Next year is going to be really hot in the small car segment . Thanks to Skoda, Opel and Hyundai, three serious candidates for the title of the best-selling (or one of the best-selling cars) model in this category will enter the market. We had in Paris the first static possibility to compare this really diverse trio, and in the following lines we bring even more "hot" first impressions.
Design – Everyone from a different dough
As we all know, design is a very subjective matter , which is why it's good that our trio is also very diverse in terms of design. While the third-generation Fabia does not lack elegance and sparkle, it is also the most conservative, while Hyundai and Opel primarily target a younger audience. Hyundai wants to be liked first and foremost, and it does quite well. The Fluidic Sculpture 2.0 design language is definitely one of the best in the brand's portfolio, as evidenced by the i20 with large headlights (more expensive versions have LED daytime running lights), a hexagonal radiator grille and a side glass area that is optically connected to the rear window.
In its fifth generation, the Corsa can best be described as a cross between Adam, Astra and Meriva . While the car looks different in the studio photos, the real car is much better. Above all, the front part is decent, the rear lights could perhaps deserve a slightly different shape. Last in line is the Fabia , which may have been damaged too much by the darkened front lights. With a darker body color, the difference is not so striking, but if you choose yellow or red, for example, the difference is really visible and I have heard opinions that such a Fabia looks like without lights. In the back part, it is a classic play on the letter C , but to our credit, there is a reference to the timeless Fabia of the first generation.
Interior – Depends on equipment
The appearance of the interior will probably be most characterized by the selected level of equipment. This time I will start with the Czech representative , with whom it is probably the most visible. I sat in both the basic level Active and the highest Style and the difference is really huge. If you have a multimedia system in your car, the center panel looks tasteful and stylish. However, once you have "only" one of the cheaper audio systems there, a not-so-pretty "hole" will appear in its upper part. Also, the main rotary knob to control it was weirdly squiggly and I was afraid it would stick in my hand when I turned it. A bit strange for a brand new car… Another criticism is aimed at the dashboard paneling , which is only nice if you go for the painted version. Again, the basic plastic decor feels quite cheap. On the other hand, I have to highlight the steering wheel that fits well in the hand, large readable alarms , exemplary ergonomics and quality workmanship.
Corsa took over from little Adam not only the front part, but also the interior. We have to evaluate this step very positively, but again it is true that the design is primarily aimed at the younger generation. The centerpiece of the dashboard is the IntelliLink multimedia system with a touch screen, which also communicates in Czech! I have to appreciate its speed and ease of use, the question remains what the interior will look like without it (Opel only exhibited models with infotainment). The lacquered decor in front of the passenger is also very good, reaching above the multimedia system, on the other hand, the glossy black lining of the main part of the center console, which is immediately dirty, deserves sharp criticism. The curved cover of the alarm clocks , which are otherwise, similar to the Fabia, are easy to read and large. The front seats are also very comfortable.
The interior of the i20 is similar in many ways to the smaller Hyundai i10. Especially if it is colored plastic on the top of the dashboard. I was impressed by the abundant use of softened plastics on the tested specimen in one of the higher trims, compared to, for example, the first i20, the workshop processing is like from another galaxy and can be compared to the best. When comparing the Fabia, Corsa and i20, the Korean model has probably the most buttons on the center console, but even as a novice, you can quickly get your bearings and find everything you need within easy reach. A plus is also the wide possibility of adjusting both the seat and the steering wheel.
Space – Class classic
In terms of space, only one of the three stands out in its class – the Opel Corsa E definitely has the most room for knees and head in the back, and shoulder room is comparable to the others. Although the trunk of the German hatchback loses liters to the Fabia (285 liters), it has a regular shape and can really fit a lot. The step freezes a little after the seats are folded down , but this is not unusual in this class. In addition to the rear passengers and luggage, the driver and passenger also have a lot of space. Additionally, as mentioned in the previous section, the seats are very comfortable.
Hyundai stood out especially with the double bottom of the trunk , for which it deserves a big plus right from the start. As with the Opel, there is also a significant step after the seats are folded down. In terms of space, the Korean representative also scored – there is enough room in the back for both the knees and the head. However, the really small rear door deserves sharp criticism, which, with a bit of exaggeration, made it possible to climb into the back like a tank. Here, Hyundai could do a little work. Especially when the front door is exceptionally large and opens to a wide angle. I also have to criticize the choice of a panoramic roof , which reduces headroom in the front and back.
The king of trunk liters (330 in total) is the third generation Fabia , although even it did not avoid a step after folding the rear seats. It should be noted that the large trunk is somewhat at the expense of space for the rear passengers , who can fit in without any major problems and do not touch the ceiling and the knees of the front seats, but the feeling of airiness and space is by far the smallest. Another criticism is directed at the pockets in the rear doors , where, unlike the Hyundai, a PET bottle with a volume of 0.75 liters cannot fit. On the other hand, the driver and passenger do not suffer from a lack of space, similar to competitors. Above all, the center console may be a bit of a hindrance to the driver.
Verdict
So how to decide a static comparison , in which we could not yet include the price, composition of equipment and even driving characteristics and engines? In our opinion, the static winner is the Corsa , which has a well-balanced design, a great interior and exemplary spaciousness in the front, back and trunk. Not every small car is this complex. The place behind Opel was shared by Skoda with Hyundai , which are not separated by anything significant, but the target groups will probably be slightly different. In the case of Hyundai, the narrower rear doors or, in some combinations, the unsightly colored plastic of the dashboard, Skoda, on the other hand, disappointed with the processing of some details or the smaller feeling of spaciousness in the rear seats. However, we must highlight the quality of the materials (primarily softened plastics) and the double bottom of the trunk in the case of the Hyundai, while the Skoda has the largest transport capacity of the trunk and an excellent steering wheel with an instrument panel. The final decision to buy that particular model will also be influenced by the price and range of engines. At the same time, it is worth reminding that the Fabia will also be available as a station wagon , the Corsa and the i20 in a sportier-looking three-door version .
At the very end, I will add links to the complete presentation of today's competitors – you can find the Hyundai i20 under this link , the Opel Corsa E by clicking here and the Skoda Fabia , including the price list, starting at 234,900 crowns, here .
Note: The author is not a photographer, so please excuse the possible reduced quality of the images
