Engine and Transmission
On the one hand, we have the 1.4-litre CRDi unit on offer in the Hyundai Elite i20, and, on the other, we have Honda’s Earth Dreams 1.5-litre turbo diesel in the Jazz. Both these capable engines are mated to six-speed manual boxes. Moreover, there is not much difference in terms of output as well. The Honda offers 100 PS and 200 Nm of torque whereas the Hyundai’s unit produces 90 PS and 220 Nm of torque. However, the big difference between the two is refinement levels. The Hyundai trumps the Honda here, as it is quieter, more refined and hardly audible at any time. The Honda’s engine chatter is evident no matter what the time. Smooth and linear power delivery is present on both the cars, though the Honda has better low-end output and the Hyundai gains points for having better mid- and top-end power.
Hyundai’s gearbox is slick and the shifts are smooth, but the short-ratio gearbox of the Honda allows you to cruise at 40 km/h in the fourth gear with the engine turning over at just over 1,500 RPM. On the Hyundai, thanks to its noticeable turbo lag, you have to work that gearbox when going at city speeds.
When we tested both the cars, the results surprised us as the figures suggested that both were almost on a par. The Jazz, however, was quicker to 100 km/h, taking just 12.84 seconds, almost a second quicker than the i20. Everything else like roll-on timings, kilometre sprint and even the top-speed were all within a second of each other.
Nevertheless, the 1.4-litre unit of the Hyundai feels very lively and punchy, especially once you cross the vexatious turbo lag region. The Honda’s 1.5-litre unit somewhat lacks that punch, especially when it comes to top-end delivery. Both the engines have their plus and minus points, but, overall, I would say that the Jazz’s engine feels more at home when it comes to cruising speeds whereas the Hyundai’s feels more powerful and punchy when you are driving enthusiastically.
Fuel Efficiency
People looking for a premium hatchback also consider this aspect of the car. In fact, it is one of the most important things. Here both the Jazz and the Elite i20 did quite well. The Hyundai returned a decent overall figure of 19.5 km per litre whereas the Jazz posted 20.5 km/l overall. Which means both are equally good in terms of consumption.
