Maruti Swift vs Hyundai Elite i20 Comparison: Specs, Features and Price

About 15-20 years ago, hatchbacks only existed in our country as affordable and lesser-equipped alternatives to the more expensive sedans. Nowadays, hatchbacks exist through different classes, packing different levels of equipment and targeting different categories of users. The premium hatchback segment (B2-segment) in India was kicked off by the Hyundai Getz in 2002. Back then, the concept of expensive hatchbacks wasn’t widely accepted and the Getz didn’t really pick up in our market. In 2005, Maruti-Suzuki launched the Swift and with its well-recognized presence in the country, propagated the premium hatchback concept into immediate success. Hyundai, in turn, countered this move in 2008 with the i20 and commenced another major brand war that’s still on-going. With a fully updated Swift and a face-lifted i20 Elite for 2018, we will compare the intricate attributes of both cars and conclude who is the definitive victor in our Maruti Swift vs Hyundai Elite i20 comparison.

Maruti Swift vs Hyundai Elite i20 Comparison: Dimensions

Measurements	Maruti Suzuki Swift	Hyundai i20 Elite
Length	3840 mm	3985 mm
Width	1735 mm	1734 mm
Height	1530 mm	1505 mm
Wheelbase	2450 mm	2570 mm
Tyre Size	165/80 R14, 185/65 R15	185/70 R14, 195/55 R16
Ground Clearance	170 mm	170 mm
Boot Space	265 Litres	285 Litres
Weight	855-990 Kg	1066-1213 Kg

To commence this face-off, we start with the Dimensions round as usual. And from the looks of things, this Swift vs i20 comparison is going to be extravagantly neck and neck. Unlike our usual face-offs where one car has the clear dimensional advantage, here the results are different with every successive aspect! The i20 has the upper hand in terms of length. The Swift is ahead by exactly one millimetre in width. The Swift also has more height indicating better headroom. Wheelbase is higher on the i20 but here it translates to higher turning radius and lesser manoeuvrability, which is a negative point here. The i20 gets fatter rubber as stock and more boot space. Ground Clearance is same on both cars but the Swift again gets an edge with lighter kerb weight. So, all in all, it’s kind of difficult to determine a clear winner in this round of our Maruti Swift vs Hyundai Elite i20 comparison.

Maruti Swift vs Hyundai Elite i20 Comparison: Performance

Engine Specifications (Petrol):

Parameters	Maruti Suzuki Swift	Hyundai i20 Elite
Capacity	1197cc	1197cc
Power	81bhp@6000RPM	83bhp@6000RPM
Torque	113Nm@4200RPM	114Nm@4000RPM
Transmission	5-Speed Manual/5-Speed Auto	5-Speed Manual/ CVT
Fuel Tank	42 Litres	45 Litre
Fuel Efficiency	18-25 Km/l	17-22 Km/l

Engine Specifications (Diesel):

Parameters	Maruti Suzuki Swift	Hyundai i20 Elite
Capacity	1248cc	1396cc
Power	74bhp@4000PM	90bhp@4000RPM
Torque	190Nm@2000RPM	220Nm@1500-2750RPM
Transmission	5-Speed Manual/5-Speed Auto	6-Speed Manual

Moving on, let’s talk some performance numbers. For 2018, Hyundai discontinued the 1.4-litre petrol on the i20 and replaced it with a CVT equipped 1.2-litre petrol. In the petrol variants, both cars displace the exact same 1197cc. Performance figures are also similar with the i20 putting out just an extra 2 horses and 1 Nm of torque. The catch here is the extra weight on the i20. Because of that, it isn’t able to keep up with the Swift in terms of outright performance. The Swift with its sub-1 tonne weight feels lives up to its name when its on the move. Its fast, agile and loves the upper range of the RPM band. The i20 also packs similar performance when revved but feels more comfortable in the mid-range.

On the diesel variants, the Swift comes with a 1.3-litre diesel while the i20 gets a 1.4. Displacement has no replacement and the case is no different here. The i20 puts out 16 bhp and 30 Nm more than the Swift. This extra output is more than enough for the Korean Supermini to outrun its Indo-Jap rival despite the excess weight. The i20 also feels sublimely smooth and refined for a diesel powerplant. Another important point to notice is how well Hyundai has been able to tame all the turbo-lag. The i20 simply chugs all the way from 1500 RPM to redline with a confident urge.

As for automatic versions, both cars do come with automatic gearbox options. Maruti-Suzuki has stuck to their increasingly popularity garnering AMT transmission while Hyundai went our of their comfort zone and uses a CVT in place of their good ol’ torque converter transmissions. The catch here is that Maruti as given the AMT option for both their variants while the CVT only comes on the i20’s petrol option. This may seem like a negative point but Hyundai has given the i20 a 6-speed manual. Not only does it have an extra gear, the mechanism is smoother and crisper compared to Swift’s manual. Even the CVT functions much better than the AMT overall but is devoid of a manual shift option which is present on the AMT Swift.

