Hatchbacks are undeniably India’s favorite class of cars. While the demand for them is revelatory of this fact, manufacturers’ preoccupation with keeping the hatchbacks in their portfolio fresh also shows how important they are in the market. In 2014, the competition has heated up with the launch of two updated models- Hyundai Elite i20 and Fiat Punto Evo. Let’s take a spin showing you all the features and specifications of these newly launched Hyundai and Fiat hatches.
EXTERIOR
The new Hyundai Elite i20 comes with bold and aggressive front, sleek swept back headlamps, sporty alloy wheels on the side and dynamic signs running along the sides, which gives the side profile of the car an interesting appearance. The outside door handles are finished in chrome while the electrically-adjustable rear-view mirrors come with integrated turn indicators. The side swept tail lamps visible from the side profile are quite chunky. The classy looking tail lamp combination gives a very attractive look to the rear of the car. On the other hand, the new Fiat Punto Evo bears a very elegant look due to the rounded elements which comply with its Italian roots. The side profile of the Evo has not changed much and bears similar appearance to previous models. They have retained the flaring wheel arches, one of the more edgy features of the car’s exterior. The rear of the car has completely redesigned tail lamps and also a newly designed bumper.
This round score:
Fiat Punto Evo : 4
Hyundai Elite i20 : 4
INTERIORS
The Hyundai Elite i20 and Fiat Punto Evo share many attributes in terms of features on the interiors- with climate control, 2-DIN music system (BT+USB+AUX) and steering mounted audio and multimedia controls being common between the two. You also find rear air conditioning vents in top of the line variants in both the cars. But it seems like the Hyundai Elite i20 grabs the edge in the interiors as it holds some exclusive features like- chilled glove box, two 12V power outlets, telescope adjustment for the steering, 1GB internal memory, and rear view parking camera. These are some niceties that the Punto Evo does not boast. In terms of upholstery, the Fiat Punto Evo gets a complete black nourishment in its interiors whereas the Hyundai Elite i20 uses dual tone beige and black interiors. the new Punto Evo is spacious enough to accommodate five passengers comfortably. However, the Elite i20 takes the cake as being one of the most premium-looking cars in terms of how the cabin feels.
This round score:
Fiat Punto Evo : 4
Hyundai Elite i20: 4.5
ENGINE AND PERFORMANCE
The Elite i20 continues to gain power from the 1.2 litre Kappa VTVT petrol engine. The diesel version of the car houses a 1.4 litre U2CRDi engine. The 1.2 litre Kappa mill delivers a peak power of 82bhp at 6000 rpm and an upper torque figure of 115 Nm at 4000rpm. The 1.4 litre diesel unit develops 89bhp at 4000rpm and 220Nm of torque at 2750rpm.The hatchback is available in two petrol and one diesel engine variants. The 1.2 litre petrol engine pumps out peak output of 67bhp, and the 1.4 litre diesel unit churns out 90bhp. Fiat’s 1.3 litre Multi-jet diesel engine comes with two power output options – 75bhp and 92bhp. The 92bhp version of the Punto Evo is the most powerful engine in its league.
Performance is where the Punto Evo tends to lose ground against the Hyundai Elite i20. It is more powerful on paper but the drive is quite sluggish and the car feels slow out of the blocks. The engine aboard the Elite i20 feels a lot more refined. The electronically-controlled throttle control ensures that the power-delivery is consistent with the amount of load that is being placed on the car.
This round score:
Fiat Punto Evo : 3.5
Hyundai Elite i20 : 4
PRICE
Hyundai Elite i20: 6.09-7.66 lakhs
Fiat Punto Evo : 5.27-7.2 lakhs
In terms of value for money, the Punto Evo tends to take a hit for its slightly lesser fuel efficiency. This has to do with the fact that the car has a mileage of 20.5kmpl, which falls short of the approximately 22.5 liters to the kilometer that diesel variants of the Elite i20 deliver . The higher pricing of the Hyundai hatch can be explained by the fact that it offers a lot more feature and better comfort. These factors even out playing field in terms of price and value for money.
This round score:
Fiat Punto Evo : 4
Hyundai Elite i20 : 4
VERDICT
After looking at the specifications of both the cars it can be said that Hyundai Motor India Limited has best of the package in the form of Elite i20. It delivers well on accounts of power, torque and wheel base. But the only department where the Fiat Punto Evo has an edge over Elite i20 is in the availability of more engine options. But in comparison with Fiat, Hyundai has a larger service network, by which the parts can be obtained faster and cheaper, which certainly favours the South Korean manufacturer.