Ford Figo vs Volkswagen Polo Vivo vs Suzuki Baleno: here's our winner.
Ford Figo vs Volkswagen Polo Vivo vs Suzuki Baleno: here's our winner.
By Farzana Chaumoo
Generic comparison of the Ford Figo, Volkswagen Polo Vivo and Suzuki Baleno.
In an economy where shoppers are taking a financial strain, many are looking towards B-Segment vehicles. It’s likely the Vivo will sell more vehicles than the Baleno, but my team's opinion is that the Baleno offers the most value for money amongst these three vehicles.
On paper, and in the stats below, the Baleno is not a winner. It has the lowest figures with the highest price. However, once you take a real-world look, the Baleno has much more to offer. It's bigger than your average B-segment Polos, but not as big as a C-segment vehicle such as a Civic.
Besides being well-built, the Baleno offers a very generous level of standard specification. As Ané Theron describes it, the Baleno is extremely frugal, fun to drive, and well-equipped with safety features. It has also been praised for its ride quality and it wins with space, as its generous wheelbase gives rear passengers capacious legroom. Furthermore, Suzuki also has a good track record when it comes to reliability.
However, the Vivo and the Figo have been mentioned by motoring media to feel more planted on the road than the Baleno. The Vivo is considered to be an all-round value package and has the best resale value in its segment in the used car market. It was last updated in February 2018 where it received some ergonomic and visual improvements, a "modular infotainment system" (MIB) radio system, a new TSI engine, new interior materials and new specifications. Its cost of ownership and affordability has made the Polo Vivo Hatch a best-selling passenger model in South Africa for the past seven years.
On to the Figo, it looks like it just graduated from private school. It was last updated in June 2018 where its styling was revised. One of the first things you will notice is the adoption of Ford's new grille design and in the cabin, the centre console was redesigned. A new engine with a new high-tech automatic gearbox was also added to the line-up. The latest style changes make it a more appealing and competitive offering in the segment.
Quick Facts
| Ford Figo sedan | Volkswagen Polo Vivo sedan | Suzuki Baleno |
|
| Engine | 1.5-litre four-cylinder | 1.6-litre four-cylinder | 1.4-litre four-cylinder |
| Power | 82 kW | 77 kW | 68 kW |
| Torque | 136 Nm | 153 Nm | 130 Nm |
| Fuel Consumption (claimed) | 5.7 - 6.5L/100km | 4.9 - 6.6L/100km | 5.1L/100km |
| Fuel Type | Petrol | Petrol | Petrol |
| Boot Capacity | 445L | 432L | 355 L |
| Wheelbase | 2491 mm | 2462 mm | 2520 mm |
| Price (at the time of publishing) | from R182,900* (2019) | from R189,400* (2019) | from R207,900* (2019) |
| Warranty | 4 years/120 000 km | 3 years/120 000 km | 3 years/100 000 km |
*All prices and product availability were at the time of publishing and is subject to change without notice.
Additional information
The team has reviewed these vehicles in more detail. Here are some links where you can find all the info:
Volkswagen Polo Vivo News and Reviews
Suzuki Baleno News and Reviews