Few car enthusiasts can boast that they know exactly which car will replace the one that they have now. Most are still rushing about choosing between at least two models. In this article we will discuss which is better: or Hyundai Solaris.

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Specifications

1. Fuel tank capacity and fuel consumption.Here, the values \u200b\u200bare also different and look like this: the tank contains 43 liters of gasoline, and 55 liters of fuel are already placed in a Czech car. As for the consumption per 100 km, for Hyundai Solaris "on mechanics" when driving around the city, 7.9 liters and 4.9 liters on the highway will be spent, while on the "automatic" these values \u200b\u200bwill be 8.8 liters and 5.2 liters, respectively. At Skoda Rapid, these indicators are slightly different: the manual transmission will show 8.9 liters in the city and 4.9 liters during a country trip, and the automatic transmission is already 10.2 liters and 6 liters.
2. Speed. these two brands are about the same - about 190 km / h. Acceleration to 100 km / h is also not very different, despite the fact that under the hood they have a different number of "horses" - 105 for Skoda and 123 for Hyundai. So, for the Czech model, these values \u200b\u200bare as follows: 10.6 s for the "mechanics" and 11.9 s for the "automatic", and for the Korean model - 10.2 s for the manual transmission and 11.2 s for the automatic transmission.
3. Checkpoint.We looked at cars with a 1.6-liter engine manufactured in 2014. Here Skoda Rapid against Hyundai Solaris cannot argue. The choice is wider for Solaris - added to the already existing 4 automatic transmissions, 5 manual transmissions. The sixth gear will not add speed, of course, but it will increase the efficiency of the engine. Skoda has only two options - a five-speed "mechanics" and a six-speed "automatic".

What to choose in the end?

If you focus on design, then those drivers who are guided by rigor and some broken lines will choose Skoda. This is a fairly classic car. Hyundai is distinguished by a more modern interior and in general the car looks more dynamic and youthful. The Korean car seems to be a more urban model than its Czech rival, which is clearly a workhorse and, perhaps, just a huge trunk contributes to it.

Approximately the same, while each car makes a different noise. Changing wheels upon purchase will slightly reduce the noise effect.

In terms of driving, it is around the city in both models. On country roads, the Hyundai Solaris is somewhat inferior to the Skoda Rapid, mainly because the problem with the rear suspension has not been solved. This problem generally distinguishes some Korean cars from European ones. The suspension itself is tuned medium. When the road is rutted, the car starts chattering. Skoda, in this regard, feels somewhat more confident. In general, all Hyundai owners know that this car is more stable and lighter, but after 70 km / h it starts to vibrate slightly, although this moment is neutralized by 6 automatic transmissions.

Test drive of Hyundai Solaris car:

As for the gearbox, I must say that Skoda has an excellent five-speed "mechanics", the car runs so smoothly. In this regard, it becomes even slightly incomprehensible why a six-speed automatic was released for the Russian market, because this significantly increases the purchase amount. Although, of course, this is a private matter for each customer.

If you haven't decided yet on which side of the scales the choice will fall: Solaris or Rapid, then we will continue the review.

The backrest of the driver's seat in Hyundai Solaris is adjustable in steps and the distance between the steps is large enough, which creates some inconvenience. The Skoda Rapid is somewhat more comfortable in the driver's seat. Both cars have a steering wheel adjustment for reach and height, but the skin on the Rapid is much more pleasant to the touch.

Test drive the Skoda Rapid car:

It's good to have a super fast supermodel racing car or a giant off-roader for elephant hunting. But it is much more important to find a reliable car friend for every day, so that he can help out in any bad weather, wag in morning traffic jams and honestly drag packages from the hypermarket. When choosing such a car, it is useful to read about the impressions of the owners of different models. Today, under the heading "Garage", let's take a critical look at the Volkswagen Polo sedan and listen to the story of its owner Dmitry.

