[Aditya]

Volkswagen Polo

What you’ll like:

• Fast & fun to drive. Begs to be driven hard!
• Brilliant 109 BHP 1.0L TSI engine is an enthusiast's delight. Mated to a slick 6-speed MT
• Mature suspension gives the Polo good road manners
• Still looks great. Old, but timeless, clean & classy
• Solidly built with an European feel that no other hatchback matches till today
• Among the safest hatchbacks in India - GNCAP rating of 4 stars
• Features such as cruise control, reach + rake steering, auto-wipers, driver armrest, tinted windows

What you won’t:

• Yet another Polo variant & engine. Enough already (related thread)!!
• 1.0 TSI’s refinement is poor at high rpm (it’s acceptable at regular revs)
• An 11-year old model. The next-generation Polo is already on sale abroad
• Limited rear bench legroom and a large floor hump. Your family won’t be pleased
• VW's sub-par dealership & service experiences
• Many missing features: keyless-entry-go, reversing camera, oldschool MID, boot light, split rear seat, projector / LED headlamps, basic 4-speaker ICE
• Premium pricing! Amongst the most expensive cars in the segment, despite being the oldest

Review Link

Maruti Swift

What you'll like:

• The same successful formula (including good looks)...now improved
• Stylish black cabin, with better rear seat space & boot capacity than the outgoing car
• Sweet petrol motor. AMT available as well
• Fun to drive, especially the slick Petrol MT. Enjoyable handling & on-road behaviour
• Impressively equipped (Auto LED headlamps + DRLs, reversing camera, Apple & Android touchscreen ICE…)
• Dual airbags, ABS & ISOFIX child seat mounts are standard across the range
• Maruti's widespread service network, excellent after-sales support & fuss-free ownership experiences

What you won't:

• The more spacious & comfortable Baleno is priced not too far away. Likewise with the i20
• No diesel option post the implementation of BS6 emission norms
• Mediocre plastic quality (interiors) is typical Maruti grade; very ordinary
• Diesel AT is too jerky. AMT, although improved, can’t match conventional ATs on smoothness & speed
• 163 mm of ground clearance & small 37-liter fuel tank raise our eyebrows
• Some misses (auto-dimming IRVM, skinny 165 mm tyres on L & V variants, rear air-con, smaller spare tyre on the Z trims...)
• Long waiting periods

Link to Official Review

Hyundai Grand i10 Nios

Link to launch thread

Rahul_goyal's Ownership Review

Hyundai Elite i20

What you'll like:

• All-rounded package in a sharp design. Improved over the 1st-gen i20 in nearly every way
• Spacious interiors with outstanding quality, fit and finish. Practical 285 liter boot too
• Mature suspension offers a comfortable ride and neutral handling characteristics
• Hyundai's fuss-free ownership experience & excellent after-sales-service
• Loaded with features & gizmos (16" rims, keyless entry & go, 8-speaker stereo, rake & reach steering, rear air-con, reversing cam, cooled glovebox and lots more)

What you won't:

• Missing equipment vis-a-vis old i20: Rear disc brakes, side & curtain airbags, sunroof, auto-wipers & DRLs
• 1.2L petrol is has mediocre highway performance for a premium hatchback
• Anyone over 5'11" will find rear headroom to be insufficient. Sloping roof eats into cabin height at the back
• Dynamics & steering aren't to an enthusiast's tastes. Swift, Polo etc. are more fun to drive
• No diesel or automatic options post the implementation of BS6 emission norms
• Rear wiper only on the top Asta trim! No fuel-efficiency indicator, auto-locking doors or height-adjustable seatbelts on any variant

Review Link

Maruti Baleno

What you'll like:

• A well-priced, smart looking hatchback
• User-friendly cabin with loads of space! Can easily seat 5 tall adults
• Accommodating 339 liter boot. The 2nd biggest among hatchbacks (after the Jazz)
• Peppy petrol engine & smooth automatic
• Comfortable ride quality matched to neutral handling
• Dual Airbags & ABS with EBD are standard across all variants!
• Maruti's excellent after-sales service & fuss-free ownership experience
• Loaded with features such as UV-cut glass, projector headlamps + DRLs, reversing camera, Apple CarPlay, navigation, electrically-foldable ORVMs and more

What you won't:

• Ordinary interior quality is Swift-like. Several budget grade parts in here
• Rear seat headroom & under-thigh support are limited for tall passengers
• Light build quality (weighs merely 865 kilos). Lacks the solidity of its rivals
• CVT Automatic suffers from rubber-band effect on the highway
• More substantial & premium Elite i20 is priced Rs. 5,000 - 67,000 above
• No diesel engine option available post the implementation of BS6 emission norms

Review Link

Maruti Ignis

What you'll like:

• Unique, funky design - exterior & interior stand out in a crowd. Customisation options available
• Smart packaging! Good legroom & headroom in such a small car. Useable 260-liter boot too
• Peppy petrol engine. What’s more, the AMT automatic is available as well
• Dual airbags, ABS with EBD and ISOFIX child seat anchors are standard across all variants
• Maruti's widespread service network, excellent after-sales support & fuss-free ownership experiences
• Features such as LED projector headlamps + DRLs, reversing camera, Apple & Android ICE, navigation, electrically-foldable ORVMs etc.

