As everybody on Team-Bhp know i exchanged my Swift VDi abs with Punto Multijet this month and i have driven it 1400kms already (details here-
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/test-d...nde-punto.html )
When i bought Punto i knew i20 diesel was coming pretty soon but i was so much in love with the punto that i could not wait for the new hyundai.Now when the i20 CRDi was out i could not resist myself from testdriving it today so here is the my vesrion of the drive.
Looks: Both the cars are clearly the best looking hatchbacks,and looks being subjective i find Punto a better looking car (one of the main reason i bought it)
Interiors and space:
I like the shape of the dashboard in the Punto but the poor quality material spoil the party here ,in comparison the quality of the interiors is a lot better in the hyundai i20.
Space for the front seats is good in both the cars,i20's dashboard is less intrusive in the legspace and i20 has better space in the rear seats.Both cars have adequately large boot and i found punto's boot bigger in comparison.
Performance-
When i bought Punto i was not impressed with the performance,the car is not a good performer as my previous swift and the engine does not like to be revved,the best way to expliot the available torque is to upshift early and stay in the 1800-3000rpm powerband,shortgearing makes the car demand for additional sixth gear at speeds above 100.Driveability of the car is as good as the swift and requires lesser shifts in city driving.
When i first drove the i20 today i was amazed with rush as i was used to driving the Punto for last whole week,the turbo lag is very much there but as soon as 2000rpm mark arrived the car pulled instantly very much like a elantra or verna though the rush was not as apparant as in verna,the engine feels freerevving compared to strained multijet in the Punto(and even DDiS in swift).
Another thing i found better in i20 was the taller gearing which makes it better suited to expressway use where i took to aswell,the i20 could very easily criuse at just around 2000rpm at 100kph(punto and swift are at 2.5k)very much like the elantra and verna,performance on the expressway was much better compared to the weak Punto.
Ride,handling and Stability-
As expected i20 disappointed severely on these counts,after getting used to the Punto's Super absorbent ride i did not like i20's ride at all though it was soft enough but could not eat up the irregularities on the road as good as the Punto and nor it was as sient.
Another Aspect i20 disappointed me was the poor disconnected overlight steering,which feels really really bad if someone is used to the Punto's superbly weighted steering.
Highspeed stability on i20 is better than even the verna,the car is not as bouncy at speeds as verna and it felt fine at speeds upto 140 i could take her to,in comparison to i20 the Punto clearly masks the speeds better,infact if it was not the engine boom and shortergearing you could play 'guess the speed' with the passengers everyday.
NVH
i found NVH at lower revs in punto better as there was a bit of vibration in i20's cabin at idle but as soon as the revs rise i20's engine feels more refined compared to the Punto
-------------------------------
My Personal Verdict
I feel i20 is overpriced for what it offers,and even if it was offered at the same price as the punto i would still buy the Punto for it looks and dynamics.i20 is a better car for people who are just looking for outright performance.
I remember somebody mentioning A/C vents below i20's seats,even punto has them.