Cartrade Comparison Test
Hatchbacks are presumably the most convenient way of travelling inside the city. Their compact dimensions and smaller proportions are a total benefit especially as all cities are getting new buildings mushrooming everywhere. Most of us are already aware of popular hatchbacks sold at different price points. This comparison is not about budget hatches but instead takes a look at premium offerings in the Indian market. Volkswagen Polo, my personal favourite, is the ultimate small car with an enthusiastic drive dynamics second to none. Even the Hyundai Elite i20 doesn’t come close to this German horse. That’s a real tall claim as we have another car in this feature, the Fiat Punto Evo. Loyalists of Fiat vouch for its prowess. With a unique Italian flair, the Punto Evo does manage to stand out from the usual herd. So which one among the two makes more sense?
Exterior and Interior Design: Fiat Punto Evo Vs Volkswagen Polo
While others are too busy making their cars look angry, aggressive and what not, Volkswagen maintains a balanced outlook. The minimalistic touch with bare minimum features outside help the Polo look more sophisticated. Last year, Volkswagen updated the Polo with a facelift introducing more features than the normal.
The headlights have more detailing inside with a redesigned reflector and a jewelled finish. Twin circular headlights look better than its earlier iteration. New front bumper gets different fog lamp housing. There is a neat chrome strip which runs along the width of the bumper engulfing the lower half of the fog lamps. It gets a triple blade radiator grille with the lowest one done in chrome unlike in the earlier version where the top two blades were in chrome.
The new generation Punto Evo looks more tasteful with an expressive face. The headlights get its sets of detailing with a sweep back design and new reflectors. Fiat prefers calling it reindeer headlamps. Simple and functional bumper design gives way to a more modern approach with individual chrome garnished fog lamp housing. The same is seen on its rear section.
Volkswagen had also revised the interiors of the Polo with more upmarket trims and materials. They had also opted for brighter shades of leather on seats. The flat lower steering wheel feels like it belonged to a performance sedan. It might be a small addition but then totally worth it. The three spoke steering wheel has got a lot upmarket this time as the horizontal spokes have a winged design and are finished in piano black.
Inside the new Fiat Punto Evo, Instrumental cluster feels smarter than before and thanks to new Linea, it gets the same dashboard as well. The only area where the Punto Evo needs to improve is the quality of plastics. The Punto has its appeal but then the consumers get multiple options with better finishing for the same price. Fiat should improve the quality of finish in addition to making the car look good.
Performance: Fiat Punto Evo Vs Volkswagen Polo
Fiat Punto Evo is offered in four engine trims. There is a 1.2L 68PS petrol engine, 1.4L 90PS petrol engine, 1.3L Multijet diesel 76PS engine and a 1.3L Multijet 93PS engine. There is a minor change in the 76PS engine which has made the drive smoother. The new Polo’s refined 1.5L diesel engine which is a descendant of its bigger 1.6L engine produces 90PS at 4200 rpm and 230Nm at 1500 – 2500 rpm. So the good news is, numbers have gone up and thus performance has increased but then the mileage has got a tinge down.
Conclusion: Fiat Punto Evo Vs Volkswagen Polo
In terms of a better package, the Volkswagen Polo scores more but if you plan to own a piece of Italian legacy, the Fiat Punto Evo is the one.