What you won't:

• Simply overpriced, not a VFM Maruti. Top trim is especially pricey
• You can buy more accomplished cars for the same (Grand i10) or a little more (Baleno) money
• Weird rear end styling. Overall, the unconventional looks will polarize opinions
• AMT, although improved, still can’t match conventional ATs on smoothness or speed
• Narrow cabin width. Rear seat is better for 2 adults than 3
• 32-liter fuel tank is too small for this segment. Even the humble Alto gets a larger tank
• No diesel or automatic options post the implementation of BS6 emission norms

Review Link

Ford Figo

What you'll like:

• Aston Martin-esque face still looks very stylish!
• Peppy 95 BHP 3-cylinder petrol is much improved over the earlier lethargic 1.2L
• Powerful & efficient 1.5L diesel. Excellent driveability too
• Mature ride quality. Also, improved handling thanks to the fatter 195 mm tyres
• Well-packaged cabin offers good legroom, lots of features and a chilling air-con
• Titanium+ variant gets 6 airbags
• 5 year / 1 lakh km warranty with transparent + reasonable service costs
• We feel the pricing is fair for the package on offer

What you won't:

• 1.2L is good for a 3-cylinder engine, but the 4-cylinder 1.2s from Maruti, Hyundai & gang are superior
• Overall design (other than the face) feels old & bland compared to newer hatchbacks
• Some missing essentials (e.g. dead pedal) & some deletions (e.g. SYNC3, height-adjustable seatbelts)
• Lighter build is a departure from the usual Ford sturdiness
• Cabin width makes the Figo suited to 4 adults, not 5
• Automatic transmission not available
• Rear headroom is limited. Headliner brushes the heads of taller passengers
• A bit uncertain of how the long-term after-sales will be, with the Mahindra-Ford JV

Review Link

The 2019 Facelift

Tata Altroz

What you'll like:

• Looks absolutely stunning! Solid build too
• Nice interior with good quality parts & adequate space
• Accommodating 345-litre boot is among the biggest of the segment
• Competent turbo-diesel engine. Good driveability, punchy & fuel-efficient
• Mature on-road behaviour, including at highway speeds
• 5-star NCAP safety rating! Safety package includes dual airbags, CSC, break reminder etc.
• Enjoyable Harman 6-speaker ICE. One of the better systems in this segment
• Impressive kit (auto headlamps & wipers, cruise control, ambient lighting, adjustable armrest...)
• Factory-fitted customisation packs available

What you won't:

• Under-powered, lame & noisy 3-cylinder 1.2L petrol engine
• Suspension has a firm edge at low speeds (16" rim variants). Bad roads will bother you
• Diesel variant carries an insane premium! Works out to almost Rs. 2 lakhs on the road
• Service visit every 6 months / 7,500 km (1 year / 10,000 km is the norm today)
• Some missing features (auto-dimming IRVM, thinner spare tyre on top trims, split-folding rear seat...)
• No automatic variant in a market that loves its ATs
• Tata's after-sales service quality is a hit or miss. Remains a gamble
• Concerns over niggles in a freshly-baked Tata product

Review Link

[GTO]

Thread moved from the Assembly Line to the Hatchbacks Section. Thanks for sharing!

This one is simple. For the sheer driving pleasure they offer, it's either the VW Polo for that delicious 1.0 TSI + mature suspension or the Grand i10 1.0 Nios (take a spin and the Hyundai will pleasantly surprise you). If a diesel is needed, then eyes shut, the Ford Figo 1.5L. That said, if I was shopping in this segment, I would wait for the next-gen i20 which is coming soon. Hyundai's 1.0 turbo-petrol is also a beautiful engine & the i20 is the benchmark premium hatchback IMHO.

[BZ25]

I like the VW Polo, but would I personally buy it? The answer is an unfortunate No. It may be well engineered, the most solid feeling in it's class, but it is just too cramped & old to be my first choice car in 2020. It's time that VW bring in a (shortened) version of the new Polo, which is halfway through it's lifecycle abroad. I was in second grade when the Polo was launched, and now I'm going off to college!

The Tata Altroz is a great car, and with that upcoming turbo petrol engine variant, one will wonder why to pay the premium for a Polo, when the Tata is big on safety and space, and is good to drive too. The upcoming next generation Hyundai i20 would be a good option too, because it's likely that it'll be niggle-free compared to the current generation i20 & Creta, and Hyundai's are becoming better to drive too. Just take a quick spin in the Creta, and you'll know what I'm talking about.

