It's Japan vs. Korea in this small-car comparison. Is one really better than the other or is it simply a question of personal choice?
We compare the entry-level Honda Fit 1.5 Comfort CVT (329 500) to the mid-spec Hyundai i20 1.4 Motion Auto (R311 900).
Styling
The Honda looks cute rather than athletic, but the Hyundai i20 looks like it has hot-hatch ambitions. They’re very close in size but in the styling stakes, the i20 just looks leaner, meaner, and sportier. The i20 wins this round.
Honda’s Fit has a friendly, contemporary face, but the entry-level model has no daytime running lamps like this hybrid model has.
The Hyundai i20 looks sporty and very European – and undoubtedly cooler than its Japanese competitor.
Interior space
Both cars are five-seaters but the Honda Fit has something that the i20 does not: Honda’s magic seat system. This allows you to flip up the seats or to tumble them forward, allowing storage of strange items you wouldn’t necessarily transport in a hatch, like a bicycle. As for the boot, both cars have more-or-less the same amount of space when all seats are in use. The Honda Fit scores top marks in this category.
Families love the versatility of Honda’s Magic Seat system.
There’s a decent amount of space but the i20’s seats can’t do what the Fit’s can.
Comfort and convenience features
Both cars have cloth seats and air-conditioning, but the i20 has no climate control. The i20, in Motion trim, also makes do without a central front armrest, which is present in the Honda.
The Fit has a start/stop button and hill-start assist, which the i20 does not have. Both models have a multifunction steering wheel, a touchscreen with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, Bluetooth and remote central locking, but the i20 doesn’t have cruise control, and it only has one USB port in front, whereas the Fit has cruise control and 3 USB ports in total.
What counts in the i20’s favour is that it has LED daytime running lamps, light-sensing headlamps, and front fog lamps, as well as a rearview camera.
In this round, it’s difficult to pick a winner. It all depends on what you deem to be of greatest importance.
The Fit’s interior is youthful and upmarket, with an ergonomic layout.
The i20’s layout is sporty and fashionable, but please note that the Motion models have cloth seats – this is the top-spec model’s interior.
Performance
The Fit puts out 89kW with 145 Nm from its 1.5-litre engine which is paired to a CVT transmission while the i20 is marginally less powerful with 74kW and 133 Nm (it has a 1.4-litre powerplant and automatic gearbox). With a power to weight ratio of 80.6kW per ton vs. the i20’s 74.1, the clear winner is the Honda Fit.
Safety
Both cars have ABS and EBD, but the Honda adds Brake Assist, stability control, and has 6 airbags. The i20, in Motion trim, has two airbags but no stability control nor brake assist. Both have Isofix fittings on the outer rear seats.
In the i20’s defence, it has the aforementioned daytime running lamps (LED), a rearview camera, and front fog lamps, which are not found in the Fit Comfort.
Yet again, it’s up to the consumer to decide which of these features is a dealbreaker, but I’d say the number of airbags and stability control are pretty important, more so than fog lamps, however; it could be argued that daytime running lamps make you more visible, and prevents an accident in the first place. It’s a close shave, but the Honda wins this one.
Warranty and service plan
Hyundai boasts a 5-year warranty and 7-year drivetrain warranty vs. the Honda’s 5-year complete warranty. Both have a 4-year/60 000 km service plan and the Fit’s roadside assistance is for 3 years while the120’s is for 7. Both have service intervals of 15 000 km. The Hyundai emerges as the winner here.
Verdict
The Honda Fit, in entry-level Comfort trim, is still quite a bit more expensive than the 1.4-litre Hyundai i20 in Motion guise. Should you spend more money, you’ll have access to the turbocharged Hyundai 1.0T Fluid (R337 500) which matches the Honda Fit almost spec for spec and adds a few more features, like leather seats. There is no real verdict here. Both are excellent cars in their own right, with solid build quality and an almost bombproof reliability reputation.
You’ll have to test drive both and carefully consider which car will suit your lifestyle best!
Keyword: Is the Honda Fit better than a Hyundai i20?