Imagine if you’d said, 10 years ago, that Hyundai would be producing hot hatches that were comparable to the Ford ST and VW GTI ranges. You’d have been sectioned under the mental health act.
Maybe most people but 20 years ago I was seeing where Hyundai/Kia was at and I could already tell they were well on their way. A Tiburon V6 was competitive in an as-new driving experience with a GTI in 2001 and the interior and build quality were fine. Their Sonata of that vintage was a step up into genuine competitiveness with the class. The efficiency was a bit lacking but the rest of the issues with Hyundais 20 years ago was the public's willingness to adopt them, the cars were already getting good. 10 years ago they already would sell you a 300+ HP RWD 2+2 premium sports coupe that needed refining but had its charms. This "Hyundai just came out of nowhere" concept is outdated.
@@swampdonkeyofdoom correct, in sport mode the valve is open and will produce a crackle, I've oredered friday my puma ST with same engine and sounds great :)
I love how well Hyundai has done with their N division after taking lots of BMW M division and Audi RS division engineers on, its really starting to show! Loved the i30 N and this wee i20 N is more than capable little bro!
As a Korean, I can't believe that Korean cars, which are still only about 50 years old, are well received in historic Europe! Matt! Thank you for your great reviews.
M-N, M performance-N performance, M Town-N village. Hyundai Motor is copying the bmw M like a fake Chinese car in an insignificant way, using Albert Biermann as a shield.🤣🤣🤣😅😅😅
@@tmeisenmann3285 not surprising considering 2 BMW employees joined Hyundai, one joined way back in 2015 and his creation was seen in the Veloster N in 2019.
M-N, M performance-N performance, M Town-N village. Hyundai Motor is copying the bmw M like a fake Chinese car in an insignificant way, using Albert Biermann as a shield.🤣🤣🤣😅😅😅
Same here.. Tested these cars on track too and I felt the ST the most fun to drive and I am +ve that it can go faster around tracks than i20N and yet be more fun 2 drive on B roads
The Hyundai would be my choice also. So much fun to drive. Actually likes that the engine has a redline above it's peak power. That gives some space to shift rather than having to almost hit the limiter every time. And the downshift rev-matching is fantastic. Great car.
As someone who has tried all three the Polo is in a different league. Small car that feels like a big car, for longer journeys fabulous. Quality build.
I'm not in a position to own any car right now myself but watching those reviews actually make me really like what Hyundai brings up to the table. Seem to be great cars, all we'll have to see now is how reliable they are longterm wise.
My wife has a 2020 GTi plus, it's a brilliant allrounder, white with a black pack and Brescia wheels, it's a great looking car. We've had performance golfs and polos for 25 years and this generation Polo GTi is possibly the most rounded.
I'm usually a Fiesta fan (I've only ever owned 2 Fiestas before, an '04 Flame and a '17 Titanium) but that i20N has something special to it. 100% would be my choice for a track
Glad I have the Polo. Can sit on a Motorway with Suspension on Normal and the Adaptive Cruise Control. Does great MPG and is refined. Can then step off on to a B road, knocked it in to Sport to tighten everything up and use the paddles. That *is* what a Hot Hatch should be able to do. If I wanted a rock hard ride and noise all the time I'd get an actual sports car, not a small hatchback.
The Polo is shit. The Fiesta and I20n is more than comfortable enough. The Polo drives like shit compared to those two, the engine is a turd and the DSG is a ticking timebomb with its clutch packs.
@@Nakke144 "more than comfortable enough," what a dumbass statement. put a rear swaybar on the polo and tune it and it drives well, matt literally said it drove well and he drove all 3 back to back dummy. The polo has the EA888 motor, which clap BOTh other engines, ESPECIALLY the fiesta's in aftermarket capability and performance, they're tuning beasts, get a TCU tune on the DSG. And let's pretend interior doesn't matter at all, which is the case in your world
@@wandersen9666 At the top of the scrapheap you mean? The Polo is shit. The DSG-boxes are shit, the rear beams crack in their weld seams, they go through wheel bearings like mad and front hubs warp. Boring to drive and sloppy body control when pushed also.
Collected my i20N last month and I must say it’s the pick of the bunch! I’ve driven the ST and yes it’s a really fun little car but the i20N has just a bit more grit too it. Fab video as always 👍🏻👍🏻
i20N is right near the top of my list for my next car. They've really nailed the fun hot hatch thing- looks mad but isn't so fast that you can't thrash it, yet fast enough to at least make people in actual fast cars work a bit. The old ST was that car and the new one seems great but the i20N has stolen the show now. ...although if Pug do a decent job on the 208 PSE that would be tempting, as might the Alpine A5.
It would be the Hyundai for me as it looks and sounds what a hot hatch should be like. The blip on the upshift is most probably to keep the turbo spooling avoiding lag.
I've got the Polo GTi+. For me the perfect B road UK car (my commute up here in Yorkshire). Comfy and civilised for 90% of the time then really nippy to zoom past slow traffic doing 32mph on a 60!. I don't want a noisy, bouncy track focussed car on a pot holed B road after a day at work, but do want to get home without crawling behind the truck/tractor/dawdler.
i have old gen fiesta st and when people ask me would i recommend it i always say, if you need a daily quick car go for polo gti, apart from that 10% of driving when you are really in the mood to go crazy in corners, polo is way better car, better build quality, more comfortable, better visibility, better infotainment better in traffic with dsg and so on but yes fiesta st and now N20 are great in it´s own way.
Just bought the i20n on the strength of these videos. Just changed from a Cooper s, tried the ST but it felt dull and just didn't like it. The i20 is a car that i just love heading out for a drive which I didn't do with the mini. The i20 does remind me of an old school hot hatch and for me, is a genuine budget alternative to a yaris which was way over my budget..