- My Volkswagen Polo is an ordinary workhorse. I chose a car in a clear price range and also considered the Hyundai Solaris and Kia Rio. I opted for the Polo sedan because it had the best equipment in the database. And the appearance of the car in a practical black color pleased me, and the reviews of the owners were quite satisfied.

I must say that expectations and reality coincided perfectly. I bought a new car about six months ago at the St. Petersburg car dealership - and to this day there are practically no complaints about it. Now this model has already been discontinued - I got a pre-styling version. Such foreign cars assembled in Russia (my Volkswagen Polo is from the Grabtsevo technopark in Kaluga) are called “captured Germans” by us :) The restyled models are equipped with engines produced in Kaluga, a completely different lineup, which differs from those on cars of previous years release (I have a European assembly engine). Also, as far as I remember, the gearbox is still different there.

By the way, about the complaints. The car's sound insulation pumped up, and after six months of operation, the suspension began to creak. I joined the group of owners of this model on social networks - they write there that such problems are ubiquitous and can be solved. They also say that the Volkswagen Polo has much better optics in the hatchback body. The headlights of the sedan are rather weak. I'll try to put LEDs: they burn brighter, react faster and come out more economical. And maybe later I will replace the headlights themselves.

There are also a couple of inconveniences associated with the design features of the car: during a cold start, a slight knock of the engine appears, the rear springs are too low. In this regard, it helps that the model has a high ground clearance for an ordinary urban sedan. During the famous January snowfall, for example, I calmly drove along unclean streets and even pulled out other cars. I did not expect fuel consumption to a liter, in mixed mode it comes out about 8-9 liters. Engine 1.6, 86 hp from.

Once I was driving to St. Petersburg, and a bear with cubs ran out onto the track. I had to stop abruptly - and the brakes did not fail. Not a bear's hair did not touch :) The convenience of the Volkswagen Polo cabin on long trips, I also managed to appreciate. The interior is roomy - with the seats folded, I often ride a bike in the back. Here are just the seat covers you need to buy - until your hands reach.

Of the additional options, I plan to purchase a rear-view camera. And it also does not interfere with installing alloy wheels - with our roads, I was already tortured to edit stamped ones. But on the other hand, I can 100% confirm that Volkswagen Polo is being repaired "on the knee". If necessary, repairs can be carried out with a hammer, electrical tape and a strong word :) For daily trips around the city, this car is a win-win: strong, unpretentious, comfortable.

Today, amid the protracted financial crisis, many people are looking for the best car that will meet certain criteria:

• Modern and reliable;
• Safe and affordable.

It is these models that include Hyundai Solaris, Volkswagen Polo and Kia Rio. Three cars - two Koreans and one European. That is, completely different principles for the release of their products from manufacturers. Not surprisingly, making the best choice is difficult. It is for this reason that we propose to compare which is better: Kia Rio, Hyundai Solaris or Volkswagen Polo.

We will evaluate these vehicles according to several important criteria.

The appearance and features of the equipment of the interior of the models

So Koreans. The appearance of these cars is quite interesting and modern. It is immediately clear that the manufacturers relied on the younger generation of motorists, since the appearance of both models is quite aggressive. Yes, these are not elite sports cars, but also not the simplest budget cars, which are clearly intended only to move a person from point A to point B.

How can the Volkswagen Polo answer? and the German is no worse in terms of its exterior. True, the designers were targeting a slightly different category of potential buyers. This model is clearly intended for the typical middle-class person who lives in the city, works in a good office, has a beautiful wife and a couple of kids.

What's in the salon? In the salon of all three competitors, you can see the so-called universal standard. That is, nothing superfluous and special for the actual cost of the cars. Inexpensive plastic, but decorated very high quality, ordinary, but quite comfortable chairs, a minimum of technological inclusions, but everything is quite interesting and comfortable for the average buyer. Does the person want improvement? You are welcome!

Change the interior trim yourself, install a powerful audio system and other bells and whistles for your property.

Technical features of the three vehicles

If we compare Hyundai Solaris, Kia Rio and Volkswagen Polo in this regard, then we also get an ambiguous picture. The thing is that you will not find serious differences in technical characteristics. Yes, there is a certain difference, but it is minimal.

