A Look at the Best Premium Hatches in India
Indian market has warmed up to the premium hatchback segment over the years and it's not difficult to see why. With the launches that we saw this year and all the advances that have been incorporated in this segment, it is easy to see why this holy trinity of premium hatchbacks viz. Honda Jazz, Hyundai i20 and Maruti Suzuki Baleno took the market by storm. So, let's take a look at these impressive feats of automotive ingenuity.
The Indian market has warmed up to the premium hatchback segment over the years and it's not difficult to see why! The practicality of easy maneuvering through city streets, availability of every conceivable creature comfort, paired with plenty of grunt helped these pocket rockets claim their stand in our lives. With the launches that we saw this year and all the advances that have been incorporated in this segment, it is easy to see why this holy trinity of premium hatchbacks viz. Honda Jazz, Hyundai i20 and Maruti Suzuki Baleno took the market by storm. So, let's take a look at these impressive feats of automotive ingenuity.
Honda Jazz
As far as practicality is concerned, nothing even comes close to competing with Honda Jazz. The cutouts in the A-pillar panels provide impressive visibility while bestowing the car with an overall airy feel. The car’s infotainment system is not as refined as those offered by the Baleno or the Elite i20, but the touch AC controls and other gizmos compensate for these drawbacks. In addition, Jazz also features a 100PS 1.5-liter diesel mill and a 90PS 1.2-liter petrol powerplant, which are the most powerful units in the segment. The car also comes with a segment-first magic seats and claims a segment-best fuel economy of 27.3kmpl.
Hyundai Elite i20
The design has always been subjective and having said that I feel that the Hyundai Elite i20 is one of the best-looking premium hatchback available in India, today. The Fluidic Sculpture 2.0 design language of i20 is comparatively a lot more striking, than the origami-esque design of Jazz or for that matter the flowing liquid design of Baleno. This premium hatchback also features a 90PS 1.4 liter diesel mill and an 82PS 1.2-liter petrol unit that may seem inferior to those offered by Jazz but trumps the powerplant options available in Maruti Baleno. The interiors might not be as flashy as the other two but feature rear AC vents, which definitely earn this car some browny points.
Maruti Suzuki Baleno
Baleno is the most recent entry in the premium hatchback segment. The car features a very updated interior, the highlight of which is the Apple’s CarPlay system that helps you pair your iPhone with the touchscreen infotainment system. The car also features GPS navigation and a digital MID. In lieu of the rear AC vents that one finds at the rear of Elite i20, Baleno features a 12V charger. Under the hood, Baleno comes with an option of either a 1.2-liter petrol engine or a 1.3-liter diesel powerplant that produce 84PS and 75PS, respectively and is shared with the Maruti Suzuki Swift. The car is also 100kgs lighter than the Swift hatchback.
Check out Our Video Comparison of Honda Jazz, Hyundai Elite i20 and Maruti Suzuki Baleno:
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