It was a tough, tough choice but I went with the i20n simply because it’s more mental than the other two, just like a hot hatch should be! The pricing is also very clear and a better guarantee if you want some boring, sensible reasons…
put a rear swaybar on the polo, fit a downpipe and map engine, it smokes the others. the EA888 inside of it is the most tunable motor and gains loads of power unlike the other two engines.
@@roboticvenom1935 Nah, if you tune the i20n it is still going to paste the Polo. I say that as an i20n owner for 10 months now, who also LOVES and has respect for the ST and GTI 👍🏼
@@roboticvenom1935 On a straight line. The Polo doesnt have a limited slip differential and with even more power, it will become a chore to drive through corners.
Totally agree with you Mat. Hyundai is making good cars for value. It is truly a pity that current GTI don't have manual gearbox because it would be a round car, that's why it loses, it is a car that pretends to have a sportier configuration.
@@popsandbangs8858 fiesta and polo are way better looking than the i20N, in my opinion the i20N is too much overdone from behind and random lines, Polo has a better engine, more tuning, better sounding when modified, interior quality is superior, better infotainment system, less plastic, stage 2 can go +315hp easily without pushing hard.
@@colonel_klunk4080 well the brand new facelift that was just realeased looks like sid from ice age but the pre facelift shown in this video has quite nice design
I honestly love the Hyundai. But I expected the the vw to have a 1.5 3 cyl, being that it has the vanilla 2.0 tsi, that's an understressed engine with alot of tuning potential, many of the golf gti and r parts will bolt onto it and it can turned into a crazy fast car.
Good point. One thing to consider though with the polo gti is the lack of limited slip diff. It can barely put its power down stock unless it’s from a roll. You can throw all the power you want at it but without proper grip it wouldn’t be as enjoyable as a tuned I20n or fiesta st with a limited slip diff
That's actually not true about the Polo, don't confuse this 2.0 engine with the engines that you find on the Golf GTI or R. A remap gives both the Fiesta and Polo similar power (250HP), while the Hyundai gets to 235 (still a very new car, this is very likely to change), so they're similar there. Likewise, after 300HP all of these cars will require new internals so there's no notable difference there either. However as pointed out by someone else the Polo doesn't have an LSD, and you'll need one to put power down correctly at 250HP. Now, in a hypothetical scenario where you go completely crazy with the power, yes, the Polo does have the bigger engine in the end and will push more power. But that's not exactly practical. For practical purposes (remap, or new turbo + remap) the Polo will cost you more because it's going to need an LSD.
As a AW Gti owner, there's a few things i can say on it: Little to no torque steer Yes, it doesnt have an LSD, but it has an electric XDS system which essentially mimics a real LSD and it works pretty well, understeer isnt too crazy when thrashing it The standard exhaust is terrible. I will be getting a GPF back to give it a sportier note and some pops on upshifts. The DSG box is a bit jerky at low speeds, but is seamless most of the time, and very quick. I have the GTI+ pack with the LED lights and digital dash, its a must have imo. The little red trim in the headlights also completes the look which you dont get on the normal GTI. The ride height is a little high for my liking as standard but nothing that can't be solved with some lowering springs/coilovers. I have a friend that has the performance edition ST, the interior is my only gripe with it. Other than that, i would've bought a fiesta over the polo. But i didn't, the polo is a much nicer place to sit and looks better imo. Sure autos aren't as 'fun' as a manual, but that is forgotten about when in heavy traffic (which i am, every morning...)
We also need to factor in that the Hyundai is going to be really reliable and cheap and easy to maintain, their service and warranty is also really quick and hassle free.
All three are brilliant looking cars. I just love the polo gti due to its DSG and tuning capabilities of that EA888. That being said all three are great in their own right.
i hate DSG-2 with a passion on my old 2012 Polo.. got a USED DSG-2 box due to the first one broke one clutch when i was moving at garage park slot speeds! the cost for the new gearbox and installation? €4500… it barely made it to 150,000 km piece of shit of an auto. never VW DSG again in my life.
@@_TrueDesire_ must’ve had bad luck then tbf. I personally never heard of anyone’s dsg completely breaking. One thing i don’t like about it, at least the 6 speed dsg in the polo, is that the gear shifts are quite slow. I’m thinking about an optimization of the dsg. Other than that, i never had any problems with it. And the dsg has gotten better with the years and development, trust!
@@MrTee-uy5tl DSG 1 broke down on every single stronger diesel over 300 Nm(what my local dealer told me), DSG 2 is 7-speed and they are prone to failures. Taxi companies wasn't offered DSG after 2010 due to the gearbox broke down in city traffic. I'm never trusting VW again. They even tried all sorts of things like that i didn't service the car as i should even though my service book was fully stamped by them and i booked a service as soon as i saw the spanner lit up in the panel. Avoid DSG 2 at all cost.
@@_TrueDesire_ damn ok i understand that, car dealers sometimes are really shitty with blaming the customer first, pretty bad service then… i never had such issues, luckily.
This is something I wanted to share...I have the Polo GTI+ and like you've mentioned Matt even in Manual mode it up shifts before the red line...Then I gave it for 1st service and they removed that and now I can red line at 7,000 RPM and hold it there
Some personal thoughts from a Polo GTi user. First off, it's probably going to be the best daily, so if that's what you're aiming for, really consider that car. It's not mega stiff, and the DSG is very nice around the city or motorway. Secondly, if you get the smaller wheels, first thing you should do is change the tyres on that car, the stock ones are rubbish, they're Primacy 2, and they're dreadful, the rims Mat has on his car, have better tyres, but still do nicely with an upgraded set. Pilot Sport 4 or 4S are a great choice. I highly suggest looking at an exhaust upgrade and power upgrade, you can get it up to 250 without many changes and keeping it safe. It's a fun car. Also quite a few Golf parts fit the car, have a look if they're better priced and fit. Edit: I didn't get the digital dash, I tried it out in the A6 and Q8 and felt it was totally unnecessary. I still believe that, and would not pay for them. Get radar guided Cruise control, or else you don't get cruise control at all. Lastly: I have the same model Mat has, the new one is supposed to be even better.