• For example, Korean cars use two variants of gasoline engines;
• German - three, also running on gasoline.

Yes, the Polo has better choices, but the Korean variants are more powerful:

• The power of German power units is from 90 to 110 horsepower, with 1.6 liters of volume;
• The power of the motors installed on the Hyundai Solaris and Kia Rio is 108/124 horses with a volume of 1.4 / 1.6, respectively.

Everything else is also pretty similar and standard: the same type of suspension, braking systems, and so on. Even in the choice of a gearbox, the buyer will not be able to win much, since in all three cases both automatic and manual transmissions are offered. True, a six-speed automatic is provided for Solaris, which its two competitors cannot boast of.

Perhaps there is a significant difference in the cost of the models? Let's compare:

• Hyundai Solaris. Price from 375 to 582 thousand rubles, depending on the configuration and equipment;
• Kia Rio. Cost from 380 to 600 thousand in rubles;
• Volkswagen Polo. You can find from 385,000 rubles. The extreme bar is approximately at the level of competitors.

That is, there are no serious differences according to this criterion.

Yes, the choice is really difficult. Therefore, a potential buyer is advised to heed the following tips:

1. Find out what bonuses this or that seller provides.
2. Get information about service and warranty service - for which of the options will it cost more? Find out the availability of service centers in places of future car operation.
3. Listen to your own feelings when examining all three proposed options.

Popular middle-class cars Volkswagen Polo and Hyundai Solaris are approximately equal in performance and price. Of course, there are differences between them, but they are insignificant. Buyers who are just choosing a car of an average price level often look specifically at these models and cannot understand which is better: "Polo" or "Solaris". For some reason, these particular models are very fond of the Russian consumer. Let's try to figure out which of these sedans is better, analyze the advantages and disadvantages of each of them.

The cost

Price is one of the main criteria for selection or comparison. The basic configurations of these cars cost approximately the same. In particular, the Volkswagen Polo in the initial configuration Trendline (1.6 MT) costs 461,000 rubles. "Solaris" in the Classic configuration (1.4 MT) will cost 459,000 rudders.

However, there are some differences, which we will indicate in the table below.

The difference in the cost of basic configurations reaches only 2,000 rubles, which is not much. "Polo" is more expensive, but it gets a stronger engine with increased torque and better acceleration dynamics. However, "Solaris" can be refueled even with 92-m gasoline, and its fuel consumption is slightly lower. But at the same time, "Hyundai Solaris" in the basic configuration does not even have a rear door lock and steering wheel adjustment for reach. It is also worth noting that the "Polo" uses electric windows that have already become classic, and the "Solaris" has conventional mechanical handles. So judge which is better: "Solaris" or "Volkswagen Polo".

Price for an automatic box

For comparison, we give the prices at which these cars with an automatic transmission are sold:

1. Volkswagen Polo in the Comfortline (1.6 AT) configuration will cost 590,000 rubles.
2. Hyundai Solaris in a complete set (1.4 AT) will cost only 494,000 rubles.

Consequently, the minimum price for an automatic transmission "Polo" is almost 100,000 rubles higher, and this is a very big difference. Of course, the box itself is more modern and 6-speed, and the car kit includes heated seats, mirrors, electric mirrors and a head unit, but the difference is still big. In addition, for 590,000 rubles, Hyundai offers the buyer more options than Volkswagen.

Appearance

In appearance, the cars are completely different and differ in style. In particular, "Polo" is implemented with strict German features, which seem very boring by modern standards. But even taking into account the fact that the Germans had to save on everything when creating this car, they created a nice budget car. The Koreans also sold a nice and cheap car, but they managed to fit it into a stylish youth body.

Of course, it is difficult to single out the winner by appearance, because everyone has different tastes. Someone may not like the sleek, strict lines (like the Polo), and someone will clearly not be delighted with all these body bulges that are ubiquitous in all cars of the Korean concern Hyundai.

