Car maintenance cost comparison Part 7: Premium hatchbacks

We move on with our maintenance cost comparison and shift focus to the volume-driven premium hatchback segment. In case you’ve missed it, do check out Part 1 (premium and executive SUVs), Part 2 (premium and executive sedans), Part 3 (mid-size SUVs), Part 4 (compact SUVs), Part 5 (mid-size sedans), and Part 6 (compact sedans) of this study.

• Maintenance costs calculated over 60,000km
• Premium hatchbacks’ maintenance costs compared
• Factors in service life as well as cost of parts and labour (ex-Delhi, inclusive of taxes)

Once a segment with a fair share of diesel offerings, the premium hatchback segment is now largely a petrol-only space, due to the advent of the strict BS6 emission norms. Hyundai, Maruti, Honda and Volkswagen have all been familiar players in this segment and have offered diesels in the past, but they now only have petrol models. For Hyundai, though, this is only a temporary case, the company decided to skip the BS6 upgrade of the i20’s diesel engine, as the new-generation i20 model is launching this year. The new car will offer a diesel engine option, just like in the pre-BS6 era. Until then, though it’s the newest entrant, the Tata Altroz, which gets a diesel engine option.

Unfortunately, Maruti didn’t wish to participate in this study. However, we did manage to source the costs for the Baleno from various dealer sources. Thus, the prices for the Baleno should be treated as estimates.

Premium hatchbacks maintenance cost comparison

• The Japanese and Korean models in this segment have a one year or 10,000km service interval, while Volkswagen and Tata require a service every 15,000km. The Tata Altroz, however, requires a routine check-up every 7,500km, chargeable at Rs 1,000 from 22,500km onwards.
• Hyundai charges for labour only from the 30,000km service onwards, at a flat Rs 2,873, and with low cost of replacement parts, the i20 is the most pocket-friendly model to run.
• The Maruti Baleno’s twin from the Toyota stable, the Glanza, is the second most affordable car to maintain, followed by the non-turbo version of the Volkswagen Polo petrol. 
• The mild-hybrid version of the Glanza is a bit more expensive to run than the standard version, and the maintenance cost per kilometre is at par with the Honda Jazz and Tata Altroz petrol.
• Interestingly the Baleno is pricier to maintain than the similar engined Glanza, with the bigger difference coming from the higher labour rates. 
• But the priciest petrol hatchback to maintain is the Volkswagen Polo TSI, with a cost per km equivalent to a Tata Altroz diesel. Labour charges account for Rs 10,222, spread over the three chargeable services up to 60,000km.

Did you find this maintenance cost comparison helpful? Tell us what you think in the comments section and stay tuned for more maintenance cost comparison surveys of other segments that are coming soon.

Premium Hatchbacks maintenance costs (in Rupees)
	Honda Jazz	Toyota Glanza	Toyota Glanza	Tata Altroz	Tata Altroz	Volkswagen Polo	Volkswagen Polo	Hyundai i20	Maruti Baleno
Engine	1.2P	1.2P Kseries	1.2P Dualjet	1.2P	1.5D	1.0P	1.0TSI	1.2P	1.2P Kseries
COST OF PARTS
Air Filter	437	285	287	826	550	338	382	275	290
Oil Filter	175	82	85	163	192	99	99	89	90
Fuel Filter	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	1376	265
Washer Drain Plug	36	8	8	22	22	155	155	NA	6
Spark Plug (for entire set)	705	784	1322	342	NA	891	891	302	800
Fan Belt/ Drivebelt	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	1406	382	NA	NA
Coolant	1413	353	353	848	1060	NA	NA	NA	338
Engine Oil	1011	1231	1231	1925	2800	2688	3840	1368	1736
Brake fluid	330	366	183	218	218	648	648	NA	355
Pollen / HVAC filter	779	357	357	157	157	614	614	266	NA
Service Intervals	1 year or 10,000km	1 year or 10,000km	1 year or 10,000km	1 year or 15,000km	1 year or 15,000km	1 year or 15,000km	1 year or 15,000km	1 year or 10,000km	1 year or 10,000km
1st Service Cost (parts+labour)	2021	1320	1563	3634	4519	3708	4860	1457	1832
2nd Service Cost (parts+labour)	5349	4564	4807	7339	9976	7410	9284	1702	5122
3rd Service Cost (parts+labour)	4357	4201	5949	9130	9609	5477	7425	4605	4369
4th Service Cost (parts+labour)	6057	5632	5352	8186	9975	9121	11450	4575	6447
5th Service Cost (parts+labour)	4027	3845	4088	NA	NA	NA	NA	4330	4369
6th Service Cost (parts+labour)	6263	4920	6668	NA	NA	NA	NA	6398	5412
Total Cost	28074	24482	28427	28289	34079	25716	33019	23067	27551
Maintenance cost per km	0.47	0.41	0.47	0.47	0.57	0.43	0.55	0.38	0.46