Volkswagen Polo, Kia Rio and Hyundai Solaris - comparison of taxi cars
Volkswagen Polo, Kia Rio, Hyundai Solaris are among the most popular cars used in taxis. Each of them is characterized by a simple and reliable design, affordable price and relatively inexpensive maintenance. In this article we will try to compare all three models according to the main selection criteria.
Basic characteristics
Each of the cars under consideration belongs to the subcompact class (B-segment), while the Polo is made in a liftback body, and the Korean ones are classic sedans. Let's now compare their technical characteristics.
Volkswagen Polo engines
At the time of the relevance of the German brand in Russia, the Volkswagen Polo was available with three engines, in four combinations of engine and gearbox. Let's take a look at their characteristics:
1.6 MPI. Working volume - 1598 cm3, maximum power - 90 liters. s., torque - 155 Nm, maximum speed - 179 km/h, acceleration time from 0 to 100 km/h - 11.4 seconds, fuel consumption in the city/on the highway/combined - 8.4/5 .2/6.4 l/100 km respectively.
1.6 MPI. Displacement - 1598 cm3, maximum power - 110 liters. s., torque - 155 Nm, maximum speed - 190 (manual transmission) or 187 km/h (automatic transmission), acceleration time from 0 to 100 km/h - 10.7 (manual transmission) or 11.8 seconds. (automatic transmission), fuel consumption in the city/on the highway/mixed with manual transmission or automatic transmission - 8.4 or 8.7/5.2 or 5.4/6.4 or 6.6 l/100 km, respectively.
1.4 TSI. Displacement - 1395 cm3, maximum power - 125 liters. s., torque - 200 Nm, maximum speed - 190 km/h, acceleration time from 0 to 100 km/h - 9.2 seconds, fuel consumption in the city/on the highway/combined - 7.7/4 .9/6.0 l/100 km respectively.
The younger 1.6-liter engine of the latest Polo has a power of 90 hp. With. and is only available with a five-speed manual transmission. Engine 110 l. s., in fact, is a forced version of the 90-horsepower unit. Moreover, it can be paired with both a 5-speed manual transmission and a six-speed automatic transmission.
The older 1.4 TSI engine outperforms the first two in both efficiency and performance. The high performance of the Volkswagen Polo (for B-class) is ensured not only by a high-tech power unit, but also by a more modern seven-speed DSG DQ200 transmission, which reduces delays when shifting gears.
Kia Rio
The latest generation Kia Rio was sold in Russia with two naturally aspirated petrol power units of 1.4 and 1.6 liters, both options were available paired with a manual or automatic gearbox (both six-speed). Their characteristics look like this:
1.4 MPI. Displacement - 1368 cm3, maximum power - 100 liters. s., torque - 132 Nm, acceleration time from 0 to 100 km/h - 12.2 (manual transmission) or 12.9 sec. (automatic transmission), mixed fuel consumption - 5.7 (manual transmission) or 6.4 l/100 km (automatic transmission).
1.6 MPI. Displacement volume - 1591 cm3, maximum power - 123 hp. s., torque - 151 Nm, acceleration time from 0 to 100 km/h - 10.3 (manual transmission) or 11.2 seconds. (automatic transmission), mixed fuel consumption - 6.3 (manual transmission) or 6.6 l/100 km (automatic transmission).
The service life of both the engine and both gearboxes is quite long - with proper maintenance and careful handling, the car can last for hundreds of kilometers without major repairs to these units. Both gearboxes are positioned as maintenance-free, but experts recommend changing the oil every 50-80 thousand km.
Hyundai Solaris
In terms of engines (and not only), the subcompact Hyundai sedan looks like the twin brother of the Kia Rio - the engines and gearboxes are exactly the same. Characteristics - power, torque, average fuel consumption - they also agree to within one tenth. In this regard, the technical characteristics of the models can be considered absolutely identical.
In comparison, Kia Rio/Hyundai Solaris with a 1.4 MPI engine per 100 hp. With. and Volkswagen Poloc 1.6 MPI with 90 liters. With. the winner will be Polo (power - +10 hp, torque - +23 Nm, acceleration time to 100 km/h - +0.8 sec.). There is only one minus - even with a manual transmission it consumes a little more fuel.
With a 1.6 MPI engine of 123 hp. With. both “Koreans” adequately resist the Polo with a 1.6-liter unit boosted to 110 hp. With. Both the Kia Rio and the Hyundai Solaris with any gearbox accelerate to hundreds faster than the Volkswagen Polo, and with a manual transmission they even formally consume a little less fuel.
In comparison with the top-end 1.4 TSI engine for the Germans, the Koreans, of course, lose. A turbocharged engine has both higher performance and better fuel efficiency. In addition, it is paired with a seven-speed robotic transmission, which is generally rare in B-class cars.
Convenience and comfort of use
Considering that the cars are approximately in the same price category, it is logical to assume that they are similar in terms of interior options, comfort, and multimedia. We will not analyze all the configurations in detail, but it would not be superfluous to compare the models in question in their own right.
m available and the most expensive version.
Volkswagen Polo
In the minimum version of the Origin, the interior of the Volkswagen Polo liftback is trimmed with fabric. The driver's seat is height adjustable, and the rear seats fold down. The inside door handles are finished in chrome, and all door trims have pockets. Cup holders are provided for the driver and front passenger.
