Hyundai Elite i20 Diesel Vs Petrol: Which One Makes A Good Choice For You?

by Vivaan Khatri | 30/12/2019
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Hyundai Elite i20 is among the most popular choices in the segment of premium hatchback. IndianAuto will help you to pick between the diesel or the petrol option.

Hyundai I20 Diesel vs Petrol: Introduction

Hyundai i20 is one of the strongest products in the South Korean’s line-up. Just like other Hyundai’s offering in the market, the i20 Elite is preferred by customers thanks to its decent level of comfort, fashionable style and good performance. For all of these reasons, the Hyundai i20 gains well-established position in the market which is hard to bring down. The current update on the Hyundai i20 was a facelift which came into life back in 2018. The facelift version comes with more features and a slightly updated design. With the new avatar, the Hyundai i20 has raised the bar for competition in the premium hatchback space.

hyundai elite i20 front view

Hyundai Elite i20 offers a good design, great performance and high fuel efficiency

If you have already picked the Hyundai i20 over other competitors, IndianAuto will help you out to decide what model, Hyundai i20 Diesel or Petrol will make a perfect fit for you. Before digging into the detailed comparison between the diesel and the petrol Hyundai i20 Elite, we will start with the overall review of the Hyundai i20 regarding the dimensions, exterior and interior design. For more details, read our full review of the Hyundai i20 here.

Hyundai i20 Diesel vs Petrol Dimension

Regardless of the engine under the hood, all variants of the Hyundai i20 share the same dimensions. The length of the Hyundai i20 measures 3985 mm. It is 1734 mm and 1505 mm wide and high. The wheelbase of the Hyundai i20 is 2570mm while the ground clearance stands at 170 mm.

Dimensions

Hyundai i20 Elite

Length

3985

Width

1734

Height

1505

Wheelbase

2570

Ground clearance

170

2. Hyundai i20 Diesel vs Petrol Design

Remarked as one of the most beautiful cars in its segment, the Hyundai i20 Elite looks smart, beautiful with thought-out design.

Interior  

Hyundai i20 offers a premium interior design which even matches with that of the above-segment model. Besides the upmarket quality, Hyundai i20 also gets an elegant and ambient interior look. In the dashboard, the dashboard’s palette is a combination of black for the lower part and beige for the main panel. Also, the top-spec model will come with a touchscreen at the centre of the dashboard.

hyundai-elite-i20-interior-dashboard

With regard to the comfort, Hyundai i20 is designed to provide the best experience. It is fully-packed with centre armrest and headrest. Moreover, the seat support is excellent, giving you a good posture even in the long drive journey. Even though the room of the Hyundai i20 is not the best in class, it is well soured out with the ultimate goal of providing an optimized space. Car occupants can make use of the glove compartment tucked under the dash and a door pocket for each door.

Exterior

Hyundai’s designer has to get rid of the unnecessary cut and cease to make the design attractive without making a scene. The lean and sharp exterior style has presented a sporty image for this premium hatchback. To the side profile, Hyundai i20 gets a chrome door handles along with a set of 16-inch alloy wheels. Especially, the designer of the Hyundai i20 also added plastic cladding application to the side body, around the window as well as to the C-pillar, which lends a touch of sportiness and tone-down look to the Hyundai i20 Elite.

hyundai-elite-i20-front three quarter

hyundai elite i20 side

hyundai elite i20 rear

Coming to the rear end, the Hyundai i20 features a set of LED tail lamps. Similar to the front end, Hyundai Elite i20 sports a dose a chrome element.  

Hyundai I20 Diesel vs Petrol: Which is safer and more convenient?

The features of the diesel and petrol versions of the same trim are similar. IndianAuto will give you a grasp of all the functions and details of the features.

Safety features

Hyundai i20’s full safety kit includes ABS with EDB, four airbags, and ISOFIX seat anchor, a rearview camera with sensor, speed sensing auto door lock.

hyundai elite i20 interior layout

The interior of the Hyundai i20 is well-equipped with a decent list of comfort features

Comfort features comparison

To enhance the comfort, Hyundai i20 is equipped with features like automatic climate control, rear AC vents, wireless charging, and electrically foldable and adjustable ORVMs. Apart from this, the infotainment comes under the form of a 7-inch touchscreen display with an Apple Carplay and Android Auto compatibility.

Hyundai I20 Diesel vs Petrol Engine Specs: Which delivers better performance?

Hyundai i20 diesel and petrol comes with barely any difference in other aspects except for the engine specs. In this aspect, the Hyundai i20 diesel gives you more outstanding performance and better fuel efficiency.