@@rigby7218 It’s really annoying. Especially because I really don’t like adaptive cruise control (Tried it on the Q8 and A6) and I know you can turn it off, but I also thought it’s a standard feature
I had 3/4 idiots arguing with me on the previous video with these 3 cars. I have driven the Fiesta ST & Polo GTI for a considerable amount of time and the Polo is so much better at everything. Feels nicer to inside, quicker and with the Beats audio system there isn't really much else around this price range that matches it. Would love to have a go in one of the i20Ns because I recently got to drive a Hyundai i30N and that thing was a bit of a beast. Nothing compared to the new A45s or Golf R but a step above these 3 for sure! Great video as always Matt!
Also the polo is way better to tune stage 1, 2 or 3!! For an epic stage 3 polo with an OEM feel you can direcrly bolt on the turbo from the golf r + cooling and injection mods and you have a 350 bhp rocket ship with very little lag!! Try to turbo either the fiesta or the i20n to 350 bhp and it will require more mods to fit a bigger turbo and it will be laggy as hell!!
In Korea, hatchback is relatively unpopular, so i20 as well as i30 are not sold in Korea, but I'm very jealous as a hot hatch lover. The same goes for the wagon.
@@adamperkins3125 Yeah, it's weird. I have a Mini which rev matches, and it waits until you actually move the gear stick down and then blips before you release the clutch. I wonder if the i20N blips as you depress the clutch, when it's not yet sure if you're shifting up or down, so it covers its bases? I can't imagine why it would do it otherwise...
It boils my blood to know that hot hatches like this are not sold in the US-- and what concerns me is that Fiesta is the equivalent (AToW) to $30k or more USD. We get the Forte GT (which is the powertrain equivalent of the i20N) but without the suspension and whatnot to my knowledge. It's a Proceed GT sedan. All for around 21k GBP.
But the streets in the USA are way to wide and straight for a hot hatch. Those cars are just made for our tiny and curvy streets ins europe. Its a completly different driving experience here.
@@thegirthquake8574 But are they common ? I was in the US twice and traveled at the eastcoast. Never had those roads there. My rental car was a V6 Ford Mustang Cabriolet and I felt so slow with this thing on the wide streets. A tiny 200 hp Hot Hatchback wouldnt feel sporty and fast enaugh there. I think an Elantra N or a Jetta GLi is the better choice in the US. Car makers know what they doing.
@@marcoadamberger4456 Yes, mountain ranges and windy roads are common in the US. Just because you traveled the fuckin interstate system doesn't mean you've traveled every single road in the US. Eurotards will never understand the US.
Got a polo GTI 21 plate for 17k with low milage and it does the job for a daily car. Sports mode on and engine noise is loud and gives it a nice kick from what you expect for a hot hatchback!
for all ST's, much better with the Mountune kit/remap, or Bluefin remap to get the most from them, and fixes what Ford should have done in the factory.
Can you describe more about how it feels to drive in your car? I’ve been talking with a colleague about I20N and GTI, now I don’t know what exactly to choose. GTI interiors for me are better than I20N but performance levels idk
wont happen silly, just the polo GTI will get the 7 speed dual clutch DSG(better then hyundai's 7 speed dual clutch, but that;s reasonable given they've spent a lot longer tuning dual clutches), and continue to be the best car
Mat I just saw a 9 year old review of a audi a5 on car buyer and it was you reviewing it. Gosh you looked younger. And wow didn't realise you have being reviewing cars for that long.
What seems not to mentioned here is that the Fiesta needs a 2-3 shift to get to 60 which really hinders the time, otherwise it would be on their heels.
As you know for sure, Volkswagen had a brand new Polo GTI with 207hp and a little more torque! Here in Portugal it costs about 35 000 Euros in the base model (without extras) and ready for delievery in a few months!
I would have the fiesta, I've loved fiestas for so long, the I20N is a really likeable hot hatch and I'd have it over the Polo GTI but its too in your face for my liking and the Polo is too sensible and boring so for those reasons, the fiesta is the one for me despite not being the quickest to 60mph or from 60-0mph but thats not what small hot hatches are all about
that's silly, polo is way better, simply put a stiff rear swaybar on the rear and map the engine and it DUSTS the fiesta mate.. can also fit an exhaust anytime..
The fiesta ST sounds better than you showed... Pop it into sports mode and it improves it massively, pops and crackles. Matt/carwow is always biased towards the i20n though so I'm not surprised they wanted it to sound the best lol
M-N, M performance-N performance, M Town-N village. Hyundai Motor is copying the bmw M like a fake Chinese car in an insignificant way, using Albert Biermann as a shield.🤣🤣🤣😅😅😅
Hey Matt, when you do reviews and comparisons can you also compare the stereo? It’s something we all use when driving but often don’t try before we buy
M-N, M performance-N performance, M Town-N village. Hyundai Motor is copying the bmw M like a fake Chinese car in an insignificant way, using Albert Biermann as a shield.🤣🤣🤣😅😅😅
Can't wait the 2022 Fiesta ST with its improved torque. I prefer the phase 1 design but the new one is going to be the very last thermic Fiesta so... future collector.
Why isn’t the Fiesta popping and crackling? Normally if you’d have it in sport mode it crackles along and you can do no lift shifts to make it go faster. Don’t lose turbo pressure at that moment
Which sounds best? VOTE below!
VOTE: Polo GTI
VOTE: Fiesta ST
VOTE: i20 N
I20N :D
@@carwow VOTE: i20N
Imagine if you’d said, 10 years ago, that Hyundai would be producing hot hatches that were comparable to the Ford ST and VW GTI ranges. You’d have been sectioned under the mental health act.