By the way, according to the drivers of both cars, the dimensions are at first felt with difficulty, and you need to get used to the car. This is due to the fact that neither the front nor the rear is visible from the interior, although the mirrors in both cases are quite good and comfortable.

Salon

Speaking about which is better: "Volkswagen Polo" or "Hyundai Solaris", it is also necessary to keep in mind the interior of these cars. Both are not bad, but the interior of the "Korean" is more interesting and made in a youthful way. In Volkswagen, the Germans tried to maintain a strict style, and they succeeded. As for the controls, they are all in place. Some users note the convenient control of optics in Solaris, which is located on the left handle, and in Polo it is placed separately.

The front seats are comfortable in both cases, but there is more space in the Korean car. But as soon as you sit in the back seat, you immediately feel that there is more space in the Polo. There are many complaints about the Solaris from tall people who rest their heads against the ceiling in the rear seats. If they change to "Polo", then they do not experience such discomfort. Therefore, if you think that "Polo" or "Solaris" is better, and at the same time you have high friends, then a similar argument will be in favor of the German mark.

Road behavior

Many owners complain that the Solaris's high speed behavior is poor. The steering is difficult to control due to inadequate suspension tuning. The company is trying to solve this problem by changing the rear springs and damping the struts, but so far this problem still exists.

Volkswagen Polo behaves a little better on the track. Even at high speeds, it handles well, the suspension responds well to holes. Therefore, if you plan to frequently use the car for long trips, then it is better to stop at a Volkswagen.

Motors

As we already know, the basic equipment of the Polo car includes a 1.6-liter power unit. There are no other options. But "Solaris" in this regard is more interesting. The buyer can choose between two power plants:

1. Standard 107-horsepower 1.4-liter engine.
2. The unit of increased power (123 horsepower) with a volume of 1.6 liters.

And although the Solaris uses an automatic four-speed transmission, it is more dynamic and comfortable than Volkswagen's 6-speed automatic. As for manual transmissions, there are practically no differences.

Well, we can also note the lower consumption of the Korean car, which, although small, is an advantage. And this despite the fact that the Solaris engine successfully works with AI 92 gasoline, while in Volkswagen it is necessary to fill in only. However, the difference in price between them is 1-2 rubles.

Why is Solaris good?

This sedan stands out with the following positive points:

1. Lower fuel consumption.
2. Unpretentiousness to gasoline.
3. Independent rear spring suspension (for Polo it is semi-independent).
4. More stylish car appearance by modern standards.
5. Modern and stylish salon. Although many people like the strict features of Volkswagen.
6. More front space.
7. Lower price of the basic configuration. Selection of several types of engines within one configuration.

The advantages of "Polo"

The car of the German concern also boasts of its advantages:

1. Stronger motor.
2. More back space (less front).
3. The presence of disc brakes on the rear wheels (the Solaris has drum brakes).
4. The presence of rear power windows, even in the basic configuration.
5. Standard sound reproducing system.
6. Better track behavior when driving at high speeds.
7. The 6-speed automatic should be better in theory, but it doesn't give the car any advantages over the 4-speed in Solaris.

Based on these features of cars, buyers have to think which is better: "Polo" or "Solaris".

Other aspects

In theory, the car of the German concern, due to its high popularity, should be sold better, however, due to low fuel consumption, it is the "Korean" who is in the lead in sales. Particularly pleasing is the 5-year from Hyundai (Volkswagen only offers a 3-year warranty).

As far as comfort is concerned, both cars are in the same class, so it's illogical to compare the level of comfort. None of the cars in question is much superior to the other in any respect, both are practically equal.

You can also find out on various forums that Solaris has the potential for chip tuning. That is, you can programmatically improve the characteristics of this model. This car itself is a youth car. "Polo" is for business people who do not rush ahead of everyone at traffic lights and are not going to carry out any tuning.