Diesel

Hyundai i20 diesel is powered by a 1.4-litre U2 CRDI unit which is capable of delivering 90 Bhp of top power and a maximum torque of 220 Nm. Mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox, the diesel powertrain is operated with no hassle. The delivery of power is linear from the low-end toward the top-end torque. Turbo lag is considerably minimized. For the diesel engine, city driving is effortless since the car holds enough power even at the lower end of torque range. Revving toward the higher band, the Hyundai i20 remains a composure manner. The diesel engine provides a well-blended mixture of power, fuel economy and refinement.

Petrol

The petrol range of the Hyundai i20 derives power from the 1.2-litre Kappa VTVT petrol engine. This unit is capable of making 83 Bhp and 115 Nm. Similar to its diesel counterparts, the petrol engine comes with a single 5-speed manual gearbox without automatic offering. The petrol-manual powertrain delivers a decent performance. City commuting is tacked with ease. However, it feels somehow strained at the high speed, which might come as a turn-off especially in high-way driving. To handle full passengers on board, it might require little work out with the throttle.

Specs

Hyundai i20 Diesel

Hyundai i20 Petrol

Engine Type

Diesel

Petrol

Displacement

1396cc

1197cc

No. of cylinders

4

4

Power (Ps)

90 Bhp

83 Bhp

Torque (Nm)

220 Nm

117 Nm

Drive type

FWD

FWD

Gearbox

6-speed manual

5-speed manual

Hyundai I20 Diesel vs Petrol Top Speed: Which model is faster?

Apparently, the diesel powertrain, with more power on tap, is faster. The diesel version reaches a top speed of 180 kmph while the petrol engine settles for a top speed of 170 kmph. In terms of the 0-100 kmph sprint, the diesel is also faster than the petrol version.

Model name

Hyundai i20 Diesel

Hyundai i20 Petrol

Top Speed (kmph)

180

170

0-100 kmph (sec)

13.57

13.2

Hyundai I20 Diesel vs Petrol Mileage: Which model is more fuel-efficient?

With regards to the fuel efficiency, Hyundai i20 petrol can return the mileage of 18.6 kmpl. The diesel variant shows a higher figure of 22.54 kmpl. It comes as an obvious fact that the diesel engine can save you money spent on fuel. However, if taking into consideration both the buying price and fuel consumption, the gap in cost can somehow compromise. If your daily running distance is smaller than 40 km, petrol variant can be a sensible option. However, you are usually driving long distance on a daily basis, the diesel version is a good match. In the case of diesel engine, in the long run, the savings on fuel cost would pay off for the higher initial price.

Specs

Hyundai i20 Diesel

Hyundai i20 Petrol

Fuel type

Diesel

Petrol

Fuel Tank Capacity

40 litres

40 litres

Fuel economy

22.54 kmpl

18.6 kmpl

Hyundai I20 Diesel vs Petrol Road Price: Which model is cheaper?

The petrol engine has a clear advantage over the diesel version in terms of price. Currently, the showroom price of the diesel line-up ranges from Rs 6.9 lakh to Rs 9.34 lakh. The on-road price of the entry-level diesel variant is rated at Rs 7.94 lakh. For the top-spec Asta diesel option, the on-road price stands at Rs 10.66 lakh (Delhi). On the other hand, the petrol engine is offered that the price bracket from Rs 5.52 lakh to Rs 8.24 lakh. The on-road price starts at Rs 6.14 lakh for the base variants and goes up to Rs 10.28 lakh for the top-spec variant.

Model Name

Hyundai i20 Diesel

Hyundai i20 Petrol

Price (ex-showroom, Delhi)

Rs 6.90 - 9.34 lakh

Rs 5.52 - 8.24 lakh

Price (on-road, Delhi)

Rs 7.94 - 10.66 Lakh

Rs 6.14 - 10.28 lakh

Hyundai I20 Diesel vs Petrol: Competitors

Hyundai i20’s major rivals in the market at the moment are Maruti Baleno, Honda Jazz, Tata Altroz, Ford Freestyle and Volkswagen Polo.

Other competitors

Compare with Model 1

Maruti Baleno

Hyundai i20 vs Maruti Baleno

Tata Altroz

Hyundai i20 vs Tata Altroz

Honda Jazz

Volkswagen Polo

Hyundai i20 vs Honda Jazz

Vs Volkswagen Polo

Verdict: Which model is worth buying Hyundai I20 Diesel vs Petrol?

Overall, the choice between the diesel and petrol version of the Hyundai i20 will not cause you much trouble if you know what you are looking for. For example, if you prioritize performance and fuel efficiency, the diesel version will be the best option. But if you want a price-sensible car, the petrol offering will make more sense. Apart from these aspects, both petrol and diesel options are more or less the same.

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