[sahil624]

I’ve voted for Ford Figo, only for that 1.5L Diesel engine. It’s absolutely fun to drive that vehicle. However, if you’d ask me in Petrol avatar, I would go with the Volkswagen Polo in that 1.0 TSI avatar.

[Bhupesh_2628]

If I wanted a diesel vehicle, then its Ford Figo 1.5L for me. If petrol, then it will be between Volkswagen Polo 1.0 or the Grand i10 Nios 1.0 depending on the requirements.
However, once the next generation i20 comes up, this segment will become more interesting.
Today's Hyundai vehicles have mature neutral suspension setup and steering setup has also improved as compared to yesteryear Hyundais.

[self_driven]

I'll go against the tide and probably settle down with a Baleno Delta. At less than 6.5L ex-showroom, it comes with Japanese reliability, a proper 4 pot NA engine, decent amount of features including LED projectors + rear wash & wipe and oodles of cabin space. There's no denying that the build quality is substandard which is the sole drawback in an otherwise complete package.

No doubt Polo and Figo are good cars when viewed from driving POV alone but it's a downward spiral when you start bringing other aspects of ownership into the picture.

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

Diesels -

If you're a diesel-head, the choice is already made simpler for you. It is only the Figo 1.5 TDCi v/s the Altroz 1.5 diesel. The Ford option is still interesting - old, above average safety ratings, choice of six airbags, looks decent enough compared to modern competition and the 1.5 TDCi has always been a nice impressive engine. But again, at the end of its lifecycle, and that somehow ruins the excitement for me.

Although the petrol is lame, I did quite like the Altroz diesel. Doesn't have the full outright punch of the Figo, but both these cars felt very familiar otherwise - both punchy and driveable 1.5 turbo diesels and good suspension setup on both the cars. Altroz looks fresh, modern and also packs a 5-star safety rating - which surely makes it the diesel car I would pick from the current market. Vocal 4 Local too!

Turbo Petrols -

Even self-confessed diesel-heads like me find it difficult to justify a diesel purchase nowadays, considering the threat of NGT bans and ever increasing fuel prices. And the new wave of direct injection petrol motors are very desirable indeed. Choice is simple again - Grand i10 Nios 1.0 TGDi v/s Polo 1.0 TSi.

I loved the Hyundai engine in the new Aura and would have liked a closer look at the Nios TGDi - slap on some good tyres and a stiffer suspension at a later point to make it a true hot hatch, but then - my Hyundai ownership has given me a feeling of it being a delicate product, does not give me confidence to buy it as a mile-muncher and coupled with the extremely poor safety rating they achieved last time with the Grand i10 - I'll skip this option, thank you. Will reconsider if Hyundai comes in with a next generation i20 TGDi with Verna-spec power and a stiffer suspension.

Polo is timeless, has good safety ratings, and the 1.0 TSi engine looks to be an excellent alternative to the Hyundai TGDi. If I absolutely had to choose a fast petrol hatchback option - it will be the Polo 1.0 TSi. But -

Originally Posted by BZ25

I like the VW Polo, but would I personally buy it? The answer is an unfortunate No. It may be well engineered, the most solid feeling in it's class, but it is just too cramped & old to be my first choice car in 2020.

True! Polo is way too cramped by modern standards that some products from a segment down will beat it on practicality and space. Cannot overlook that fact now - and I'll rather have the more practical Rapid Rider for a lesser price. Or for a slightly higher price - I'll choose from Sonet / Nexon / XUV 3OO segment where manufacturers seem to be trying a lot harder.

[CEF_Beasts]

Voted for the Ford Figo Diesel for a simple reason the 1.5L DV5 TDCi Diesel engine, for the grunt, punch and fuel efficiency combined. A true ‘blu’ Ford

But the unavailability of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is a major deterrent considering almost all rivals get it, including the lower segment S-Presso as well. But for sheer driving pleasure it’s the Ford all through!

Also the 1.2L NA may be the most powerful NA engine in the segment, it is definitely not fun to drive.

Coming to petrols, the VW Polo maybe nice to drive car with a brilliant TSi engine but it is just too long in the tooth now. My second option would be the 1.0L Turbo Grand i10 Nios for it’s stonker of an engine. Expecting the i20 also to follow suit with the same turbo unit soon!