Conclusion

And even after comparisons, it is not obvious which is better: "Polo" or "Solaris". These cars are too equal in many parameters. The differences between them are insignificant, despite the completely different approaches to the implementation of the exterior. In general, in terms of reliability and operation, both cars collect positive feedback from the owners, so you can safely recommend any of them for purchase.

By the way, there are other models in this price category. Alternatively, you can compare other cars and determine which is better: "Rio", "Solaris", "Polo", etc. You don't have to be limited to just these two vehicles.

REDUCE

Today, in the class up to $ 15,000, there are several options. Among them, Hyundai Solaris, Skoda Rapid and KIA Rio. Let's go through the main characteristics of these cars and decide which of them still claims to be the best.

What will the motor offer us?

Let's start with the Czechs, their designers tried to do something new in the class of budget cars. Rapid is an application for a full-fledged sports car, in any case, it follows from the name, rapid is translated as fast. The car is presented in three trim levels:

• Active;
• Ambition;
• Elegance.

Each of the configurations has MPI, TSI, TDI motors. The engines are bored out to 75 or 105 horsepower. If we take the flagship TDI 5MG engine, then acceleration to a hundred occurs in 9.6 seconds. The indicator, although not very impressive, is quite good for this category of car.

Engine compartment Rapid

How will competitors respond?

KIA Rio with an engine of 1.6 liters demonstrates even less acceleration, 100 km / h is reached in 10.2 seconds, provided that the most powerful engine in the line is used. With some probability, the reason lies in not the most convenient transmission, which reacts with a certain delay.

Rio's engine

Solaris engine

In comparison, Hyundai Solaris in the maximum configuration is equipped with a 1.6 liter engine with 123 horsepower. Does it look better than the competition? Nevertheless, acceleration to hundreds for the same 10.2, which demonstrated KIA. The only advantage can only be called better acceleration over long distances.

What's around the bend?

Skoda has conceptually approached the development of the Rapid, so a sporty touch is felt throughout. First of all, pedals deserve attention. They are tuned very responsively, so acceleration and deceleration look quite dynamic.

This is also true of the steering wheel, you just need to slightly deflect it to the right or left and the car immediately reacts. All turns are very gentle. But, for domestic roads there is a non-standard configuration with a reinforced suspension. It is more "wooden", but it keeps small pits and potholes well on the road.

Hill hold control works like this

The high-quality performance of the Hill Hold Control system is also pleasing. Sensors read the level of the slope of the terrain and hold the brakes in automatic mode, as a result, the car does not roll back on a slope. You do not need to hold the brake yourself and fire the clutch.

Move in comfort

Both KIA and Hyundai are positioned as clear competitors not only in price, but also in quality. Not surprisingly, the two compared cars have similar characteristics. The suspension in the Rio is designed for safe city driving. It is quite soft and provides smooth turns. The gas and brake pedals have a small backlash, which is important for constant traffic jams on the main lines.

Solaris loses to both competitors in this regard, since the scourge of Korean designers is the demolition of the rear axle. Turns are somewhat risky, especially at speed. The adrenaline rush is added by the sharp gas and sensitive steering wheel.

To summarize, Skoda and KIA can be awarded one point each, given that their suspensions are designed for completely different driving styles. Solaris loses out in this comparison.

At the limit of the speedometer

The Rapid can justifiably be called a budget sports car. The average speed on the highway, at which maneuverability and controllability is maintained, is 140 km / h. At the same time, there are no extraneous sounds inside the cabin, which is generally not typical for the class budget.

In a similar comparison, Solaris and Rio cannot stand side by side. Both cars do not behave very well at speeds over 100 km / h. In the first case, the risk of skidding due to axle displacement greatly increases; it is not recommended for safety reasons to go around an obstacle or overtake. In the second, there are no problems in management, but points of savings become visible. Naturally, we are talking about sound insulation. The hum in the cabin is so strong that it causes a certain nervousness.

It is appropriate to remember about fuel consumption. For Solaris, this is an indicator of 6 liters on the highway and 8 in the city. Another Korean shows results at 6.2 L and 7.7 L respectively. Against this background, Rapid confidently earns another point. The average consumption outside the city is 5.5 liters, the city is 8 liters, but this is taking into account traffic jams. If you drive smoothly and keep the speed, then the indicators drop by 1.5-2 liters per 100 km.

