Spec Comparison: Volkswagen Polo vs Hyundai Elite i20 vs Maruti Suzuki Baleno

Volkswagen has updated the Polo which celebrated its 10th anniversary just a few days back. The hatchback’s yet another mid-life update adds a fresh and sporty appeal to keep it going for a couple more years. Meanwhile, its competitors – namely the Elite i10 and Maruti Baleno – have already received an update in the past year. Let us have a look at how the three B+ segment hatches stack up against each other on paper.

Exterior and dimensions:

The refreshed Polo now comes fitted with a new GTI-inspired honeycomb mesh grille, smoked tail lamps, reworked front and rear bumpers with diffusers, alloy wheel design, and a new Sunset Red paint scheme. Apart from that, various elements have been finished in black which includes GT-Line side foil, fender badge, ORVM cap, rear spoiler and black-out roof. In terms of dimension, the new Polo measures the same as before which is 3971x1682x1469mm with a wheelbase of 2469mm. 

In comparison, the Elite i20 measures 3985x1734x1505mm and the Baleno measures 3995x1745x1510mm with a wheelbase of 2570mm and 2520mm, respectively. Of the trio, the Elite i20 has a bit more going on for it in terms of design thanks to that innate European hatchback feel in its overall appearance. The Baleno, meanwhile, got new bumper design recently and stylish alloy wheels while the overall styling does seem dated now. 

Interior and features:

Things remain more or less unchanged on the inside of the updated Polo. So you get the similar-looking dashboard finished in all-black with the same old touchscreen infotainment system, analogue instrument cluster and sporty seats. Part of the update is GTI-style upholstery which is a nice touch. The top-of-the-line petrol and diesel models for both cars get quite a bit of kit as standard. This list includes climate control, touchscreen infotainment system with CarPlay and Android Auto, chrome accents both on the inside and outside and height adjustment for the driver’s seat. 

Apart from these, the Elite i20 is also being offered with wireless charging and six-airbags while Baleno’s new infotainment system gets all the basic connected car tech like live updates and car information, both in real-time. The Polo, meanwhile, is mostly on par with both its rivals in terms of features while offering slightly better quality inside the fuss-free cabin. All three cars get dual front airbags and ABS with EBD as standard. 

Engine and transmission 

Powertrain options for the Polo include 1.0-litre petrol producing 75bhp/95Nm as well as a 1.5-litre diesel that produces 89bhp/230Nm in stock form and 108bhp/250Nm in the GT TDI guise. Apart from that, you also get 1.2-litre turbo-petrol producing 103bhp/175Nm in the Polo GT TSI. All engines get a five-speed manual while the GT TSI is only offered with a seven-speed DSG. 

Meanwhile, Maruti Suzuki Baleno is offered with one diesel and one petrol engine. The latter is the 1.2-litre K-Series engine producing 84bhp/140Nm while the diesel is the 1.3-litre Multijet producing 75bhp/190Nm. Both engines get a five-speed manual as standard while the petrol also gets the option of CVT. The Hyundai Elite i20 can be had with 1.2-litre petrol or a 1.4-litre diesel. The petrol engine is good for 82bhp/115Nm and is offered with a five-speed manual or a CVT. The diesel produces 89bhp/220Nm and is only offered with a six-speed manual.