Dude let's not even talk about a RWD Kia V6 Coupe
Maybe most people but 20 years ago I was seeing where Hyundai/Kia was at and I could already tell they were well on their way. A Tiburon V6 was competitive in an as-new driving experience with a GTI in 2001 and the interior and build quality were fine. Their Sonata of that vintage was a step up into genuine competitiveness with the class. The efficiency was a bit lacking but the rest of the issues with Hyundais 20 years ago was the public's willingness to adopt them, the cars were already getting good. 10 years ago they already would sell you a 300+ HP RWD 2+2 premium sports coupe that needed refining but had its charms. This "Hyundai just came out of nowhere" concept is outdated.
@40 Roller Personally, I like the underdog image of the Hyundai. It almost makes them Q cars in that they can take others by surprise.
Kia too
@@styre boosted at that!
Hyundai has been making some excellent cars recently, and I love it!
We're LOVING the i20 N!
Skoda Hyundai Kia no matter how good the car is it's a big no no
It's a nice car
@@smattgoss why? Is it because their old cars were shit, making their new cars shit?
@@smattgoss no…
My standing in term of "which one sounds the best":
1-Hyundai i20 N
2-Ford Fiesta ST
3-VW Polo GTI
Exactly
Would help if he had the fiesta in sport mode 😂
@@swampdonkeyofdoom .....nahhh
@@adibafiq6945 I’ve got an ST, and can tell you that they have done the it dirty
@@swampdonkeyofdoom correct, in sport mode the valve is open and will produce a crackle, I've oredered friday my puma ST with same engine and sounds great :)
I love how well Hyundai has done with their N division after taking lots of BMW M division and Audi RS division engineers on, its really starting to show! Loved the i30 N and this wee i20 N is more than capable little bro!
As a Korean, I can't believe that Korean cars, which are still only about 50 years old, are well received in historic Europe! Matt! Thank you for your great reviews.
Im German and I bought one Hyundai ;)
In Europe the word enthusiast still holds value unlike south Korea and the USA.
We don't care where you're from, if it's good, it's good!
don't really care which brand or where it come from, as long as it good for that price tag.
north korean or south korean? please be specific
The little Hyundai has really improved compared to its previous iterations!
We love it!
Isnt this the first I20 N?
M-N,
M performance-N performance,
M Town-N village.
Hyundai Motor is copying the bmw M like a fake Chinese car in an insignificant way, using Albert Biermann as a shield.🤣🤣🤣😅😅😅
@@tmeisenmann3285 not surprising considering 2 BMW employees joined Hyundai, one joined way back in 2015 and his creation was seen in the Veloster N in 2019.
It doesn't have previous iterations.
That was a wise choice Mat! i20 N 💙
🇬🇷🇬🇷🇬🇷
Έλα ρε αλάνια που είστε
Ρε που το ξέρετε το κανάλι
M-N,
M performance-N performance,
M Town-N village.
Hyundai Motor is copying the bmw M like a fake Chinese car in an insignificant way, using Albert Biermann as a shield.🤣🤣🤣😅😅😅
🇬🇷🇬🇷🇬🇷
For me the Fiesta ST is the winner!
Same here.. Tested these cars on track too and I felt the ST the most fun to drive and I am +ve that it can go faster around tracks than i20N and yet be more fun 2 drive on B roads
Just now watched your rs6 vedio 🤙
Did u test the st with coilovers like in this vid or was it the normal st?
@@adamodare87
Normal ST with ST2 pack
@@rushaidhshums6276 same 😂
Remember the good old days when “I’m gonna poke it with a stick” was the Carwow thing
And Easter Eggs!
so called "stick of truth"
They still use the stick of truth, but it carbon fiber now.
The Hyundai would be my choice also. So much fun to drive. Actually likes that the engine has a redline above it's peak power. That gives some space to shift rather than having to almost hit the limiter every time. And the downshift rev-matching is fantastic. Great car.
but how about a baby car seat, they should start including it into their reviews 😁🤣
Shame the styling is hideous, it's like a 7 year old designed it.
Wow, the Hyundai truly made me smile with that sound.
We need more of these group tests😀😀
We've got more on the way!
@@carwow I don’t know if it’s been done But X5M50D vs SQ7 etc ? 🥺 Bring on the Diesels
As someone who has tried all three the Polo is in a different league. Small car that feels like a big car, for longer journeys fabulous. Quality build.
I'm not in a position to own any car right now myself but watching those reviews actually make me really like what Hyundai brings up to the table. Seem to be great cars, all we'll have to see now is how reliable they are longterm wise.
Soon come mate
They are very reliable. I own a 2010 i20 and it is still working very well with barely any issues at 125 thousand kms on it
My wife has a 2020 GTi plus, it's a brilliant allrounder, white with a black pack and Brescia wheels, it's a great looking car. We've had performance golfs and polos for 25 years and this generation Polo GTi is possibly the most rounded.
I'm usually a Fiesta fan (I've only ever owned 2 Fiestas before, an '04 Flame and a '17 Titanium) but that i20N has something special to it. 100% would be my choice for a track
The fiesta st had it exhaust valve closed, there was more sound to have. This was noticeable by the exhaust fumes only coming out the right pipe
Didn't ask
That was not casual. This was a very Hyundai comparison since the beginning.
That didn't sound right to me either. I have the Hyundai and in N mode it sounds much better. They had this on in normal
The blip during upshift is a ALS(turbo Anti Lag System), so there is a meaning to it. As i know off it only does it in N mode.
Came looking for the answer, thanks mate 👍
No it isn’t 😂
😂
Glad I have the Polo. Can sit on a Motorway with Suspension on Normal and the Adaptive Cruise Control. Does great MPG and is refined. Can then step off on to a B road, knocked it in to Sport to tighten everything up and use the paddles. That *is* what a Hot Hatch should be able to do. If I wanted a rock hard ride and noise all the time I'd get an actual sports car, not a small hatchback.
