VW Polo TSI vs Hyundai Grand i10 Nios Turbo: Price, specifications comparison

A hatchback with a turbo-petrol engine is a recipe for fun. But as things stand, only two mass-market hatchbacks presently offer the added oomph of a force-fed petrol engine. There’s the original warm hatch by VW, the Polo, that’s just got a new 1.0 TSI engine for the BS6 era, and Hyundai has also just joined the fray with the Grand i10 Nios Turbo. Which one offers more bang for your buck? Let’s break it down.

How do the Polo TSI and Nios Turbo compare on size?

Polo TSI vs Grand i10 Nios Turbo: Dimensions
	Grand i10 Nios Turbo	Polo TSI
Length	3805mm	3971mm
Width	1680mm	1682mm
Height	1520mm	1469mm
Wheelbase	2450mm	2469mm
Boot capacity	260 litres	294 litres
Fuel capacity	37 litres	45 litres
Tyre size	175/60 R15	195/55 R16

The Polo is a bit larger overall than the Grand i10 Nios in length, width and even wheelbase, but it’s actually the Hyundai with the roomier cabin. The Hyundai is significantly taller and makes greater use of vertical space. On the flipside, the Hyundai’s higher centre of gravity could result in more roll in the corners. The Polo wears thicker rubber, which should equate to better grip.

How do the Polo TSI and Nios Turbo compare on power?

Polo TSI vs Grand i10 Nios Turbo: Powertrain
	Grand i10 Nios Turbo	Polo TSI
Engine	998cc, 3 cyl, turbo-petrol	999cc, 3 cyl, turbo-petrol
Power	100hp at 6000rpm	110hp at 5000-5500rpm
Torque	172Nm at 1500-4000rpm	175Nm at 1750-4000rpm
Manual gearbox	5-speed	6-speed
Automatic gearbox	-	6-speed torque convertor
ARAI mileage (MT/AT)	20.3kpl	18.24kpl/-
Range	751.1km	820.8km

In terms of peak outputs, the Polo again seems to just edge ahead. It’s got a 10hp and 3Nm advantage but does trail the Grand i10 Nios on economy by 2.06kpl. The Volkswagen’s significantly larger fuel tank does mean it has a greater overall range. The Polo TSI also one-ups the Hyundai by providing an automatic transmission option, though how this unit compares to the slick, quick-shifting DSG of old is still something to be ascertained. 

How do the Polo TSI and Nios Turbo compare on safety kit?

Polo TSI vs Grand i10 Nios Turbo: Safety kit
	Grand i10 Nios Turbo	Polo TSI
Airbags	2	2
ABS/EBD/Brake assist	Yes/Yes/Yes	Yes/No/No
Anti-pinch power windows	No	Yes
Front fog lights	Yes	Yes
Automatic wipers	No	Yes
Rear defogger/wipers	Yes/No	Yes/Yes
Day/night inside rearview mirror	Manual	Automatic
Rear camera	Yes	No

First, a disclaimer. The Polo TSI is only on offer in the top-spec Highline Plus and GT variants (they’re only differentiated by cosmetic changes). Meanwhile, the Hyundai Grand i10 Nios Turbo is only offered in the higher-spec Sportz variant, which means it misses out on kit like a rear wiper, adjustable rear headrests, a cooled glovebox and keyless entry and go available on the top-spec Asta.

On the safety front, both hatchbacks make a compelling case for themselves, though there are omissions. The Polo misses out on a rear parking camera, while the Grand i10 Nios Turbo does not get automatic wipers. While the previous Polo TSI came with hill-start assist, traction control and electronic stability control, the current car misses out on these safety features.

How do the Polo TSI and Nios Turbo compare on features?

Polo TSI vs Grand i10 Nios Turbo: Features
	Grand i10 Nios Turbo	Polo TSI
LED DRLs	Yes	No
Dual-tone exterior	Optional	Optional
Leather steering/gear knob	Yes/No	Yes/Yes
Driver’s seat adjust	6-way manual	6-way manual
Adjustable headrests (F/R)	No/No	Yes/Yes
Rear seat split/folding	No/Yes	No/Yes
Cruise control	No	Yes
Cooled glovebox	No	Yes
Touchscreen infotainment	8.0-inch	6.5-inch
Android Auto/Apple CarPlay	Yes/Yes	Yes/Yes
Bluetooth/USB/Aux	Yes/Yes/No	Yes/Yes/Yes
Wireless smartphone charging	Yes	No
One-touch up/down power windows	Driver’s side, down only	All four, up & down
ORVM Power folding/adjust	Yes/Yes	Yes/Yes
AC	Automatic (1-zone)	Automatic (1-zone)
Rear AC vents	Yes	Yes
Rear power outlet	Yes	No
Instrument cluster	5.3-inch digital speedometer & MID with analogue tacho	Analogue dials with digital MID

Like with the safety features, these two hatchbacks are neck and neck in terms of the creature comforts and tech on offer. However, the Hyundai does seem more modern, holding the edge in terms of infotainment, smartphone charging and even the part-digital instrument cluster. Still, the Volkswagen offers adjustable headrests for the front and rear passengers and seems to be the more convenient offering, thanks to kit like cruise control, a cooled glovebox and a one-touch up and down function for all four powered windows.

How do the Polo TSI and Nios Turbo compare on price?

Polo TSI vs Grand i10 Nios Turbo: Price
	Grand i10 Nios Turbo*	Polo TSI^
MT	Rs 7.68 lakh	Rs 8.02 lakh
AT	-	Rs 9.13-9.60 lakh

*Price, ex-showroom, Delhi
^Price, ex-showroom, pan-India

From the price table, it is obvious that the Hyundai Grand i10 Nios is quite a bit more affordable – the Polo 1.0 TSI Highline Plus in manual form costs a whole Rs 34,000 more. The Polo GT variant – only available in automatic form – is nearly Rs 2 lakh costlier than the Hyundai. For a limited period, Volkswagen is offering the Polo TSI Edition, which is essentially the Polo Highline Plus variant with a few cosmetic additions, at Rs 7.89 lakh. 

On paper, it’s much too difficult to choose a winner. Hyundai’s Grand i10 Nios Turbo comes across as the better value-for-money package, thanks to its price tag and the features on offer. The Volkswagen Polo 1.0 TSI is the more powerful option and also the only one available with an automatic. 

Only a proper comparison will decide which one of the two hatchbacks will satiate your need for affordable performance. Stay tuned.

Also see:

Hyundai Venue long term review, first report

Autocar Drag Day: Ford Figo vs Volkswagen Polo Drag race video