The newest challenger in the premium hatchback segment is the Toyota Glanza, which has just been launched at an introductory price of Rs 7.22 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). The first product of the Toyota-Suzuki joint venture, the Glanza is essentially a rebadged version of the Maruti Suzuki Baleno. Aside from the car on which it’s based, the Glanza also competes with the Hyundai i20, Honda Jazz and the Volkswagen Polo.  To understand where the Glanza slots in, we’ve compared price and specifications of all the models in question. And for good measure, we’ve also included Toyota’s own Etios Liva hatchback to see how much of a jump the Glanza is.   

Dimensions

The Toyota Glanza and the Maruti Baleno are identical in all dimensions and also happen to be the largest of the premium hatches, in terms of length and width. Both cars also have the roomiest interiors as well as the second-largest boots, at 339 litres; the Jazz has the largest boot, at 354 litres. The Hyundai i20 has the longest wheelbase, while the Honda Jazz is the tallest. Toyota’s other hatchback offering, the Etios Liva, has the most compact footprint, which is reflected in its overall length, wheelbase and boot space. All hatchbacks, in their top-spec trims, get 16-inch alloys, save for the Jazz and Liva, which get 15-inchers. The Glanza and Baleno are also the lightest of the lot followed by the Etios Liva and the Polo.

Engine and gearbox

As is known by now, the Glanza shares its engines and gearboxes with the Baleno. Both hatchbacks get the option of two BS6-compliant 1.2-litre petrol engines from Suzuki. There’s an 83hp, K12B unit that comes with the option of either a 5-speed manual or a CVT gearbox, and a 90hp, K12C DualJet unit that’s paired with a Smart Hybrid system and a 5-speed manual gearbox only. As for fuel economy, the DualJet-powered Baleno and Glanza deliver an ARAI-rated 23.87kpl while the K12B motor is rated at 21.01kpl for the manual and 19.56kpl for the CVT. The Polo, in automatic GT TSI form, is the most powerful car here with a 105hp, 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engine (coupled to a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission), while the standard Polo petrol-manual is the least powerful, with 76hp from its 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine. The i20 and Jazz are also powered by 1.2-litre engines, with the Jazz producing slightly more power. Both also get the option of either a 5-speed manual or a CVT gearbox.  Meanwhile, the Etios Liva features an 80hp, 1.2-litre engine that comes with a 5-speed manual as standard. However, it’s worth noting that the Glanza does not get the option of a diesel engine, something which all the other competitors do offer.

Price

In terms of pricing, the Toyota Etios Liva is the most affordable in this comparison. However, it’s worth noting that the Liva is now an ageing product and belongs to a lower segment of hatchbacks. The entry-level Toyota Glanza meanwhile, undercuts the equivalent Baleno Smart Hybrid variant by a significant margin. The rest of the Glanza range is priced on par with the Baleno. A key difference between the Glanza and Baleno is Toyota’s 3-year/1,00,000 km standard warranty, which is unmatched in this segment. The Glanza also manages to undercut top-spec variants of the Hyundai i20, the Honda Jazz and the Volkswagen Polo. At this price point, Toyota has managed to keep the Glanza competitive. However, only a proper road test and comparison will determine if Toyota has a winner on their hands.

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