, petrol engines that are 1.2 litres and lower attract lower taxes), which has landed the Hyundai in the price territory of the turbocharged Polo GT TSI, while making it more expensive than its direct rivals – the Maruti Suzuki Baleno and the Honda Jazz. Here’s what all the four petrol automatics have to offer.
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Prices (ex-showroom New Delhi)
Mechanicals
The Volkswagen Polo GT TSI is the most powerful car in this comparison with its turbocharged 1.2-litre petrol motor. It also has a modern seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission as against the CVT of the Jazz and the Baleno, while the Elite i20 offers an ancient four-speed unit. It is worth mentioning that the Honda Jazz also comes with segment-first steering-mounted paddle shifters (borrowed from the Honda City)!
Features
The Hyundai Elite i20 loses severely in terms of features, courtesy the fact that the automatic variant based on the trim that is second to the base – Magna.
Maruti has recently introduced the automatic option in the Zeta trim of the Baleno, which is just below the range-topping Alpha variant. The Baleno Zeta comes with UV cut glasses, leather-wrapped steering wheel, automatic headlamps, auto-dimming IRVM, rear wash-wipe and defogger, rear parking sensors, electrically foldable ORVMs, auto AC and push-button engine start-stop, among others. It offers a Bluetooth-enabled audio system featuring connectivity options such as AUX-in and USB, along with CD playback.
The Honda Jazz V CVT is also one of the most feature-loaded cars here, like the Baleno Zeta. The Honda comes with a five-inch audio system (non-touch) featuring Bluetooth phone integration, along with AUX-in and USB connectivity. The unit also offers support for the rear-view camera and it comes with multiple camera views. The rest of the features include electrically foldable ORVMs, leather-wrapped steering wheel and gearshift knob, touch-based auto AC and rear wash-wipe and defogger. The Honda Jazz also offers class-leading 354 litres of boot space.
The Polo GT TSI offers an audio system with Bluetooth phone integration, along with AUX-in, USB connectivity and SD card input. The rest of the features include rear parking sensors, auto-dimming IRVM, ambient lights, leather-wrapped flat-bottom steering wheel and gearshift knob, auto AC, cruise control and aluminium pedal cluster.
The poorly equipped Elite i20 automatic offers an audio system with built-in one gigabyte of memory, along with Bluetooth phone integration, and AUX-in and USB connectivity. It also comes with manual AC with rear vents and electronically adjustable ORVMs.
Except the Elite i20 that offers steel wheels, all the three cars come with alloy wheels. However, the Baleno offers 16-inchers as opposed to 15-inch wheels on the remaining two. The Baleno and the Jazz also come with LED tail lamps. The Polo features fog lamps with cornering lamps.
Safety
All the four hatchbacks come with dual-front airbags and, with the exception of the Hyundai Elite i20, ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) is also offered on the remaining cars. Besides this, the VW Polo GT TSI also comes with features such as Electronic Stabilisation Programme (ESP) and hill-hold control.
In a nutshell, the Hyundai Elite i20 clearly lacks in terms of equipment on offer as opposed to the Jazz, the Baleno, and even the GT. Though it has a more powerful engine than the Baleno and the Jazz, the equally priced Polo GT TSI outperforms the i20 in this department. The Elite i20 has borrowed the automatic drivetrain from the first-generation model and when the latter was on sale, there wasn’t much competition, but things are different now. Do let us know in the comments section what you think about the Elite i20 automatic.
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