Best Premium Hatchbacks: i20 vs Altroz vs Polo | Which Is The Best?

Considering how our cities are dominated by cramped roads, less parking space, these could be the perfect cars but also the ones that fulfil the need for a zippy hatchback. Check out which one is the best!

(File Photo)

New Delhi: These are hatchbacks for those who are interested in "kmph" rather than "kmpl". If you are interested in spending near Rs 10 lakhs on either of these cars then surely you want more than just fuel economy but also performance, features and a feel-good factor. That is what a premium hatchback is all about, and considering how our cities are dominated by cramped roads, less parking space, these could be the perfect cars but also the ones that fulfil the need for a zippy hatchback that is at home everywhere including the porch at a five-star hotel. So then, let us find out what each car is all about.

Looks

All three are sporty, premium and appeal to your heart strings. The Polo is timeless in the way it looks and there is a charm to the design which has aged well. It still looks crisp and clean. There is a sportiness which the Polo exudes and we like that. The i20 and Altroz are closely matched in terms of size but the i20 is a bit longer while the Altroz is more striking in the flesh. That said the i20 also has a sharply cut stance and looks the part in this paint shade. The Altroz has more aggression though and you will love the bold lines including that front-end. It really depends on what you like as all three are stunners in our books.

Interiors

The i20 does not look or feel like a hatchback here and by that we mean that the interiors feel like they belong to a much more expensive car. There is ambient lighting, a massive 10.25-inch touch screen, digital dials, BOSE audio, red accents all over, air purifier, sun roof and more. The i20 cabin looks and feels expensive right down to the design. The Altroz is a bit more straight forward after its aggressive exteriors. The cabin is stylishly done but the touch screen is smaller though it is well put together while putting up a decent fight to the i20 with new features like connected tech. Where the i20 also scores is the space with its more spacious rear seat over the Altroz which though is not bad at all but is not as wide as the i20. The Polo cabin has aged a bit but the tough build quality is there to see and it has a decent features list. That said you do not buy the Polo to carry your family as space at the back is less.

Driving experience

You buy these cars to drive it yourself and these cars are also marketed as fun to drive hatchbacks. The i20 is available with two petrols and one diesel while the one to buy is the fully loaded DCT automatic turbo petrol. The Altroz gets either a standard petrol engine or a turbo unit while there is also a diesel like the i20. The Polo is petrol only while the turbo manual is the spec to go for. We have compared the driving experiences of each of the turbo petrol variants. The Polo also feels the sharpest and the straight up driver's choice with its heavier but more feelsome steering and keen handling. It likes being driven hard and everything from the manual gearbox shift to the controls, has a heavy, well built feel to it. The i20 is more of a straight up performance focused car with this DCT turbo petrol. It likes to gather speed very well and is built to rocket up-to triple digit speeds with no fuss and the DCT automatic also helps here. I would have liked paddle shifters but the way it gathers speed with smoothness is likeable. It is also fun around corners but has a bit more softness dialled in to also make it have a good ride quality- which it does. It is not a hardcore drivers car like the Polo but more rounded. The Altroz turbo is in between with the steering being nice and having a certain heft about it. It also feels stable at high speeds like the other three but a bit less roll and being a touch more firm than the i20. The Altroz is manual only and the gearbox is light and reasonably slick.

Verdict

In their turbo petrol avatars the mileage is really dependent on how you drive them. Expect 10-12 kmpl in the city while highway figures will increase marginally. The Polo range starts from Rs 6 lakh to Rs 9.9 lakh for the top-end GT TSI turbo automatic. The Altroz is priced between Rs 5.8 lakh to Rs 9.5 lakh. Meanwhile the i20 is priced between Rs 6.9 lakh to Rs 11.3 lakh. It seems that these cars are at different price points and we need to judge them on that basis. The Polo is the VFM purchase in terms of sheer dynamics and its tough build quality while it is fun to drive no doubt. If you rarely use the rear seat and are ok with the lack of some features, the Polo TSI with the manual gearbox is a hardcore driver's choice.

The Altroz is more rounded and not as hardcore, even with the turbo petrol. It looks spectacular though and is decently equipped along with the 5-star safety crash test record plus being also spacious. It is the all rounder premium hatchback. The i20 DCT meanwhile takes the "premium" bit to a whole new level. It is the most expensive but you get the most features, the biggest space and the DCT version brings the convenience of an auto plus the performance. In the end it depends on which flavour of the premium hatchback you like and what is your budget like. But these three are the very best right now and for different reasons as explained above. Happy shopping! 

 

Hyundai i20 DCT- 

 

What we like- space, features, design, DCT, technology

 

What we do not- Expensive

 

Tata Altroz

 

What we like- design, ride quality, value for money, safety

 

What we do not- no automatic gearbox

 

Volkswagen Polo

 

What we like- timeless looks, performance, handling

 

What we do not- lacks space