(A The Resource Centre Autocar India

Date: 01/05/2015 Page No: 90 Location: Main Circulation: 160000

Edition: National

The arrival of Hyundai's i20 Active heats up India's crossover segment. But does it offer more than Fiat's Avventura or Toyota's Etios Cross? Samarpan Bhowmik weighs the options. PHOTOGRAPHY KULDEEP CHAUDHARI

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Hyundai i20 Active vs Fiat Awentura vs Toyota Etios Cross I Comparison

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ross hatchbacks. They're what you get when you combine India's latest craze — SUVs, with India's perennial favourite — hatchbacks.

It's a niche within a niche that allows carmakers to cash in on the popularity (not to mention the tax benefits) of sub-four-metre compact SUVs, without actually developing an all-new car. Think

of the three badges you see here — Toyota, Fiat and Hyundai. None of these companies currently has a proper compact SUV to directly rival the likes of the Ford EcoSport, so these pseudo-crossovers based on their existing hatchbacks are what they offer instead.

The Toyota Etios Cross is the oldest of the bunch, having been around since May last year, but hot on its heels came Fiat with its

Awentura in October. Now, it's the turn of one of the biggest players in the market to join the fray, with a 'cross' version of arguably the best premium hatchback in the country'. It is, of course, Hyundai with its newest model, the i20 Active, and we're here to see if its strong 'source material' makes it a better cross-hatchback than the other two. Oh, and if you were wondering where the Cross Polo

is, we wanted to bring it along too. We think it would have stood a great chance with its'new 1.5-litre diesel engine, but alas, VW didn't have a car for us.

ON THE SURFACE Although all the cars in this comparison are simply beefed-up versions of hatchbacks, it's how each manufacturer has carried out the transformation that makes a -»

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Hyundai i20 Active vs Fiat Awentura vs Toyota Etios Cross | Comparison

<r difference. Hyundai has raised the i20's ground clearance by 20mm to a substantial 190mm, given it roof rails, smart new alloy wheels, larger bumpers, matte finish body cladding and aluminium roof rails. There are even LED running lamps, projector headlamps and cornering lights, which the regular i20 doesn't get. The end result is a look that's tasteful and not too over the top. However, as far as looking rugged goes, the Awentura is more convincing. It too gains roof rails, 20mm higher ride height (now an EcoSport-beating 205mm), new, much more aggressive bumpers and cladding, but it also gets a tailgate-mounted spare wheel. While this does add to its SUV-like appeal, and also frees up a bit more boot space, die tailgate release is quite cumbersome to operate; a particular annoyance at security checks outside malls and hotels.

The EcoSport's tailgate is like a traditional SUV's - side-opening,

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no compact SW on otter currently: with the spare wheel mounted on it. However, it's hinged inconveniently on the left (to suit left-hand-drive markets) and hence the rear door opens out from the roadside and not kerbside — not ideal for loading luggage.

The Toyota is also the only car that hasn't had its suspension altered from its hatchback counterpart, so the 170mm ride height remains the same. The execution of the macho look is where Toyota has strayed a bit off the mark. The faux skid plate, roof rails, 'Etios Cross' badging across the boot lid, roof spoiler and new alloy wheels do have their appeal, but the cladding seems excessive and just not as tastefully executed as on the others.

INNER SANCTUM Stepping into the i20 Active, you'll first notice the large steering wheel, well-appointed dashboard and metal-finish pedals. On this silver car, the cabin is upholstered in -»

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Rear camera display on inside mirror.

Steering adjusts for rake and reach. Hyundai's blue trim inside looks distinct but may not be to everyone's taste.

Pitch, lean metres add SUV appeal,

.quality inconsistent on some bits. Fiat's nicely designed dashboard with soft-touch plastics on top looks good but.

Central speedo takes getting used to.

No electric adjust for wing mirrors. Toyota's dash is pretty well put together but the quality is only mediocre.

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Hyundai \20 Active vs Fiat Awentura vs Toyota Etios Cross I Comparison

Active gets 20mm ground clearance over standard car; rolls a bit around corners.

Fiat the most sporty handler here, its ride is as good as the Punto hatchback's.

No extra clearance means hatchback-like ride; Etios handles rough roads well.

e- black and blue, which is distinctive, but may not be to everybody's liking. On cars with darker exterior colours, the insides are finished in black and orange, which we think looks a bit nicer. The dash design is modern and neat, with no unnecessary design flourishes and quality all round is very good. On the contrary, the Awentura's dashboard is more flamboyantly styled, but quality is not consistent and rough edges are visible in places. The soft-touch plastic on the dashboard top is nice though, and the compass, pitch and lean metres add to the SUV feel. Though the thick steering wheel feels nice to hold, it doesn't adjust for reach like the Hyundai's. This only compounds the Fiat's awkward driving position, with the steering set too high and close to your chest. The front seats, though well-cushioned, are robbed of comfort by their extra-long squabs, which tend to dig into the base of your thighs.