What can you take with you?

The Rapid, although it looks compact, is in fact a very roomy car, with a trunk, not inferior to city jeeps, volume - 530 liters. The designers tried to minimize the protruding parts as much as possible, so nothing interferes with the installation of the load. The folding rear seats allow the volume to be increased up to 1,470 liters.

Skoda Rapid trunk

The Rio hatchback can only respond with 389 liters, while the sedan has 500 liters. At the same time, internal execution does not look very convincing. Soft bags will be no problem, but hard oversized loads may not fit due to the inconvenient design of the rear wheels, which is made in the form of a cascade and steals the usable area.

Trunk Kia Rio

Solaris looks better against the background of these two machines. Although the boot volume is only 460 liters, it has the most correct geometry to maximize the use of usable space. With the rear seats folded out, you can carry almost any load.

Moving on to design

All three cars are far from claiming the laurels of the most elegant or daring cars. The style of their performance is quite classic. The Koreans continue the line of flowing shapes, the Czechs adhere to the more familiar concept of a standard sedan.

None of the cars has any special distinctive features. But the score should still be written in favor of Solaris. Curiously, this car looks for the reason that the design can be compared with the famous Mercedes S Class. On the other hand, this is just an attempt at inheritance, while Rapid and Rio are full-fledged design developments.

What's inside?

Solaris lures the buyer not only with an interesting appearance, but also with a beautifully designed interior. The spectacular control panel immediately catches the eye. On closer inspection, we can say that the front end is perfectly balanced, everything is at a comfortable distance for the driver. But with the rear seats, not everything is so good, passengers will have to pick up their knees, since there is very little space for them.

But in comparison with the Rio, Hyundai looks a little better. In addition to the limited space, the cheapness of the material and the simplicity of solutions immediately catch the eye. Ordinary plastic, synthetics, in a word, everything to make KIA accessible to the widest possible audience.

Rapid is beyond competition. Firstly, the cabin is very spacious. Secondly, the design doesn't look cheap. Thirdly, there are many useful features and electronics even in the basic configuration. One of the advantages is the large rear windows, which do not reduce visibility.

What will electronics tell us?

What can you expect from budget cars, of course, savings on modern electrical equipment. There are no expensive climate control systems or a fancy stereo system here. But a simple on-board computer Solaris, Rapid and Rio has all the necessary functions. Monitors fuel consumption, controls on-board equipment and emergency braking system. Simple but tasteful. And if additional devices are needed for personal comfort, then there are two options: purchase an extended configuration or install them yourself.

In this situation, the Czechs decided to offer a rather non-standard solution. Instead of fancy gadgets, they provide cars with the tools every driver needs. Including a snow scraper, a set of keys, a phone holder. Quite interesting is the decision about automatic lighting when cornering. If the speed is less than 40 km / h, the headlights come on when you turn the steering wheel.

conclusions

The engine and other technical characteristics of Korean cars were supposed to bring them to the undisputed leaders because, in practice, this did not happen. Both companies save a lot on creativity and new technological developments, in the end we get everything the same, only in a new body. In this light, it makes no sense to spend money on a car that in a couple of years will look completely ridiculous, while significantly reducing the price.

Skoda Rapid, on the contrary, is designed with the expectation that the transport will be used for a long time. Everything is thought out to the smallest detail, from the convenience of the driver himself to the maximum comfort of passengers. It is quite safe to assume that the Czechs have adopted the Ford Focus success story and want to implement it in their segment.

The car is completely original, albeit not the most spectacular, but reliable and practical. It really can be called a budget sports car. The only significant drawback is the cost. If Solaris and Rio in full configuration really cost about 15,000 USD, then Rapid - 20,000 USD. This significant difference is due to the type of engine and additional electronics. Which is better, decide for yourself, but in this review the first place is for Skoda.