Hyundai Elite i20 2018 vs Maruti Baleno – Specs Compared

Agencies Updated at: 14 Jun 2018 01:30 PM (IST)

With more features and cosmetic updates, the Elite i20 facelift revives its rivalry with the bestselling premium hatchback, the Maruti Baleno

Hyundai has launched the 2018 Elite i20 at Rs 5.35 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) at the Auto Expo 2018 (Read more about the i20 facelift here). The second-gen i20, termed as the Elite i20, first debuted in the country in August 2014. Introduced a year later in 2015, the Maruti Baleno was quick to snatch the bestselling tag from the Korean car in the premium hatchback segment. Let’s see if the equations between the two bestsellers change with this facelift.

Specifications

Petrol engines

Car Models	Hyundai Elite i20 2018	Maruti Suzuki Baleno
Engines	1.2-litre	1.2-litre
Power	83PS	84PS
Torque	114.7Nm	115Nm
Transmission	5MT	5MT/CVT
Mileage	18.6kmpl	21.4kmpl

While the Baleno gets an automatic transmission as an option, the Elite i20 facelift misses it this time around (Though Hyundai has confirmed that it’ll soon add CVT with the petrol motor). Available in a sportier avatar, the Baleno RS is powered by a 1.0-litre Boosterjet engine which pumps 100PS of max power and 150Nm of max torque. It is paired to a 5-speed manual gearbox. Although the 1.2-litre petrol engines seem to be neck and neck in terms of performance, generating almost similar power and torque figures, the Baleno has an edge over the i20 in the fuel efficiency department, turning out to be more pocket-friendly.

Diesel engines

Car Models	Hyundai Elite i20 2018	Maruti Suzuki Baleno
Engines	1.4-litre	1.3-litre
Power	90PS	75PS
Torque	219.66Nm	190Nm
Transmission	6MT	5MT
Mileage	22.54kmpl	27.39kmpl

The i20 produces a healthy power figure of 90PS, a good 15PS more than the Maruti Suzuki Baleno, and a massive torque figure in excess of 200Nm. However, here as well, the Baleno triumphs over the Elite i20 in returning higher mileage figures of 27.39kmpl.

Dimensions

Car Models	Hyundai Elite i20 2018	Maruti Suzuki Baleno
Length	3985mm	3995mm
Width	1734mm	1745mm
Height	1505mm	1510mm
Wheelbase	2570mm	2520mm
Ground Clearance	170mm	170mm

The Hyundai Elite i20 facelift should have greater cabin space thanks to the longer wheelbase. However, the Baleno is wider and taller than the Korean hatchback. But there’s not much difference in the two hatchbacks and both appear to be quite spacious on the inside.

Features and price

The Baleno and the Elite i20 get dual airbags, ABS and central locking as standard. Prices for the Baleno start from Rs 5.36 lakh while those of the Elite i20 start from Rs 5.35 lakh (both ex-showroom Delhi).

The prices of the most feature-loaded diesel-manual variants of these cars stand at Rs 8.50 lakh and Rs 9.15 lakh for the Baleno and the Elite i20, respectively. The Elite i20 is more feature-loaded in its top variant as it gets side and curtain airbags, clutch lock, cornering lamps, and cooled glovebox that the Baleno doesn’t.

We’ll come up with a detailed report on variant-wise features as soon as Hyundai reveals prices of all variants of the Elite i20 facelift.