The Etios Cross's interior, though a step-up from the Etios Liva's, does not have the styling flair of the other two cars here. The dashboard's asymmetric layout and central instrument cluster look cluttered and not very upmarket, and though it's put together quite well, some materials just don't feel as good as the Hyundai's. However, when it comes to comfort, the seats come pretty close to the i20 Active's, and it's not too difficult to find a comfortable driving position. The flat-bottomed steering wheel looks sporty and feels nice to hold too.

In the rear seat, the Hyundai is on a different level altogether, more akin to a midsize sedan than a hatch. It is the most comfortable, supportive and roomy aipong this trio, and the slightly reclined seatback helps comfort. The Toyota has a very spacious back seat too, particularly its width, but the seat base is a little too flat and will have you shifting around on long, non­stop journeys. After these two, you will feel cramped in the back of the Awentura, thanks to less legroom and headroom, as well as the small windows. The seats themselves are quite comfortable though.

Even when it comes to practical spaces in the cabin, the Hyundai has plenty. There's a one-litre bottle holder in each door, two large cup holders behind the gearlever and a cubbyhole just below the air-con controls where you can store knick-knacks. The Awentura, on the other hand, gets

one small cup holder, tiny door pockets and even the glovebox is quite small. The Toyota betters the Fiat here, with large cupholders and a simply massive glovebox. And for your luggage storing needs, the Active's 285-litre boot is the biggest, with the Awentura down by only 5 litres. The Cross' 251 litres is average when it comes to accommodating your bags.

BELLS AND WHISTLES The Hyundai and Fiat have a slight edge over the Toyota in terms of equipment. The i20 Active SX has the longest list of features, including keyless entry and go, auto headlamps, an electrochromic rear-view mirror, a music player with CD, aux, Bluetooth and USB capabilities, 1GB of onboard memory, steering-mounted controls, automatic climate control, rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera, among others. The Awentura Emotion also does well, missing out on keyless operation, auto headlamps, rear-view camera and onboard storage, but getting

it's more about OutchMsthan actual otfroart prowess Here:

voice recognition and SMS readout features instead. However, the Fiat can't stream music via Bluetooth and it only allows for telephony functions. These two also get a rear AC vent between their front seats. The Toyota, in this department, falls a little short. It does get the basics, like a four-speaker audio system with USB, aiLX, Bluetooth and CD compatibility, adjustable front and rear headrests, but misses out on parking sensors or camera and auto climate control. Where Toyota has done well is to provide all variants of the Etios Cross with dual airbags; you need top trims of the other two for this.

HEART AND SOUL The i20 Active uses the same 89bhp 1.4-litre diesel motor as the standard i20 and it's a smooth and refined unit. There is enough power at low revs and ->

Rear is most cramped in the Fiat. Steering too high, position awkward.

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.

Largest boot here at 285 litres. Headlamps get LED DRLs, projectors. ...but makes boot access difficult.

' AVVENTURA

<- even though the turbo takes a bit of time to spool up, there's more than enough go even before that. And once past 2,OOOrpm, the Active gathers pace nicely, reaching lOOkph in an impressive 12.79 seconds. Its strong mid-range makes it an able highway cruiser, helped by its unique advantage of having a sixth gear. There's always enough power in reserve and overtaking is a breeze. The Awentura has a power advantage on paper with its 1.3-litre Multijet motor pumping out 92bhp and 21.3kgm of torque. Trouble is, you

have serious amounts of turbo lag to contend with, and a lot of engine noise. However, once past 2500rpm, power comes on in one solid whack, getting the Awentura to lOOkph in 15.10 seconds; good, but not as quick as the Active. The Toyota, on the other hand, is equipped with 1.4-litre motor, which makes 67bhp — the lowest in this comparison. You don't feel the deficit too much in city driving, as there's sufficient power and virtually no lag. The Etios' light kerb weight of 1030kg also helps. It's only when you rev it higher

'SUV elements look good ort the Active and Flat but over-tbe-too on tne Etios:

and ask more of the mid-range that the motor fails to deliver. It's also a rather noisy engine that only becomes harsher when rewed.

