Diwali Special: Hyundai i20 N Line Vs Volkswagen Polo GT TSI, Check Price & Special Features

The cars compared here are not too expensive, and neither are they going to hurt your wallet.

Driving, just for the heck of it? In days of fuel costing near 110 Rs a litre, you might think even mentioning enthusiast cars would be a big no-no. However, times have changed and the car is no longer a means of transportation to at least some folks. The best-selling car in India is not the cheapest car in India with features, luxury, and performance taking priority over fuel efficiency. That said, in the grand scheme of things, the cars seen here are not too expensive, and neither are they going to hurt your wallet.

The mileage you get from these two cars is the same as any compact SUV and while they do cost a lot in terms of a hatchback, the performance and quality do make it worth it. The Hyundai i20 N Line and the Volkswagen Polo GT TSI are not for those who need just a premium hatchback but for those who want performance and quality. By quality, we mean in the driving experience. There are enough customers out there who want cars like these and not SUVs which does indicate the Indian market is growing. No longer do we only care for mileage and only mileage- else you would not have these two cars on sale.

The i20 N Line and the Polo GT TSI are the top-end premium sporty hatchbacks hence let us get straight to some nice roads to drive them the way they are meant to be. I get into the Polo first and while it is a familiar car, this is not the GT TSI that I am used to. The previous GT TSI had a 1.2 TSI while now there is a 1.0 TSI plus a 6-speed torque converter gearbox (a manual also is there).

That said, you immediately feel how hard-edged the car is in terms of how low you sit plus the steering offers a lot of adjustment- hallmarks of an enthusiast car. The steering is heavy but sharp hence, allowing you to correctly place the car and push it harder. The engine has a lot of power too with 110bhp/175Nm providing the punch you need while there is a sharp boost of power after some lag- something which makes the burst of power even more enjoyable. The Polo still is a driver's choice and yes, even the new automatic gearbox is quick enough while at low speeds for everyday use, it is actually better than the earlier DSG automatic. You drive the Polo GT hard and honestly, the driving experience is what this car excels in selling you. The interior is old now but quality-wise, it feels strong and well built while packing in decent features- that said there is no rear camera! However, all that is forgiven when you are driving the Polo GT, it still remains the original enthusiast car.

Question is, does the i20 N Line match up? Yes, and here I was blown away when I first drove the car sometime back. If you think this is an i20 with a nicer paint job- you are wrong. The 120bhp/172Nm turbo power output is not changed but what has changed is everything around it. Hyundai has tweaked the steering, firmed up the suspension, added all-around disc brakes plus even made the exhaust louder. All that takes the i20 to a new level in terms of desirability and it is indeed a proper hot hatch! It sounds nice with a pretty loud exhaust which you can hear with the windows down- yet it is not too loud but very much audible.

More change is the steering which is not as light as the standard i20 with more weight allowing you to have the confidence to push this car. Further on, the all-around disc brakes mean that you carry more speed onto corners with braking performance vastly improved. The power delivery is more linear along with the DCT gearbox but paddle shifters along with an S mode do make it more engaging. Compared to the standard i20, body roll has been reduced and it feels like a proper fun car so much so that I did not even once listen to its Bose audio system- so busy I was driving it.

The N Line is easily the most dynamically accomplished Hyundai while being the strongest rival that the Polo GT has seen, especially with its louder exhaust, surprisingly good handling, and feel. What's more the i20 N line continues to have a lot of features like a sunroof and sportier upholstery/nice new steering wheel design etc, while even the Polo GT version has a sportier interior though more subtle.

You can drive both these cars every day, they will deliver 10kmpl at least while putting a smile on your face when you need it to do. The Polo GT costs Rs 10 lakh in this automatic spec while the i20 N Line with the DCT automatic as tested here is Rs 11.9 lakh. The Polo remains a hardcore driver's car that you can use every day with fewer frills. The N Line though adds more drama while keeping the fun-to-drive character also. It is more expensive but the price is justified in more ways than one. Two great cars that are more fun than SUVs at roughly the same price! 

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