Hatchback cars are extremely popular in the Indian market, mainly due to their practical, simple, and value-for-money nature. In recent years, premium hatchbacks with plenty of features and powerful engines have received lots of attention from buyers. And the oldest players in this space are the Hyundai i20 and Maruti Suzuki Baleno. While the former underwent a new-generation update in 2020, the latter received major updates earlier this year. Priced from Rs 7.97 lakh (ex-showroom), the second-from-the-base Sportz is one of the highest-selling variants of the Hyundai 20, undercutting Maruti Baleno’s most value-for-money Zeta variant by Rs 29,000. To find out the best of these highly desired variants, we’ll pit them against each other in this article.
Note: Since the Maruti Suzuki Baleno only comes with a petrol engine, here we will compare it with only the petrol variants of the Hyundai i20.
Price
| Hyundai i20 Sportz (Petrol) | Maruti Suzuki Baleno Zeta |
| Rs 7.97 lakh (MT), Rs 8.99 lakh (CVT), Rs 8.88 lakh (turbo iMT), Rs 9.90 lakh (Turbo-DCT) | Rs 8.26 lakh (MT), Rs 8.76 lakh (AMT) |
Specifications
| Hyundai i20 | Maruti Baleno | ||
| Engine | 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol | 1-litre turbo-petrol | 1.2-litre DualJet DualVVT naturally aspirated petrol with idle start/stop |
| No of Cylinders | 4 | 3 | 4 |
| Max Power | 83PS | 120PS | 90PS |
| Max Torque | 114Nm | 172Nm | 113Nm |
| Gearbox Options | 5-speed MT / CVT | 6-speed iMT / 7-speed DCT | 5-speed MT/ AMT |
| Claimed Fuel Efficiency | 20kmpl (MT), 20.28kmpl (CVT) | 20.35kmpl (iMT), 19.65kmpl (DCT) | 22.35kmpl (MT), 22.94kmpl (AMT) |
- While the Maruti Suzuki Baleno comes only with a naturally aspirated mill, the Hyundai i20 also has an optional turbocharged petrol engine. And compared to Baleno’s AMT, the i20 gets a more sophisticated CVT automatic option with the NA engine. On the other hand, its turbo-petrol unit can be had with either the segment’s first clutchless manual transmission (iMT) or the 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT).
- Both the naturally aspirated engines are highly refined and do their duties reasonably well, especially in city driving conditions and highway cruising. However, the i20 feels a little stressed when you want to max out its horsepower. On the contrary, the Baleno is peppy enough for quick acceleration and overtakes.
- The refinement levels of the turbocharged engine of the i20 are also impressive. This revv-friendly machine doesn’t stumble for power and offers impressive acceleration.
Dimensions
| Hyundai i20 | Maruti Baleno | |
| Length | 3,995mm | 3,990mm |
| Width | 1,775mm | 1,745mm |
| Height | 1,505mm | 1,500mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,580mm | 2,520mm |
| Boot Space | 311 litres | 318 litres |
Except for the boot space, the Hyundai i20 leads the chart on all other parameters. In fact, it is the longest and widest offering in the premium hatchback segment.
Features
| Common | Automatic headlamps, day/night IRVM, central locking, keyless entry, LED taillamps, tailgate garnish, height adjustable driver’s seat, power-adjustable side mirrors with auto-hold function, front centre armrest (sliding type in Baleno), touchscreen infotainment system with Apple Carplay and Android Auto, steering mounted audio & telephony controls, auto AC, rear AC vents, tilt & telescopic steering, dual front airbags, ABS with EBD, rearview camera, ISOFIX anchors, |
| Exclusive in i20 Sportz | Projector fog lamps, LED DRLs, faux skid plates, leather upholstery (turbo-DCT only), metal pedals (Turbo-DCT only), digital instrument cluster, cruise control (except iMT), and a cooled glovebox. |
| Exclusive in Baleno Zeta | LED projector headlamps, chrome plated door handles, push-button start, 16-inch alloy wheels, adjustable rear headrests, rear wiper & washer, rear defogger, connected car tech with remote control functionality, smartwatch & Alexa compatibility, OTA updates support, front footwell lamp, side & curtain airbags (total six airbags), electronic stability control with hill hold assist (AMT only). |
Verdict: The Baleno offers a bang for the extra bucks it commands over the i20’s naturally-aspirated manual Sportz variant. It is also more affordable in its automatic version because the carmaker has switched its earlier offered CVT transmission with the cost-effective AMT option that does its duties well, but it’s not as sophisticated as the CVT & DCT of the Hyundai i20.
