Fueling Passion: Best Variants in Maruti Suzuki Baleno and Hyundai i20 for the Petrolhead

What a Petrolhead looks for in a car

For a petrolhead or performance enthusiast, a car is more than just a mode of transport – it’s a symbol of speed, control, and exhilaration. Performance, with quick acceleration and power delivery, is crucial, as is handling, with agility, braking, and high-speed stability topping the list. An engaging engine sound or exhaust note can significantly enhance the driving experience. Moreover, they appreciate features that elevate the driving experience, including power steering and a high-quality audio system. Maruti Suzuki Baleno and Hyundai i20 feature among the best performance cars in India.

Why Maruti Suzuki Baleno and Hyundai i20 are popular among Petrolheads

As high-performance car models, Maruti Suzuki Baleno and Hyundai i20 are popular choices among petrolheads, offering a blend of performance, handling, and features.

The Baleno is praised for its agile handling and minimal body roll, delivering a satisfying ride experience. Its Arkamys audio system, along with convenience features like rain-sensing wipers, enhances the overall driving pleasure. You can also read how the Baleno compares with Maruti Suzuki Swift in terms of performance.

Also read: 10 DC Design cars & how they look in the REAL world: Maruti Swift to Mahindra XUV500

The Hyundai i20, with its various engine options, offers different driving experiences. Its Sportz IVT variant, known for its fast acceleration, is a crowd-pleaser. On the other hand, the Asta Opt variants are favored for their high-speed stability and Bose audio system, adding to the fun of driving. We have also compared the Hyundai i20 with Toyota Glanza for petrolheads.

For this comparison, we have chosen Baleno and i20 variants that are priced Rs 9 lakh to Rs 10 lakh.

Our variants shortlist for Maruti Suzuki Baleno and Hyundai i20

Variant	Price (INR)
Hyundai i20 Sportz IVT	911,000
Hyundai i20 Asta Opt	977,000
Hyundai i20 Asta Opt DT	992,000
Maruti Suzuki Baleno Alpha	933,000
Maruti Suzuki Baleno Alpha AMT	988,000

The Hyundai i20 Sportz IVT, priced at 911,000, offers a fast acceleration of 5.3 seconds from 0 to 60 km/h. Its FWD and linear power delivery, combined with a moderate level of agility, make it an exciting choice for petrolheads. However, it lacks some conveniences like rain-sensing wipers.

Hyundai i20 Asta Opt and Asta Opt DT, priced at 977,000 and 992,000 respectively, provide a slightly slower acceleration of 5.83 seconds, but make up for it with their stable high-speed performance and Bose audio system.

Maruti Suzuki Baleno Alpha and Alpha AMT, priced at 933,000 and 988,000 respectively, offer agile handling and minimal body roll, providing an exciting ride. The presence of rain-sensing wipers in the Alpha AMT variant is a plus.

Best variant among Maruti Suzuki Baleno and Hyundai i20 for Petrolheads

The Hyundai i20 Sportz IVT emerges as the best variant for petrolheads, with its quick acceleration and reasonable engine responsiveness. It has linear power delivery and offers a decent driving experience. While it lacks the convenience of rain-sensing wipers, it scores high in terms of performance and handling, making it an excellent choice for those looking for a performance-oriented ride.

The Top 3 choices

Variant	# of cylinders	Acceleration (0-60 km/h)	Agility	Engine – power (BHP)	Engine – Torque (Nm)	High-speed stability
Hyundai i20 Sportz IVT	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Hyundai i20 Asta Opt	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Maruti Suzuki Baleno Alpha AMT	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

The top three variants for petrolheads are Hyundai i20 Sportz IVT, Hyundai i20 Asta Opt, and Maruti Suzuki Baleno Alpha AMT.

The i20 Sportz IVT, with its quick acceleration and engine responsiveness, offers an exciting driving experience. The i20 Asta Opt, with its Bose audio system, provides a stable high-speed experience for enhanced driving enjoyment. Lastly, the Baleno Alpha AMT, with its agile handling and rain-sensing wipers, offers a balance between performance and convenience. If you’re a tech-savvy gadget lover, you can read our comparison of the Hyundai i20 and Maruti Suzuki Baleno.

These three variants make the best choices for petrolheads, each providing a unique mix of power, agility, and features.

Also read: Upcoming 2022 Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza rendered