Tata Tiago JTP vs Maruti Baleno RS vs Volkswagen Polo GT TSI vs Fiat Abarth Punto: Spec Comparison

The affordable hot hatch segment gets a new player, but how well is it equipped to take on the established rivals? We take a look at what the figures say

Tata Motors has joined the hot hatch segment in the Indian automotive market with the launch of the new Tiago JTP. It is one of the first products from their partnership with Jayem Automotive, hence the ‘JTP’ suffix, which stands for Jayem Tata Performance.

While not a crowded niche, there are quite a few strong contenders in the performance hatchback segment, all priced under Rs 10 lakh. The Tiago JTP will go head to head with cars like the Maruti Baleno RS, Fiat Abarth Punto and Volkswagen Polo GT TSI. All these cars are go-faster versions of their mild-mannered siblings. We take a look at the specs to see how the Tiago JTP fares against its competition.

*Unladen

The chart above confirms that the Tiago JTP is the smallest car in this niche segment in terms of length, width and wheelbase -- but it also is the tallest. The Polo GT TSI is the shortest of the four while the Baleno RS is the widest and longest car with the longest wheelbase as well. The Abarth Punto, meanwhile, rides closest to the ground.

Performance

All the contenders here offer more than 100PS of power. The Tiago JTP is the second most powerful but is tied for peak torque with the least powerful Baleno RS. The Polo GT TSI takes the middle ground here while the Punto Abarth has the biggest engine with the most power and torque to offer.

However, the weight of the car is also relevant when it comes to performance and while Fiat does not specify any kerb weight for the Abarth we assume it to be on the heavier end from the weight of the regular Punto models (1,144kg). Meanwhile, the Baleno RS is the lightest of the lot. Except for the GT TSI where the engine comes mated to a 7-speed DSG automatic, all these cars come with a 5-speed manual gearbox.

Safety Features:

These performance models are usually offered at a premium over the standard model they are based on and tend to be well equipped. In terms of safety, all of them are equipped with front airbags, ABS with EBD and seatbelts with pretensioners and load limiters. But only the Fiat and the Maruti offer disc brakes for all four wheels. The Tiago JTP gets 15-inch wheels, same as the Polo GT TSI, while the Baleno RS and Abarth Punto ride on 16-inch wheels.

The Tiago JTP has been launched at Rs 6.39 lakh, undercutting its nearest rival by more than Rs 2 lakh. It is the car that offers the most bang for your buck, at least on paper. In terms of the extra cost for the extra performance, the Baleno RS is only marginally more expensive than the top variant of the regular petrol-powered Baleno. The Abarth on the other hand is considerably more expensive even when the top-variant of the regular Punto is only available with a diesel engine. Even the GT TSI is more than a lakh costlier than the top variant of the regular Polo. However, the Tiago JTP is less than a lakh costlier than the top variant of the regular petrol-powered Tiago and offers more performance than the Maruti offering, which still means better value for money, on paper at least.

You can read our first impressions of the new Tata Tiago JTP here. You can also read the comparison test between the Baleno RS and the Polo GT TSI here, and the Abarth Punto review here.

Words: Sonny

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