Hyundai's T-GDi Or Volkswagen TSI: Which One’s Better, According To A Tuner
With stricter emission norms in place, car manufacturers have started offering turbochargers even in small cars. We currently have several crossovers and hatchbacks that come with turbocharged engines. For enthusiasts, we currently have the Hyundai i20 N Line and the discontinued Volkswagen Polo hatchback as popular choices, and there is always debate among owners about which engine is better for tuning. Here, we have a video where a tuner does just that.
The video has been shared by Harmonixx Tuning on their YouTube channel. It starts with the presenter showing a stock Hyundai i20 N Line that came to the shop for a Stage 2 upgrade. Before starting, the car was put on a dyno to get a baseline reading.
After this, they removed the stock downpipe and replaced it with an aftermarket decat downpipe. The catalytic converter on this car was removed as part of the modification, while the cat-back exhaust system remains stock.
Next, the ECU on the i20 N Line was removed, and the shop read the stock file from it. The ECU was then flashed with a revised Stage 2 tune, and the car went through several dyno runs until they achieved the desired result. Meanwhile, an aftermarket air filter was also installed on the car.
When the car was tested on the dyno, the tuner was actually surprised by the results. With the Stage 2 tune, the Hyundai i20 generated 153 PS, which is 33 PS more than the stock i20. More torque is available at lower RPMs, making it a good city car. This is the manual version, which is especially preferred by people who primarily drive in urban settings.
How Does It Compare to the VW 1.0 TSI?
The video mentions that the VolkswagenPolo makes slightly more power and torque on the dyno, mainly because the ambient temperature was slightly lower compared to the test of the i20 N Line. However, the maps on both engines do not differ much.
A Polo 1.0 TSI with the same modifications as the i20 made 146 PS, while the i20 generated 153 PS. The tuner mentions that even after tuning, both engines seem to mimic each other closely.
The video also states that installing an aftermarket intercooler on the i20 N Line could help it generate even more power, as the charge coolers on the Polo are not very efficient. The i20 had a slight upper hand when it came to torque.
He notes that both these engines hold great potential for modifications. However, if you're in the market for a new car, the i20 N Line is the one to go for, since the Polo is no longer available in our market.
He also adds that the automatic transmissions on both cars are not very engaging and take away from the driving fun. The manual versions are much peppier to drive. He is genuinely impressed by how Hyundai has managed to develop a 1.0 turbocharged engine that gives the Volkswagen Polo a run for its money.