Hyundai i20 vs Maruti Suzuki Baleno vs Tata Altroz (2026)
The classic premium hatchback shortlist, settled with numbers (October 2026):
- Pick the Hyundai i20 if you want the most power (118 bhp).
- Pick the Maruti Suzuki Baleno if you want the lowest starting price (₹5.99 Lakh), the best claimed efficiency (up to 33.61 kmpl).
- Pick the Tata Altroz if you want the best crash-test score (5 stars), the biggest boot (345 L).
Three-Way Specification Comparison
Hyundai i20 in short
The i20 is Hyundai's premium hatchback flagship, taking on the Maruti Baleno, Toyota Glanza and Tata Altroz. It stands out for its European-inspired styling, a genuinely upmarket cabin with a 10.25-inch touchscreen, and the sporty i20 N Line turbo-DCT for enthusiasts. The 2023 facelift sharpened the design and made six airbags standard on top trims.
Full i20 prices & variants →Maruti Suzuki Baleno in short
The Baleno is Maruti's Nexa premium hatchback, comprehensively facelifted on 5 September 2026. The new car swaps the old 90 PS K12 for the Swift's 82 PS 1.2L Z12E engine (with a big mileage jump to 23.8-24.77 kmpl), adds segment-first Level 2 ADAS on the new Alpha (O) trim, six airbags standard, a 9-inch touchscreen, ventilated front seats and CNG on both Delta and Zeta trims. The 11-variant lineup runs ₹5.99–9.99 lakh — the base is actually ₹11,000 under the widely reported ₹6.10 lakh launch figure, per Maruti's own pricing feed.
Full Baleno prices & variants →Tata Altroz in short
The Altroz is Tata's premium hatchback built on the ALFA architecture and was the first made-in-India car to score a full 5 stars at Global NCAP. Refreshed in 2025 with flush door handles, a larger touchscreen and six airbags as standard, it fights the Maruti Baleno, Hyundai i20 and Toyota Glanza. It is also the only car in its class to offer petrol, diesel and CNG powertrains under one roof.
Full Altroz prices & variants →Head-to-head pairs
Frequently Asked Questions
i20 vs Baleno vs Altroz — which should I buy?
Pick the Hyundai i20 if you want the most power (118 bhp). Pick the Maruti Suzuki Baleno if you want the lowest starting price (₹5.99 Lakh), the best claimed efficiency (up to 33.61 kmpl). Pick the Tata Altroz if you want the best crash-test score (5 stars), the biggest boot (345 L). Test-drive at least two before deciding — ride and dealer experience differ by city.
Which is the cheapest among i20, Baleno, Altroz?
The Maruti Suzuki Baleno starts lowest at ₹5.99 Lakh, against ₹6.00 Lakh for the i20 and ₹6.00 Lakh for the Altroz (ex-showroom, October 2026).
Which is the safest of the three?
Hyundai i20: 3 stars; Maruti Suzuki Baleno: not yet NCAP-tested; Tata Altroz: 5 stars.