The Polo is shit. The Fiesta and I20n is more than comfortable enough. The Polo drives like shit compared to those two, the engine is a turd and the DSG is a ticking timebomb with its clutch packs.
@@Nakke144 "more than comfortable enough," what a dumbass statement. put a rear swaybar on the polo and tune it and it drives well, matt literally said it drove well and he drove all 3 back to back dummy. The polo has the EA888 motor, which clap BOTh other engines, ESPECIALLY the fiesta's in aftermarket capability and performance, they're tuning beasts, get a TCU tune on the DSG. And let's pretend interior doesn't matter at all, which is the case in your world
@@Nakke144 the polo is by far the best choice, there is a reason vw is at the top.
@@wandersen9666 At the top of the scrapheap you mean? The Polo is shit. The DSG-boxes are shit, the rear beams crack in their weld seams, they go through wheel bearings like mad and front hubs warp. Boring to drive and sloppy body control when pushed also.
Love how Hyundai puts all the extras on. I bought a Kia GT partly because they did it too.
Kia GT for larpers and old women. Kia good in 20 years time.
subscribed since 100k, damn this channel earns more than the company itself
Collected my i20N last month and I must say it’s the pick of the bunch!
I’ve driven the ST and yes it’s a really fun little car but the i20N has just a bit more grit too it.
Fab video as always 👍🏻👍🏻
omg the i20n better than st???? hahahahahaahahah only st
The ford is better.
@@0210mick Incorrect
@@ccenturionnmc Sorry i cant take people serious with a Minecraft profile picture.
@@0210mick I can't take children called Mick seriously either.
You never had the fiesta ST in sport mode for the sound test, this enables the pops and bangs! I noticed you done this in the drag video too…
i20N is right near the top of my list for my next car. They've really nailed the fun hot hatch thing- looks mad but isn't so fast that you can't thrash it, yet fast enough to at least make people in actual fast cars work a bit. The old ST was that car and the new one seems great but the i20N has stolen the show now.
...although if Pug do a decent job on the 208 PSE that would be tempting, as might the Alpine A5.
It would be the Hyundai for me as it looks and sounds what a hot hatch should be like. The blip on the upshift is most probably to keep the turbo spooling avoiding lag.
Actually i think its the automatic rev match
@@MegaPimmelfresse find an up shift.
@@Hoggdoc1946 yeah but i guess when he hits the clutch the car does not know if he goes up a gear or down and just automatically ups the revs.
@@MegaPimmelfresse Would have been interesting for Matt to turn off the rev matching and see if it still blips the throttle on upshift.
@@MrBenHaynes yeah absolutely
Love Mat with the consistency. Keep up the good work. Best at automotive journalism...👌
😏
I've got the Polo GTi+. For me the perfect B road UK car (my commute up here in Yorkshire). Comfy and civilised for 90% of the time then really nippy to zoom past slow traffic doing 32mph on a 60!. I don't want a noisy, bouncy track focussed car on a pot holed B road after a day at work, but do want to get home without crawling behind the truck/tractor/dawdler.
Same here I’m from Yorkshire, I agree that’s why I went for the GTI+
i have old gen fiesta st and when people ask me would i recommend it i always say, if you need a daily quick car go for polo gti, apart from that 10% of driving when you are really in the mood to go crazy in corners, polo is way better car, better build quality, more comfortable, better visibility, better infotainment better in traffic with dsg and so on but yes fiesta st and now N20 are great in it´s own way.
Just bought the i20n on the strength of these videos. Just changed from a Cooper s, tried the ST but it felt dull and just didn't like it. The i20 is a car that i just love heading out for a drive which I didn't do with the mini. The i20 does remind me of an old school hot hatch and for me, is a genuine budget alternative to a yaris which was way over my budget..
I still find the i20N more fun to drive than the GR Yaris. The i20N's LSD is out of this world.
It was a tough, tough choice but I went with the i20n simply because it’s more mental than the other two, just like a hot hatch should be! The pricing is also very clear and a better guarantee if you want some boring, sensible reasons…
Same here! Also for me the insurance will be cheaper than on my BMW 120d. Cheap services is also a bonus.
put a rear swaybar on the polo, fit a downpipe and map engine, it smokes the others. the EA888 inside of it is the most tunable motor and gains loads of power unlike the other two engines.
@@roboticvenom1935 Nah, if you tune the i20n it is still going to paste the Polo.
I say that as an i20n owner for 10 months now, who also LOVES and has respect for the ST and GTI 👍🏼
@@roboticvenom1935 On a straight line. The Polo doesnt have a limited slip differential and with even more power, it will become a chore to drive through corners.
@@roboticvenom1935 Wow, so putting bolt ons, a tune and a chassis upgrade makes a car faster? Wow WHODATHUNKIT
I think the mrs is getting the I20 thanks to matt and car wow! This is by miles the best car show on RUclips! Absolutely love it 😀
All three are great cars :D. We need a rematch when updated versions of the Polo GTI and Fiesta ST come out :)
It will be the same. Ford and Hyundai are the worst cars but the most fun.
Volkswagen is better but boring and not involving to drive
the polo gti came out a few months ago
yeah definitely, the I20N is brand new whereas the fiesta and the polo are getting on abit
@@csekeiboldizsar1145 it launched few months ago but not in stores yet
@@csekeiboldizsar1145 came out 3 years ago lol 2018
I am planning to get an i20N. Got a sense of its greatness even before this comparison, but now I am more sure of it.
Would love to see this kind of review for the newer hot hatches, Focus, Golf, I30 etc
Man!! That Ford Fiesta st is just beautiful, that’ll be my choice
Love this sort of content. It’s what CARWOW was based on. Polo GTI for me!🏆
P.S could we get some tuned small hothatches in the drag races! Old & new😎
Thanks!
Knowing the possibilities of 2.0 TSI thats just single thing to make GTI win. The more cyls the better, always.
