New Hyundai i20 vs Rivals: What Do The Prices Say?

Has Hyundai priced the new i20 competitively or do the feature additions make it a bit too expensive? We find out...

The premium hatchback segment in India was somewhat defined by the Hyundai i20 and then taken over in volumes by the Maruti Suzuki Baleno. The launch of the latest generation of the i20 is sure to reclaim some of the limelight stolen by the flurry of SUVs this festive season. While the new-gen Hyundai hatch continues to be a feature-rich offering combined with powerful engine options, let’s see how its pricing compares to that of its rivals.

Petrol

*Turbo petrol

Green cell - Most affordable Red cell - Most expensive

• The starting price of the new i20 is higher than that of the Maruti Baleno and Tata Altroz by over a lakh. Even the Polo has a lower starting price.

• At the other end of the range, the i20 is by far the most expensive offering in the segment. The top-spec variant with the turbo-petrol engine, mated to the 7-speed dual clutch automatic, costs a whopping Rs 1.51 lakh more than the Polo GT which also has a  6-speed torque converter automatic gearbox.

• The new Hyundai i20 Sportz variant with the 1.2-litre petrol engine seems to be the most competitively priced variant when compared to its rivals.

• The Altroz has the lowest starting price but it’s the only car here that doesn’t offer the option of an automatic transmission yet. Instead, Tata offers every variant with the option of factory-fitted accessory packs - Style, Luxe, Rhythm and Urban. However, the Altroz is due to receive a couple of updates very soon: a new mid-spec XM(S) variant and a new turbo-petrol engine option.

• Maruti is the only one to offer its petrol engine with a mild-hybrid variant as well which is the most efficient in the segment. Since the Toyota Glanza is a rebadged Baleno, it is priced the same as the variants it is based on.

• The Honda Jazz is the second most expensive premium hatchback on sale. It recently received a facelift, but it has a limited variant lineup and a sole 1.2-litre petrol option. 

• Even though the Polo looks the same as it did a decade ago and even more dated on the inside, the BS6 versions brought with it a brand-new powertrain. Its turbo-petrol engine is also the most affordable with the manual transmission.

Diesel

• Hyundai and Tata are the only ones with diesel engines in the premium hatchback segment.

• The Altroz undercuts the i20 here as well with an entry price lower by over a lakh. 

• Hyundai has skipped the Asta variant for the diesel engine and the top-spec Asta(O) is more expensive than the top-spec Altroz by Rs 1.51 lakh.

• Neither the i20 nor the Altroz gets the option of diesel-automatic.

The Hyundai i20 is a feature-packed offering with the most number of powertrain options. However, its pricing could affect its popularity once the novelty of the new design and turbo-petrol engine wears off. Not only are its rivals more affordable, but it may also lose some of its potential buyers to the similarly priced Venue sub-4m SUV.

Read More on : Hyundai i20 on road price