Ford Fiesta vs Volkswagen Polo vs Hyundai i20: which one has the lowest running costs?

With roots that stretch back as far as the mid-70s, Ford’s Fiesta has established itself as a key player within the Supermini segment, offering a practical, frugal, and fun-to-drive package. The Fiesta now offers big-car features, a refined drive quality, and a more upmarket interior and exterior, in its seventh generation.

For our comparison today we have chosen three products that feature 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engines, automatic gearboxes, are similarly priced and register impressive monthly sales figures. We aim to determine which offers the lowest running costs, the Ford Fiesta, Volkswagen Polo or the Hyundai i20

The figures

	Ford Fiesta 1.0T Trend auto	Volkswagen Polo hatch 1.0TSI Comfortline auto	Hyundai i20 1.0T Fluid auto
Engine size	3-cyl, 1.0-litre turbo petrol	3-cyl, 1.0-litre turbo petrol	3-cyl, 1.0-litre turbo petrol
Power/Torque	74 kW/170 Nm	70 kW/175 Nm	90 kW/172 Nm
Gearbox	6-speed automatic	7-speed dual-clutch automatic	7-speed dual-clutch automatic
Boot volume	303-litres	350-litres	311-litres
Airbags	6	6	6
Kerb weight	1 206kg	1 070kg	1 017kg
0-100km/h	12.2 sec	10.8 sec	9.9 sec
Fuel capacity	42-litres	40-litres	37-litres
Claimed consumption	5.2 L/100 km	4.7 L/100 km	6.9 L/100 km
Warranty	4-year/120 000km	3-year/120 000km	5-year/150 000km +7-year/200 000km drivetrain
Service plan	4-year/60 000km	3-year /45 000 km	4-year/60 000km
Price	R351 500	R347 300	R355 900

 

Comparing the trio

Purchase price

The models that we have chosen for this comparison are direct competitors from a pricing and segment perspective, with turbodiesel engines and automatic gearboxes. Monthly instalments are calculated throughout 72-months with a 10% deposit and no balloon or residual. The interest rate is set at 11%.

Ford Fiesta 1.0T Trend auto

With the instalment parameters in place, the Fiesta will work out at R6 021per month over 72 months.

Volkswagen Polo hatch 1.0TSI Comfortline auto

With the instalment parameters in place, the Polo will work out at R5 949 per month over 72 months.

Hyundai i20 1.0T Fluid auto

With the instalment parameters in place, the i20 will work out at R6 097 per month over 72 months.

Fuel consumption

Fuel consumption is one of the most important factors in a running cost comparison. While our three contenders are incredibly similar from a powertrain perspective, it is the Polo with the lowest claimed fuel consumption at 4.7 L/100km, followed by the Fiesta with 5.2 L/100km and then the i20 with a figure of 6.9 L/100km.

Warranties & service plans

While all three of the products in this comparison feature service plans and warranties, the Volkswagen has the least impressive when looking at both, with a 3-year/120 000km warranty and a 3-year/45 000km service plan.

In second place is the Fiesta, with a 4-year/60 000km service plan and 4-year/120 000km warranty while the Hyundai matches the Ford in terms of a 4-year/60 000km service plan but has an impressive 5-year/150 000km vehicle warranty and an additional 7-year/200 000km powertrain warranty.

Verdict

Having looked at the data, there is very little to separate the three contenders. The monthly instalments come within R150 of each other, the Polo offers the best efficiency and lowest list price, but the worst warranty and service plan while the i20 is the least efficient but has the best warranty and service plan combination while the Fiesta sits between the Volkswagen and Hyundai in just about all of the categories. There can be only one winner though, and that is the Hyundai i20 thanks to its fantastic warranty and service plan combination, ensuring predictable running costs for at least five years of ownership.