[Plymouth_Fury]

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[ankitsharma]

Voted for Ford Figo. Have driven both petrol & diesel , diesel is a different league , new petrol is good , comparing other things like build quality, ASS, FTD factor. Also Freestyle should have been on this list too.
I do like Vw POLO which is the most voted option but will not buy it. Non-existent rear bench. ASS is hit or miss. Long term reliability.
I loved the older Gen Maruti Swift , 1 & 2 , both driving and looks. New one is nonsense.
Baleno never appealed to me for either driving or the interiors.
Ignis looks better but have never driven it. Not obviously a VFM but have heard good reviews for driving.
Hyundai also never appealed to me in the driving department. Even after driving Tucson.
Tata , well tata bye bye. They have improved but only from their standards. Lot of things are still desired for them to be a mass market car producer. I have driven Tiago and Nexon extensively.

I had expectations from Honda WRV but they killed it with 1.2.

[Waspune]

Petrol:
VW Polo 1.0 TSI eyes closed. Yes it's an old product. But it still feels relevant which shows that how good a product it was to start with. Those timeless looks, potent engine with MT, decent ride handling balance.
Nios Turbo might have a great petrol engine but if only a great engine translated to a fun to drive experience then things could have been different. Also not a fan of its over ambitious looks.

Diesel:
Will give it to Altroz. It's a new product, good to look at, has excellent built and and a decent Diesel engine. The ride handling balance looks to be ahead of the competition too.
Yes Figo 1.5 is fun and has a very potent engine but I have doubts with it's built quality so I will give it a pass.

[Researcher]

I was in this exact situation two years ago but our requirement was an automatic (for daily driving inside the city by my 60 year old parents) irrespective of the fuel. We stuck with Japanese because of their reliability, especially in automatic transmissions. We chose a CVT as we found it to be the best combination of smoothness, predictability and familiarity (this mattered a lot to parents as they had been users of CVT scooters for three decades now). Honda gave us a lackadaisical approach for a test drive and we had to reject. Got the only remaining option of Baleno Alpha CVT. Has been serving well. The engine revs very freely and the gearbox is good to respond if one adjusts expectations as per CVT. For the city speed limits, we are quite satisfied with it.
Hence I vote for the Baleno because that's where I parked my money!

[John316_WRC]

Among petrols - Voted for Grand i10 Nios. Reasons:
1. VFM and a good package overall.
2. Zesty 1.0 motor.
3. Premium, modern & well put together Interiors are better than most of the cars mentioned here by a long shot!
4. Hyundai ASS won't burn a hole in your pocket.

Didn't vote for the Polo because of how old the car is & the Rapid rider makes more sense & more value.
Petrol Altroz is simply out of question!

Among diesels my vote would go for the Figo, for reasons well documented.

[neo_narender]

VW Polo. That's my vote. Despite being the oldest looking in the lot, with missing features one would absolutely want in 2020. Only concern is the heavy cost of after sale service, apart from that it's a love affair for me with Polo.

Ford Figo (D). This would be my first choice in Diesel. I have driven the Freestyle & Aspire extensively. They were a hoot to drive with so much pull. I can only imagine better things with a Figo with it's lower ground clearance & 195 section tyres, this is a hot hatch in my books (currently). But I will surely miss Apple CarPlay.

Ford Figo (P). This is a close second. The steering felt dynamic & the noise of the engine felt sporty to me. The engine felt powerful too. With it's recent pricing overhaul in the service department & lower price to buy in the first place, it's a strong contender. Also I absolutely love the color scheme on Titanium Blu. White car with gloss black alloys & black roof (from the factory) is to die for.

Hyundai Grand i10 Nios. The non adjustable headrests in the front bother me so much. Apart from that, the premium feel this car offers is unamatched in the current B1, B2 segments in my opinion.

Maruti Swift/Baleno/Ignis. Although I like the way a Swift & a Baleno would drive for their engine & gearbox combo, I would like to stay away from Maruti altogether if possible. Only Maruti cars I would consider are the Brezza & Ciaz.

Hyundai i20. Awaiting the facelift, although I don't mind getting the current gen, if they were to offer huge discounts.

Honda Jazz. I wish they release the facelift already. This could be the best family mover. A sunroof would sweeten the deal.

Tata Altroz. This is a confusing one for me. The engine did not bother me at all. It was lame in the eco mode, but in the city mode it was fine. Although not as fun as Figo but it was fine for me. I could live with it. Also I love the feel of a chunky leather wrapped steering wheel with nicely positioned armrest. Only reason stopping me is the niggles at the service centers & this car being a fresh Tata product (An acquaintance of mine had purchased a Tata Harrier last year, had so many electrical issues that service centers could not resolve. Demanded for his money back & got himself an Innova Crysta). Also for the price of XZ+ I would get a Nexon XM. It's a bigger car, better GC & road presence & essentially a proven product.

Neo

[AYP]

being a person who gives a lot of weightage to the engine and handling of a car, it is the Polo for me due to the 1.0 TSi, at least until the next gen i20 comes with a 1.0 Turbo petrol and 1.5 CRDi.