The modern-day car industry is brimming with options left, right, and center. Almost all segments are filled with numerous options that include both economy-level and premium cars. The hatchback market might just as well be the most crowded one, so much so that many brands make multiple models for certain markets, let alone global hatchback models.
Hyundai and Toyota are some of the most famous automakers out there which means that pretty much everyone knows that they exist. Hyundai offers quite a few hatchback models which is also the case with Toyota. Hyundai first introduced the i20 which slots between the smaller i10 and the larger i30 back in 2008.
The Toyota Glanza (Suzuki Baleno) was first revealed for the 2019 model year and has recently been completely reworked. The Glanza is a hatchback mostly designed for the Indian market which is where it tends to sell really well. Besides India, the Glanza, also known as Baleno or Starlet is also a popular car in South Africa.
Be that as it may, we are not here to tell you where you can buy the Glanza but rather how the Hyundai i20 compares to the Toyota Glanza in our head-to-head matchup. We will compare these two in various categories and tell you why you should go for one over the other. So, Hyundai i20 vs Toyota Glanza – Which is better?
Hyundai i20
Price-wise, you can expect to pay around 11-12 Lakh for the Hyundai i20 which puts it somewhere in the middle of its segment, at least price-wise. You can choose between two different engines, both of which are strictly gasoline-powered. The first one is a 1.0L 3-cylinder engine with 100hp while the other one is a slightly larger 1.2L 4-cylinder with 87hp.
Hyundai does not offer any diesel or hybrid versions of the i20 as of yet, probably because these two aforementioned engines come with mild-hybrid technologies. Either way, the i20s exterior design can be considered attractive, but compact hatchbacks were never really at the forefront of car design anyway. On the other hand, the interior of the i20 is really modern.
Reliability is excellent which comes as no surprise as Hyundai makes some of the most reliable cars in the world right now. The driving experience is enjoyable, especially with the i20 N with its 1.6L 200hp+ engine. However, regular i20 models don’t feel all that particularly special to drive.
Practicality is pretty good for the size as the i20 offers a decent amount of seating space that can accommodate a pair of adults for even longer journeys. The trunk space is also adequate, on par with the rest of the segment. All i20 models are FWD, a manual is the standard gearbox while an automatic is a cost option.
Toyota Glanza
You can expect to pay around 9-10 Lakh for the Toyota Glanza which means that you can save some money upfront and spend it on options later. The Glanza can be had with either a 1.0L 3-cylinder gasoline engine with 111hp or a 1.2L 4-cylinder engine with 90hp which is now the only option for the very latest Glanza model.
All Glanza models are FWD and come with either a manual or an automatic if you are willing to pay for it. Design-wise, you really can’t see any difference between the Toyota Glanza and the Suzuki Baleno as these two are literally the same cars. This means that both exterior and interior design are rather bland and not exciting at all.
Reliability is excellent as is often the case with Toyota cars, so much so that the Glanza is even more reliable than the Baleno on which it is based. The driving experience is really nothing to brag about as the Glanza goes about its business in the most unexciting manner possible.
Practicality is good thanks to the large rear seats and a large trunk. Visibility is also really good, but there are no special performance models like with the i20.
Verdict – The Hyundai i20 is better
The Hyundai i20 is a car sold globally while the Toyota Glanza is not. Why that is, we do not know, but we do know that the i20 has proven itself to be a success all across the globe while the Glanza is selling adequately in just a few places around the world. The i20 looks much better than the Glanza because it actually looks like a truly modern car.
The interior of the i20 is much better appointed, so much so that the price difference is obvious. You can get the i20 with a powerful i20 N 200hp+ engine that feels like a blast to drive while the Glanza’s engine is negligible in that regard. Even though the Glanza offers more space at the front, that is quickly reversed the moment we step into the second row of seats.
Trunk space is really similar as the Glanza does offer a longer boot while the i20 offers a deeper trunk, overall dimensions are very much the same.
FAQ Section
Is the Hyundai i20 more efficient than the Toyota Glanza?
The Hyundai i20 is able to return up to 48MPG which is a really good number for its class, especially for a car that isn’t a diesel or a hybrid. The Toyota Glanza is even more efficient as its MPG results can go over 50MPG in some instances.
All in all, both of these are efficient, but you do need to keep in mind that the Toyota comes with a 90hp which surely is going to struggle on highway speeds and thus use more fuel. The i20 does offer worse MPG results, but those 48MPG are going to be more consistent.
Is the Hyundai i20 safer than the Toyota Glanza?
When it comes to safety, both of these cars do really well in the crash categories but aren’t the best regarding various active safety systems. This means that you will have to pay quite a bit of money on optional packages if you want either of these two to be as safe as they can be.
Why isn’t the Toyota Glanza available globally?
Most developed countries around the world with a higher GDP per capita rate aren’t all that interested in trying to buy the cheapest cars money can buy. Because the Glanza is one of the cheapest cars Toyota “makes”, it is exactly the type of car that shouldn’t be all that popular in places like Europe, and especially the US.
However, Dacia, a French economy-level brand is slowly soaring in popularity in Europe even though it is a hands-down economy-level car without all that many amenities.