Hyundai looks like a videogame car, Ford looks like a teenager's car, and for that reason, I'd pick the adult car in the room - VW Polo
Hyundai i20N looks and sounds amazing🥵❤️
Dey malayali😹
100%!
@@carwow now I can die peacefully.
@@LoL-kx3pn heheh🤣
Pina alaa 💃
Love all 3 of em
So do we!
@@carwow sheeeeesh thats carwow !!!!
Totally agree with you Mat. Hyundai is making good cars for value. It is truly a pity that current GTI don't have manual gearbox because it would be a round car, that's why it loses, it is a car that pretends to have a sportier configuration.
Ordered the i20n two weeks ago, due mid November. Can't wait,best small hot hatch on the market
Same here! My brother has the facelift i30N aswell so I can't wait to compare them.
The fiesta I think is the best design, while vw has the best interior. However I think hyundai is definitely the best bang for buck
Nah i20 N looks better and have better interior and sounds better and faster
Fiesta looks like a fish with googly eyes
Agreed, hyundai looks like child's drawn it, and polo's just so boring
@@popsandbangs8858 fiesta and polo are way better looking than the i20N, in my opinion the i20N is too much overdone from behind and random lines, Polo has a better engine, more tuning, better sounding when modified, interior quality is superior, better infotainment system, less plastic, stage 2 can go +315hp easily without pushing hard.
@@colonel_klunk4080 well the brand new facelift that was just realeased looks like sid from ice age but the pre facelift shown in this video has quite nice design
I honestly love the Hyundai. But I expected the the vw to have a 1.5 3 cyl, being that it has the vanilla 2.0 tsi, that's an understressed engine with alot of tuning potential, many of the golf gti and r parts will bolt onto it and it can turned into a crazy fast car.
Good point. One thing to consider though with the polo gti is the lack of limited slip diff. It can barely put its power down stock unless it’s from a roll. You can throw all the power you want at it but without proper grip it wouldn’t be as enjoyable as a tuned I20n or fiesta st with a limited slip diff
@@timn3196 yes that is a major deficiency. But I guess anyone who'd put money down to give it more power may also install a LSD.
@@GamerGabbar maybe so. By the time you start throwing big money at this car you may as well just buy a golf gti
That's actually not true about the Polo, don't confuse this 2.0 engine with the engines that you find on the Golf GTI or R.
A remap gives both the Fiesta and Polo similar power (250HP), while the Hyundai gets to 235 (still a very new car, this is very likely to change), so they're similar there.
Likewise, after 300HP all of these cars will require new internals so there's no notable difference there either.
However as pointed out by someone else the Polo doesn't have an LSD, and you'll need one to put power down correctly at 250HP.
Now, in a hypothetical scenario where you go completely crazy with the power, yes, the Polo does have the bigger engine in the end and will push more power. But that's not exactly practical.
For practical purposes (remap, or new turbo + remap) the Polo will cost you more because it's going to need an LSD.
Honestly the Polo is the best as it is. It's fun to drive yet not too extreme with no usability compromised, that's exactly why it's the one for me.
We love your reviews from kenya
Thanks! 🇰🇪
As a AW Gti owner, there's a few things i can say on it:
Little to no torque steer
Yes, it doesnt have an LSD, but it has an electric XDS system which essentially mimics a real LSD and it works pretty well, understeer isnt too crazy when thrashing it
The standard exhaust is terrible. I will be getting a GPF back to give it a sportier note and some pops on upshifts.
The DSG box is a bit jerky at low speeds, but is seamless most of the time, and very quick.
I have the GTI+ pack with the LED lights and digital dash, its a must have imo. The little red trim in the headlights also completes the look which you dont get on the normal GTI.
The ride height is a little high for my liking as standard but nothing that can't be solved with some lowering springs/coilovers.
I have a friend that has the performance edition ST, the interior is my only gripe with it. Other than that, i would've bought a fiesta over the polo.
But i didn't, the polo is a much nicer place to sit and looks better imo. Sure autos aren't as 'fun' as a manual, but that is forgotten about when in heavy traffic (which i am, every morning...)
That is a bunch of walfel
Oh no it's not. @@Real-kid21
@@jondonnelly3 but late
@@jondonnelly3 bit late
We also need to factor in that the Hyundai is going to be really reliable and cheap and easy to maintain, their service and warranty is also really quick and hassle free.
Yes people forget this. The cheap insurance and service costs are 2 reasons why I chose to order it.
All three are brilliant looking cars. I just love the polo gti due to its DSG and tuning capabilities of that EA888. That being said all three are great in their own right.
i hate DSG-2 with a passion on my old 2012 Polo.. got a USED DSG-2 box due to the first one broke one clutch when i was moving at garage park slot speeds!
the cost for the new gearbox and installation? €4500… it barely made it to 150,000 km piece of shit of an auto. never VW DSG again in my life.
@@_TrueDesire_ what is DSG-2?
@@_TrueDesire_ must’ve had bad luck then tbf. I personally never heard of anyone’s dsg completely breaking. One thing i don’t like about it, at least the 6 speed dsg in the polo, is that the gear shifts are quite slow. I’m thinking about an optimization of the dsg. Other than that, i never had any problems with it. And the dsg has gotten better with the years and development, trust!
@@MrTee-uy5tl DSG 1 broke down on every single stronger diesel over 300 Nm(what my local dealer told me), DSG 2 is 7-speed and they are prone to failures. Taxi companies wasn't offered DSG after 2010 due to the gearbox broke down in city traffic. I'm never trusting VW again. They even tried all sorts of things like that i didn't service the car as i should even though my service book was fully stamped by them and i booked a service as soon as i saw the spanner lit up in the panel.
Avoid DSG 2 at all cost.
@@_TrueDesire_ damn ok i understand that, car dealers sometimes are really shitty with blaming the customer first, pretty bad service then… i never had such issues, luckily.
Loving Hyundai’s design aesthetic recently!