Maruti Swift vs Hyundai Elite i20 Comparison: Features and Equipment

In its top trim, the new 2018 Swift comes with body coloured bumpers, LED projector headlamps, LED DRL strips, LED tail lamps, precision cut alloy wheels, ORVM integrated side indicators, silver accents on door trims, passenger side vanity mirror, leather-wrapped steering wheel with integrated phone and audio controls, push-button starter, auto headlamps, keyless entry, electrically adjustable ORVM’s, touchscreen SmartPlay infotainment system with navigation and voice commands, reverse parking sensors with camera and a safety net comprising of dual front airbags, ABS with EBD, speed-sensitive door locks.

From the looks standpoint, the 2018 Swift is absolutely gorgeous. Maruti-Suzuki has retained the original silhouette of the car but it looks nothing like the previous generation. They have very cleverly integrated fresh styling elements through-out the car while retaining the core design. The front quarter on the Swift is perhaps the best angle to view it from. The stand-out headlamp cluster and the precision cut alloy wheels give it a front profile that is in line with the sportier hot hatches of Europe. The interiors are also neatly executed and make you feel very welcome to sit inside.

The i20 Elite in its top trim comes with body coloured mirrors, LED DRL and positioning lamps with projectors, a dual tone rear bumper, ORVM integrated turn signals, chrome accents on door handles, gunmetal/ diamond-cut finish alloy wheels, dual tone interior finish with neon upholstery accents, leather wrapped gear knob, leather-wrapped steering wheel, sunglass holder, blue ambient lights, cooled glovebox, passenger side vanity mirror, dead pedal, centre lamp with dimming effect, electrically adjustable mirrors, a 17 cm touchscreen navigation system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, Arkamys Audio, steering-wheel integrated audio and Bluetooth controls, reverse parking sensors with camera and a safety net comprising of 6 airbags, ABS and EBD, impact and speed sensing door locks, clutch lock and ISOFIX seats.

Just like the Swift, the i20 Elite is equally drop-dead gorgeous. It is indeed grin-inducing to see how both these hatchbacks have risen from humble beginnings and reached where they have today. The i20 exudes a lot of style from the outside. Its current design was originated before the Swift came into existence. Now with the redesigned bumpers and LED strips, the car looks even better than before. What’s really impressive with the i20 is the amount of equipment it packs. It seems like Hyundai is adopting the same strategy for all their cars and it’s working amazingly. The i20 packs a tonne of features and all just succeed in making the car more and more desirable.

Maruti Swift vs Hyundai Elite i20 Comparison: Pricing

Pricing for the new Maruti-Suzuki Swift starts at Rs.4.99 lakhs and goes up to Rs.8.76 lakhs for the top ZDi+ AMT variant. Pricing for the Hyundai i20 Elite starts at Rs.5.40 lakhs and goes all the way up to Rs.9.21 lakhs for the top model Asta CRDi Optional Pack.

Maruti Swift vs Hyundai Elite i20 Comparison: Conclusion

Dimensions: The dimensions round for this swift vs i20 face-off was insanely close. Both cars are winning and losing for every alternative aspect on the spec sheet. So, it all boils down to what dominant characteristics you are looking for. This round ends in a draw.
Performance: The closeness continues with the performance round. The petrol variant of the Swift gets the upper hand while the diesel variant of the i20 stands superior. The Swift has automatic variants on both petrol and diesel variants while the i20 only gets a CVT on the petrol variant. It makes up for it, however, with a neat and slick 6-speed transmission. Another round draw.
Fuel Efficiency and Range: Be it fuel efficiency or range, the Maruti-Suzuki Swift is ahead on both. Despite having a slightly smaller fuel tank, it delivers better fuel efficiency and ultimately has a higher driving range. The Swift wins this round.
Features and Equipment: This round was again a really close call. In broad terms, each car is biased towards one theme. The Swift is aligned towards the sporty side while the i20 prioritizes more on comfort and luxury. But in terms of overall equipment levels, the i20 packs so much it can put some more expensive sedans to shame. This round goes to the i20.
Price: The Swift is less expensive than the i20 by about Rs.40000 in the base variant and Rs.50000 in the top variant. Sure, the i20 is packing a lot more equipment, but the Swift isn’t underequipped by any means. The fact that it is at least Rs.40000 cheaper than its rival makes it a better value for money proposition. This round goes to the Swift.
Final Verdict: We have had several car face-offs before where the battle was very closely matched. But this comparison takes things to the next level. It’s borderline ludicrous how different these cars and yet how close they match up to each other. In broad terms, if you want a sporty city slicker hatch, the Swift is the better option. If you want a more comfort-oriented option which could handle a few occasional highway runs and tours, the i20 is the one for you. But in our comparison, the Swift wins in two aspects, the i20 wins one and the other 3 rounds end in a draw.

So the winner of this Maruti Swift vs Hyundai Elite i20 Comparison is the longtime segment favourite, the 2018 Maruti-Suzuki Swift.