STREET CRED Right from when you set off, the Hyundai's ease of use becomes apparent. The steering is light and quite effortless to operate in the city, as are die rest of the controls. And when it comes to road imperfections, it smothers them pretty well, albeit with some bobbing over larger undulations, which becomes more pronounced

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Hyundai i20 Active vs Fiat Awentura vs Toyota Etios Cross I Comparison

HYUNDAI lo«*y FIAT TOYOTA 120 ACTIVE CRDi SX AVVENTURA1.3EM0TI0N ETIOS CROSS VD

VERDICT Most appealing overall Good-looking, well-built but Decent for city use but not package on offer here. not the most ideal in city. convincing as a pseudo-SUV.

• •••••••• Wr *•••••••••• •••••••

L/W/H 3995/1760/1555mm 3989/1706/1542mm 3895/1735/1555mm Wheelbase 2570mm 2510mm 2460mm Ground clearance 190mm 205mm 170mm Engine 4 cyls, 1396cc, turbo-diesel 4 cyls, 1248cc, turbo-diesel 4 cyls, 1364cc, turbo-diesel Installation Front, transverse Front, transverse Front, transverse Power 88.8bhp at 4000rpm 92bhp at 4000rpm 67bhp at 3800rpm Torque 22.4kgm at 1500-2750rpm 21.3kgm at 1750rpm 17.3kgm at 1800-2400rpm Gearbox 6-speed manual 5-speed manual 5-speed manual Tyres 195/55 R16 205/55 R16 185/60 R15

PERFORMANCE Acceleration (from rest) Acceleration (from rest) Acceleration (from rest)

Kph Sec Sec Sec

20 1.08 1.44 1.17 40 2.64 3.45 2.98 60 4.92 6.05 5.80 80 8.08 10.02 10.10 100 12.79 15.10 15.86 120 18.28 22.08 24.21 140 27.92 36.48 37.71 20-80 (in third gear) 12.45 11.61 12.37 40-100 (in fourth gear) 13.03 13.80 15.33

WHAT IT COSTS Price (ex-showroom, Delhi) Rs 8.89 lakh Rs 8.49 lakh Rs 7.72 lakh Warranty 2 years/ unlimited km 3 years/100,000km 3 years/100,000km

EQUIPMENT CHECKLIST

Aux-in/USB USB • Bluetooth telephony • • • Auto climate control • • NA Rear AC vents • • NA Reverse camera • NA NA Powered mirrors • • NA Airbags 2 2 2 NA=Not Available

urn " f i " ETIOS CROSS i;.

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Least spacious here at 251 litres.

at speed. Cornering manners aren't bad either, with a little bit of body roll, but then the Active rides higher than the standard hatchback, so it's not a huge surprise. It's clear that this isn't meant to be a sporty handler, but interestingly, the Fiat, which is also raised by 20mm, handles rather well. It rolls a little when cornered enthusiastically, but less so than the Hyundai. While the steering is die heaviest here, it also feels the most direct and reassuring at speed. Stability is unmatched, although when going over rough surfaces, the stiffness of the sporty

suspension becomes apparent. This only happens at low speeds though; as you step on the throttle, the ride evens out. The Toyota has the lightest steering of the three, but that advantage is slighdy eroded by the fact that it requires the most number of turns between locks. It's with ride that the Toyota really shines — an advantage of its unaltered hatchback suspension. It smothers bumps and craters well and without too much movement or feeling unsettled. There's some body roll, but no more than expected.

THE CRUX OF THE MATTER Before we arrive at a decision on this comparison, there are certain things that need to be considered. Yes, priced at Rs 7.72 lakh for the VD trim, the Toyota Etios Cross is considerably cheaper than both the Rs 8.89 lakh Hyundai i20 Active SX and the Rs 8.49 lakh Fiat Awentura Emotion. But then, it is based on the Liva, which is half a segment lower than the i20 or the Punto in the hatchback pecking order. And this comes across in everything, from the build quality to the materials used and features provided. The Cross is a convenient runabout for the city — it's effortless enough to drive and has a good amount of space on offer as well. However, the motor lacks punch and doesn't perform too well on the highway. Overall, it comes across more as a top-spec Liva than a separate model. The Fiat is more convincing in that regard. Its SUV-like styling cues work well to add appeal to

the standard Punto hatch — be it the stylishly done exteriors or the nicer interior; a lot more effort has been made to differentiate it. Given its capable motor, highway cruising abilities and solid build, this crossover is more suited to the out-of-town trip than the other two here. But if you live and primarily drive in the crush of urban traffic, the heavy steering, stiff ride and lethargic throttle responses would make it less than ideal.

And this is the reason why the Hyundai emerges as our champion in this contest. Its light steering, strong engine, good ride and handling characteristics, along with all the Hyundai-typical bells and whistles, make for the best package among this lot. Whether in the city or on the highway, the i20 Active is the crossover-hatch that makes most sense. It is expensive and the premium you have to pay isn't quite justified, but compared to the competition, it is easily the most superior. •

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