I love the look of the Fiesta.
Polo is just so much class and sophistication
South Korean automakers are having an era at the moment, and I love it for them.
This is something I wanted to share...I have the Polo GTI+ and like you've mentioned Matt even in Manual mode it up shifts before the red line...Then I gave it for 1st service and they removed that and now I can red line at 7,000 RPM and hold it there
Your problem is that it's automatic. Manual kinda avoids that issue.
1:26 Matt looking like a proud father
😄👍True!
Some personal thoughts from a Polo GTi user. First off, it's probably going to be the best daily, so if that's what you're aiming for, really consider that car. It's not mega stiff, and the DSG is very nice around the city or motorway. Secondly, if you get the smaller wheels, first thing you should do is change the tyres on that car, the stock ones are rubbish, they're Primacy 2, and they're dreadful, the rims Mat has on his car, have better tyres, but still do nicely with an upgraded set. Pilot Sport 4 or 4S are a great choice.
I highly suggest looking at an exhaust upgrade and power upgrade, you can get it up to 250 without many changes and keeping it safe. It's a fun car.
Also quite a few Golf parts fit the car, have a look if they're better priced and fit.
Edit: I didn't get the digital dash, I tried it out in the A6 and Q8 and felt it was totally unnecessary. I still believe that, and would not pay for them. Get radar guided Cruise control, or else you don't get cruise control at all.
Lastly: I have the same model Mat has, the new one is supposed to be even better.
Massive shame that it doesn’t have basic cruise control functionality without paying the price for radar
@@rigby7218 It’s really annoying. Especially because I really don’t like adaptive cruise control (Tried it on the Q8 and A6) and I know you can turn it off, but I also thought it’s a standard feature
@@korczuch1881 anyone would assume so, it’s been standard on cars for the last 10 years
@@rigby7218 Fabia I have had it as an option, but it was cheap af, and cruise control was extra, so I just assumed it was standard on this.
I must say mat, I agree with your Venom comparison of the front of the hyndai, it's probably the most aggressive looking Hot Hatch in its class
Have an old Fiesta ST, it's a beauty
I had 3/4 idiots arguing with me on the previous video with these 3 cars.
I have driven the Fiesta ST & Polo GTI for a considerable amount of time and the Polo is so much better at everything. Feels nicer to inside, quicker and with the Beats audio system there isn't really much else around this price range that matches it.
Would love to have a go in one of the i20Ns because I recently got to drive a Hyundai i30N and that thing was a bit of a beast. Nothing compared to the new A45s or Golf R but a step above these 3 for sure! Great video as always Matt!
Also the polo is way better to tune stage 1, 2 or 3!! For an epic stage 3 polo with an OEM feel you can direcrly bolt on the turbo from the golf r + cooling and injection mods and you have a 350 bhp rocket ship with very little lag!! Try to turbo either the fiesta or the i20n to 350 bhp and it will require more mods to fit a bigger turbo and it will be laggy as hell!!
Have you tried the B&O system in the Fiesta?
@@robertowen8281 I recently saw the Stage 3 Polo on DMO's channel. That was similar power and was keeping up with Nissan GTR's. Crazy stuff!
@@samlawts1193 I'm not sure if the one i drove had that optional extra. Bang & Olufsen are quality though so I'm sure it's really good!
@@redeyeman06 saw that video aswell w/ DMO 400hp in the 6c really doesn’t take to much, turbo and some cooling mods and your there 👀
The I20 was doing the blip bc you had rev match on and you weren't getting it into gear fast enough, so it thought you were downshifting.
Wrong, it's the turbo anti-lag system
In Korea, hatchback is relatively unpopular, so i20 as well as i30 are not sold in Korea, but I'm very jealous as a hot hatch lover. The same goes for the wagon.
I myself own the new standard Hyndai i20 so your choice makes me very happy. It is a sweet thing.
I remember getting my first turbocharged ST for 16k. Ford have slammed up their prices these days. Great car though!
14:15 rev matching, you can turn it off by pressing the giant red REV button on the steering wheel
Why would you rev match on an upshift? How would you even do it as the revs will drop lower each time?
@@adamperkins3125 Yeah, it's weird. I have a Mini which rev matches, and it waits until you actually move the gear stick down and then blips before you release the clutch. I wonder if the i20N blips as you depress the clutch, when it's not yet sure if you're shifting up or down, so it covers its bases? I can't imagine why it would do it otherwise...
Rev matching on upshift? Lol the Internet is full of nonsense.
@@pollumG what are you on about? People are only saying that as they have no idea why its doing it randomly, obviously isnt normal so may be a bug
@@HarryG98 wtf are you on son? Read the OP then read my comment...smh
i20n sounds so good even during the breaking test 😍
It boils my blood to know that hot hatches like this are not sold in the US-- and what concerns me is that Fiesta is the equivalent (AToW) to $30k or more USD. We get the Forte GT (which is the powertrain equivalent of the i20N) but without the suspension and whatnot to my knowledge. It's a Proceed GT sedan. All for around 21k GBP.
But the streets in the USA are way to wide and straight for a hot hatch. Those cars are just made for our tiny and curvy streets ins europe. Its a completly different driving experience here.
@@marcoadamberger4456 You've completely ignored the massive mountain ranges and windy roads we have in the US.
@@thegirthquake8574 But are they common ? I was in the US twice and traveled at the eastcoast.
Never had those roads there. My rental car was a V6 Ford Mustang Cabriolet and I felt so slow with this thing on the wide streets.
A tiny 200 hp Hot Hatchback wouldnt feel sporty and fast enaugh there.
I think an Elantra N or a Jetta GLi is the better choice in the US. Car makers know what they doing.
You don’t deserve these cars. Keep driving your trucks and cope
@@marcoadamberger4456 Yes, mountain ranges and windy roads are common in the US. Just because you traveled the fuckin interstate system doesn't mean you've traveled every single road in the US. Eurotards will never understand the US.