Both front and rear windows are powered, the rear window is heated, and the multimedia system has a 6.5-inch screen, four speakers, Bluetooth and App-Connect support. The power steering is electromechanical, with performance varying depending on the speed. There is no air conditioning in the basic Polo.
In the maximum Exlusive configuration, the latest Polo boasts two armrests (the front one with a niche), chrome trim on the air ducts, more expensive front console decor and atmospheric lighting in the driver and front passenger footwells. Functional equipment includes:
Cruise control;
rain and light sensors;
heated windshield;
three-zone climate control;
front parking radars;
auto-dimming interior mirror;
ten-inch digital instrument panel;
keyless engine start and access to the car;
multimedia system with 8" display and six speakers.
Kia Rio
The basic package of the Kia Rio (Classic) includes air ducts for rear passengers, air conditioning, a height-adjustable driver's seat and front electric windows. Power steering is electric. The interior trim is fabric, there is no multimedia system - only audio equipment with four speakers.
At first glance, it may seem that the Polo is a clear winner compared to the Rio, if we consider them in basic trim levels. The “German” has rear windows and a full-fledged multimedia system. However, Rio wins on a more important criterion - it has at least some kind of air conditioning. Now let's compare these cars at maximum speed.
In the top Premium configuration, the Kia Rio sedan has a full range of “warm options”, including heated front and rear seats, steering wheel and windshield washer nozzles, as well as electric heating of the latter. For the German, these functions are available only when choosing the additional “Winter” or “Comfort” package.
The seats in Rio are upholstered in leatherette, the steering wheel and front armrest are in faux leather, the door handles are trimmed in chrome, and the front panel is in gloss black. The driver's seat is equipped with lumbar support, and the armrest, in addition to its sliding design, has a box for storing useful items. There is a compartment for glasses.
Among the comfort options in the most expensive Kia Rio there is climate control, steering column adjustment, keyless access to the car, engine start with a button or remotely with the key, an intelligent trunk opening system, power windows on all doors (driver's - with Auto), front and rear parking radars, cruise control with speed limit.
There is also a light sensor, a rear view camera, an instrument panel with a 4.2" screen, electric drive of exterior mirrors. A multimedia system with an 8" diagonal color display, support for smartphone integration technologies (Apple Carplay, Android Auto), six speakers. There is a USB connector at the back for charging phones, and there is Bluetooth.
As you can see, both Kia Rio and Volkswagen Polo have an impressive set of advantages in the most expensive version. It is extremely difficult to select a winner in this criterion, so we will fix the parity. Now let's see what is included in the third car.
Hyundai Solaris
In the minimum configuration, the Active Hyundai Solaris has electric front windows, electric power steering, a height-adjustable driver's seat, audio equipment with four speakers and an antenna, two 12-volt sockets in the front, and interior lighting lamps. For modification with a 1.6 liter engine, packages are available:
Winter (+ 15,000 ₽) — heated windshield and windshield washer nozzles;
Advanced (+ 39,000 ₽) - climate control, rear parking sensors and a few other little things.
An important difference between the subcompact Hyundai sedan and the Kia Rio is the lack of air conditioning, which is available only starting with the Active Plus modification.
The maximum configuration of Hyundai Solaris (Elegance) includes a full set of “warm options” with heated front seats, steering wheel, windshield and windshield washer nozzles, heated exterior mirrors. All windows are electric, there is Bluetooth and Hands Free. From the driver's seat in the subcompact Hyundai sedan, the following are available:
Supervision instrument panel with 4.2-inch display;
USB connector for connecting external drives and devices;
the ability to adjust the steering column in both directions;
leather-trimmed steering wheel with audio and telephone controls;
central armrest with storage inside and length adjustment;
8" audio system with additional tweeters, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto;
driver's window lifter with function
Auto function, door closer and shutdown delay.
The seat trim is a combination (fabric and artificial leather), there are fabric inserts in the doors, an armrest and a USB charger in the back. Functional equipment includes cruise control with speed limit, climate control, front and rear parking radars, and a light sensor. There is a case for glasses in the overhead console.
Which of the three cars is more suitable for a taxi?
Let's face it - the Hyundai Solaris and Kia Rio differ mainly in their exteriors. The cars are built on the same platform, equipped with the same engines, and they have common basic body elements. In this regard, we see no point in separating them from the point of view of profitability and ease of ownership.
The popularity of Kia Rio and Hyundai Solaris among taxi drivers is explained by the minimal maintenance costs of these models and their ability to easily withstand many hours of daily use. With the onset of a certain mileage, the owners of such cars polish them up and sell them, without waiting for the need for serious investments.
As for the Volkswagen Polo, this model is also very popular among taxi drivers. Basically, for private transportation, modifications with the simplest gearboxes are chosen, excluding the robotic DSG. Like its Korean peers, Polo does not require special attention for a long time from the moment of purchase.
All three cars - Kia Rio, Hyundai Solaris and Volkswagen Polo - are among the top 10 most popular among taxi services in Russia. The position in the rating of each of them at a particular point in time may depend on their availability in car dealerships, the availability of the cheapest trim levels, credit programs and other circumstances.
All three models compete with Renault Logan, Skoda Rapid, Lada Vesta and other cars that are similar in class and cost. When purchasing any of these cars on the secondary market, there is a risk of stumbling upon a copy that was previously used in a taxi. Obviously, this will be a thoroughly worn-out car that will often require repairs.
