In a battle of hatchbacks, we pit Hyundai’s Elite i20 against Fiat’s Punto Evo to decide which one is better on-road
Are you looking for a premium hatch that matches both your personality and pocket, but are confused which one to choose? We compare Hyundai’s Elite i20 with Fiat’s Punto Evo to help you select the best set of wheels.
Exterior
Hyundai’s signature hexagonal grille, pulled back head lamps and visible creases on the bonnet — all contribute to a stylish front end. What catches your attention is its blacked out C-pillar (that holds the sides of the rear window in place). At the rear, large LED tail lamps adorn this premium hatch. But the placement of the reverse parking camera was not to our liking.
In the case of Punto Evo, it looks significantly muscular, with design elements such as swept back headlamps, a grille outlined by a thin strip of chrome, as well as chrome surrounds for its fog lamps. The rear has LED tail lights, which are quite sporty, and so are the chrome embellishments around the reflectors found in the rear bumper.
Interior
Inside the cabin of the Elite i20, the first thing you will notice is its two-tone interior and the center console. This hatch is high on features like electric ORVMs (Outside Rear View Mirrors) with auto fold, a cooled glove box and a reverse parking camera, to highlight a few. The rear offers better knee room for passengers, with the facility of AC vents.
On the other hand, in the Punto Evo, stylish ambient lightning is a plus point. The dashboard looks premium with the piano black finish around the AC vents, along with the music system. Though the add-on feature of the rain sensing wipers might attract you, the missing parking sensors might disappoint you. At the rear, the knee room is not that great.
Performance
As for the on-road performance, both hatches offer a comfy ride, even on bumpy roads, while over the corners, their handling is good. If we talk about their respective power delivery, Elite i20 scores over Punto Evo. Overtaking is swift in Elite i20 in comparison to Punto Evo, which is a bit sluggish. In Elite i20, the gear shifts are jerk free, but in Punto Evo, it feels notchy.
Verdict
After comparing both the hatches, we think that Elite i20 is surely a better packaged product, be it its exterior and interior design or its performance on-road. When we talk about the Punto Evo, it does aim to provide sporty looks, but lacks in the engine output, which is a major drawback.