Got a polo GTI 21 plate for 17k with low milage and it does the job for a daily car.
Sports mode on and engine noise is loud and gives it a nice kick from what you expect for a hot hatchback!
for all ST's, much better with the Mountune kit/remap, or Bluefin remap to get the most from them, and fixes what Ford should have done in the factory.
The fiesta and Hyundai sounds good
Agreed!
And the Polo too, but you have to put it in sport mode, which I think they didn’t. My Polo GTI sound better than the one in the video
@@alfredtomey is yours pre opf? They got a bit muted after 2019
I bought it in March 2019
@Yule Calma He means the Particulate Filters fitted on cars to reduce emissions. As a side effect, these filters also dull the exhaust.
I got the new Polo GTI as a city runaround car, really happy with it. But I think the other two are also fantastic choices! Great review.
Can you describe more about how it feels to drive in your car? I’ve been talking with a colleague about I20N and GTI, now I don’t know what exactly to choose. GTI interiors for me are better than I20N but performance levels idk
The i20N is a special car indeed. Can't wait for the 7 speed DCT to be an option in this little pocket rocket.
wont happen silly, just the polo GTI will get the 7 speed dual clutch DSG(better then hyundai's 7 speed dual clutch, but that;s reasonable given they've spent a lot longer tuning dual clutches), and continue to be the best car
Mat I just saw a 9 year old review of a audi a5 on car buyer and it was you reviewing it. Gosh you looked younger. And wow didn't realise you have being reviewing cars for that long.
16:43 Mat really loves his job🖤💜💙🤣🤣
These types of cars still makes me smile and giggle. Just wish they were sold in US...
I like the creative editing that never shows Matt going above 60mph :-D
Please the review of the new i20N, the Fiesta ST 2022 e the Polo GTI 2022. 🙂👍👍👍
One of your best reviews!
What seems not to mentioned here is that the Fiesta needs a 2-3 shift to get to 60 which really hinders the time, otherwise it would be on their heels.
Looks like 3 excellent cars to me. Don't think you could go wrong with any of them.
2..
Carwow always brightens the day!
😍
Brilliant content 👌, personally I would pick the polo GTI .
As you know for sure, Volkswagen had a brand new Polo GTI with 207hp and a little more torque! Here in Portugal it costs about 35 000 Euros in the base model (without extras) and ready for delievery in a few months!
Videos like this video are why I watch Carlow, and may they continue ❗️😊
Congratulations Hyundai/Kia for the efforts taken toward making a proper name for yourselves lately.
I think I’d go for the i20 N , I rarely see them in the wild , I see the other 2 every day. Also the fiesta is just too Snickety for me
I would have the fiesta, I've loved fiestas for so long, the I20N is a really likeable hot hatch and I'd have it over the Polo GTI but its too in your face for my liking and the Polo is too sensible and boring so for those reasons, the fiesta is the one for me despite not being the quickest to 60mph or from 60-0mph but thats not what small hot hatches are all about
How about the previous Polo GTI 6C? Manual, 1.8 engine with similar shape design to the Fiesta ST & a great interior 🤷♂️
that's silly, polo is way better, simply put a stiff rear swaybar on the rear and map the engine and it DUSTS the fiesta mate.. can also fit an exhaust anytime..
@roboticvenom1935 😂😂😂😂 Good one. Keep telling yourself that bud. Fiesta far superior.
Age choices:
>40 Polo GTI
25-40 Hyundai N
The fiesta ST sounds better than you showed... Pop it into sports mode and it improves it massively, pops and crackles. Matt/carwow is always biased towards the i20n though so I'm not surprised they wanted it to sound the best lol
Why?
I love to watch your comparison tests. I also agree with your opinion on this one. Hyundai is making great progress. My sister loves her 2021 Kona.
M-N,
M performance-N performance,
M Town-N village.
Hyundai Motor is copying the bmw M like a fake Chinese car in an insignificant way, using Albert Biermann as a shield.🤣🤣🤣😅😅😅
Hey Matt, when you do reviews and comparisons can you also compare the stereo? It’s something we all use when driving but often don’t try before we buy
In my opinion from test driving i20n and Fiesta ST, the i20n stereo sounds better
That Hyundai looks so cute
I just can't get over the denim short and long sleeve black jumper combo. Fashion icon vibes from Carwow.
My opinions:
Sound - Hyundai
Looks - fiesta
Seats - fiesta
Interior - polo
Your color grading makes the Hyundai's Performance Blue very bland, purpleish gray. It looks completely different in real life.
i20 is indeed a great packaged car... loved it
M-N,
M performance-N performance,
M Town-N village.
Hyundai Motor is copying the bmw M like a fake Chinese car in an insignificant way, using Albert Biermann as a shield.🤣🤣🤣😅😅😅
Does the Ford fiesta still have that transmission issue, like they did during the 2011 - 2016 period?
Not the same car or engine so...
@@Camarao_Pistola thanks for the update, I'm not much of a Ford person
Can't wait the 2022 Fiesta ST with its improved torque. I prefer the phase 1 design but the new one is going to be the very last thermic Fiesta so... future collector.
matt can you please review the I30 N DCT?
That i20N launch and 0-60 was probably most fun and exciting one yet on @carwow
😂😂😂
Only just released but already outdated, as there's a facelifted Polo with 207PS and a 7 speed DSG.
still slow
Didn't test the fiesta's engine sound in sport mode with the valve open😂 sounds totally different
The i20n is louder. But is it better? I think it does not sound as good as the fiesta although being louder
Why isn’t the Fiesta popping and crackling? Normally if you’d have it in sport mode it crackles along and you can do no lift shifts to make it go faster. Don’t lose turbo pressure at that moment
I have a 2015 fiesta ST and I love it lots of fun God bless from Canada eh
Very nice. I’ve got a 2016 ecoboost 140. Wish it was a full on ST lol